This is Sergio Alati
By Jennifer Ersalesi
Rutherford resident, Sergio Alati, has been an active member of the Rutherford community for almost twenty years. While reflecting on his experiences an educator, administrator, coach, parent, and member and leader of various boards, Sergio wrote a book about leadership in every day life. This is Rutherford interviewed Sergio to learn more about his new book, his career, leadership roles, and what he enjoys most about living in Rutherford.
TIR: How long have you lived in Rutherford? What do you enjoy about living in
Rutherford?
Sergio Alati: My wife, Jennifer, grew up in Rutherford, while I grew up in New York City. We
moved here with our two children, Jules and James, in 2007, and Rutherford quickly became
home. Growing up in the city, I never quite experienced the strong sense of community that
exists here; the feeling that people know one another, look out for one another, and genuinely care about the place they share. That sense of belonging is a big part of what inspired me to become involved and give back to a community that has given so much to our family. On a lighter note, as someone who loves to cook, eat out, and spend far too much time drinking coffee, I love that Rutherford is such a great food and coffee town.
TIR: Tell us more about your career.
SA: I’ve spent more than 30 years in education, and my career has taken me from the classroom to school leadership in ways I never could have fully predicted. I began as a teacher and camp program leader at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, then went on to help found and lead schools and academic programs at Claremont Preparatory School and Kent Place School. Since 2012, I have had the privilege of serving as Head of School at Stevens Cooperative School in Hoboken and Jersey City, enrolling 460 students in PreK 3s thru 8th grade.
Along the way, I earned my doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College,
Columbia University, and have remained deeply engaged in the larger educational community through board service, accreditation work, conference presentations, consulting, and writing. What has remained constant throughout all of it is my belief that schools are ultimately about people; helping children grow, helping adults lead well, and building communities where people feel seen, challenged, and valued. That belief is really what led me to write Leadership in the NOW.
TIR: Your book, Leadership in the Now, obviously focuses on some aspects of leadership. What are some of the leadership roles you've held within your career and in your
community?
SA: I’ve been fortunate to lead in several different ways throughout my career.
Professionally, I’ve served as Head of School at Stevens Cooperative School since 2012 and just finished six years of serving on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, where I also chair the Accreditation Commission. I am a former board member of the Montclair Cooperative School and have also consulted for other schools, helping them develop their schools’ sustainability strategic plans. Closer to home, I spent 16 years on the Rutherford Education Foundation, 3 of them as their President, and currently serve as President of the Rutherford Board of Education. I also coached my two kids' basketball, softball, and soccer teams when they were young.
TIR: How did those leadership positions inspire the book you have written?
SA: Each of the experiences I’ve referred to has reinforced one of the book’s central ideas, that leadership is less about the title you hold and more about how you show up for people in the moments that matter. Over the years, I’ve learned that leadership rarely happens in the big, carefully planned moments. It happens in the hundreds of small ones; how you respond to a difficult conversation, whether you truly listen, how you make someone feel valued, and what you do when there is no obvious right answer. The book grew from my belief that those “micro-moments” are not interruptions to leadership, they are leadership. And when we handle them with greater intention, they can have an impact far beyond the moment itself.
TIR: What else can you tell us about the book?
SA: The book really explores what it means to lead well in the reality of everyday life, not just during major decisions or crises. It begins with the leader themselves: the importance of self-awareness, authenticity, humility, emotional intelligence, and understanding the impact we have on others. From there, it moves outward to the experiences we create for people: how we build trust, navigate difficult conversations, foster belonging, find joy, and create cultures where people can do their best work.
The later sections look at what it takes to sustain leadership over time, particularly in a world
that keeps changing. I explore adaptability, innovation, purpose, responsible uses of emerging technologies like AI and maximizing virtual or hybrid work settings, as well as the importance of remaining deeply human while embracing what comes next. Throughout the book, I weave together research, stories, practical strategies, and reflections from my own successes and mistakes. Throughout the chapters, the “Take a Moment NOW” sections invite readers to pause, reflect, and apply an idea directly to their own leadership. The book then concludes with a self-evaluation survey that helps readers assess their current practices and identify where they want to grow. My hope is that Leadership in the NOW doesn’t just give people ideas about leadership, it gives them practical ways to lead differently, starting now.
TIR: You will be doing a book signing at the Rutherford Public Library. When will that be
and what can people expect when they attend?
SA: The book launch and signing will take place on Saturday, November 21, from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Rutherford Public Library. I’m especially excited to celebrate the book here in the community I call home. The afternoon will include a meet-and-greet, facilitated conversation between Rutherford community member and radio show host Christina Cates and myself about some of the ideas and stories behind the book, reflections from several of the book’s beta readers and, of course, a book signing. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase at the event. Leadership in the NOW: Strategies for the
Micro-Moments that Matter is on sale now on Amazon and through Routledge publishing
company. My hope is that it feels less like a formal presentation and more like a lively
conversation about leadership, community, and the everyday moments through which we can make a difference. Registration is required and space is limited, so please RSVP here:
TIR: Anything else you would like to add.
SA: After more than 30 years in education and leadership, I’ve learned that none of us ever really has it all figured out, which is probably an odd thing to admit after writing a book about leadership! But that’s also part of why I wrote it. I think good leadership is about staying curious, continuing to learn, and paying attention to how we show up for people every day. We all have these small opportunities to make someone feel seen, supported, or encouraged, and I’ve come to believe those moments matter more than we realize. And if people read the book, take away a few ideas they can actually use, and maybe laugh at some of my mistakes along the way, I’ll be very happy.
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