Creating School Communities Rooted in What Matters Most.

Dr. Bennison partners with administrators, faculty, students, and families to transform school cultures — moving communities from transactional to truly transformative through mattering-based approaches to service learning. Drawing on robust, evidence-based research and decades of hands-on experience, including founding the Office of Public Service at Trinity School (NYC) and co-founding The Mattering Movement, she provides strategic guidance and actionable programming rooted in what matters most.

From institutional vision-building to curriculum development and classroom practice, Dr. Bennison works alongside schools to strengthen what exists and bring bold ideas to life. At Trinity School (NYC), she created the Office of Public Service — a culture-shifting, K–12 service learning initiative engaging students, faculty, staff, and families that remains an integral part of school life today.

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Three women are engaged in a conversation at a conference or meeting. One woman, wearing a black blazer, is smiling and talking to two women with their backs facing the camera. The women with their backs to the camera are wearing sweaters, and there are water bottles and papers on the table in front of them.

  • As Trinity School's founding Director of Public Service, Sarah skillfully balanced the inspirational creativity of a visionary innovator and the practical effectiveness of a savvy administrator to create and then develop transformational service learning opportunities for our school community. In creating and nurturing what came to be known as the School's "Community Circle Partnership," she developed experiential and academic programming that has proven thus far to be the most significant programmatic development in the school's fourth century.

    —John Allman, Former Head of School, Trinity School, New York City

  • "It is the best feeling in the world to see how happy you can make people from even the simplest gestures. Throughout my high school years, this is one of the most important lessons I have learned and I could not be more thankful for it. Not only do I feel more gratitude for smaller achievements in my own life, but I am able to connect with others so much better and celebrate their own accomplishments. I have learned empathy."

    — Student Volunteer

  • "Making a tangible difference in the lives of others fosters a feeling that no other activity can recreate."

    — Student Volunteer

  • "I began to feel strongly that service work shouldn’t be limited to holding bake sales and asking others for donations. Rather, service work should be a learning experience, an opportunity to express one’s creativity, and a part of everyday school."

    - Student Volunteer

  • "Throughout this course, my own sense of mattering has quietly but meaningfully shifted. A big part of that change came from slowing down and actually noticing the small ways people make space for me—professors who learn my name, classmates who check in, and the moments in discussions when my perspective was genuinely listened to. I think I started the semester assuming mattering had to come from something big or dramatic, but this course helped me see that it often comes from everyday interactions that show you you’re seen."

    Student, New York University

  • "I think I always felt maybe that my value as a person lessened when I wasn't constantly achieving things but I think this class really opened my eyes to how hard it can be to constantly be successful in a system that has so many people that it is impossible for us all to surpass our parents. I also love that we've been learning to appreciate and show care for others. I find that now that I've been doing it more often, I trained my mind to think 'well we all matter equally.'"

    Student, New York University

  • "My own sense of mattering has increased, I think mostly due to realizing just how much the small things matter in life and in relationships with others that help you feel like you matter more, and that you can do to let others know they matter, in this two-way street that is mattering."

    Student, New York University

  • "I feel like the things I offer have value, whether it's my kindness, friendship, etc. I'm more grateful for myself now."

    Student, New York University

Speaking Events & Workshops.

Trinity School, NY

Hotchkiss School, CT

Emory University

St. Luke’s School, CT

St. Paul Academy and Summit School, MN

University of Pennsylvania, PA

Harvard University, MA

New York University, NY

National Association of Independent Schools

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators

Leland Library, MI

Capital Trade and Finance Network Women in Finance (NY)

Private Prep, MD

Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education

Berkshire School

Reach out.

If you're interested in bringing me to your campus or community, send me a message. I look forward to hearing from you.