Sarah Daignault Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award

Given to those who have consistently shown generous support and advancement of NBOA and independent school business officers.

Criteria

A person who has consistently shown generous support of NBOA and independent school business officers through their thought leadership, participation in NBOA programs, and/or financial and practical support of the national independent school business officer community. Nominees must be affiliated with an NBOA member organization and may include, but are not limited to association executives, heads of school or senior administrators (other than a business officer) at an independent school, corporate partners, and consultants.

Nomination Questions:

• Is the nominee retiring during this current school year?
• Has the nominee's head of school been notified?
• Number of years in current position?
• Total number of years of independent school business office/operations experience?
• Describe how the nominee has demonstrated consistent support for and advancement of independent schools and the role of the business officer. Please give specific examples.
• Describe the leadership exhibited by the nominee within the independent school community. Please give specific examples.
• Share in your own words why your nominee is deserving of the NBOA's Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award.
• What is your relationship to the nominee and how long have you worked with or known them?

Recipients

The recipient is announced in January, and the award is presented at NBOA's Annual Meeting.

2024 Recipient

Suzanne Bogdan

Partner
Fisher Phillips LLP

With 30 years of experience at Fisher Phillips LLP, Suzanne Bogdan is a dedicated advocate for independent schools, offering expert counsel in employment-related matters, including family leave, wage and hour law, privacy and breach of contract. As Chair of Fisher Phillips' Education Law practice group, Bogdan has been instrumental in establishing the firm as a go-to resource for independent school matters. Her commitment to independent schools is demonstrated through her close collaboration with many associations, including NBOA, NAIS, SAIS, MISBO, MAIS and the Florida Council of Independent Schools. She presents frequently to independent school audiences and shares her expertise in national publications.

Bogdan was chosen to serve as Chair of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Congress, and her legal accomplishments have earned her a Chambers USA distinction in labor and employment for 25 consecutive years. She was Employment Lawyer of the Year in 2020, a 2020 Power Leader, and the recipient of the 2017 Influential Business Woman award by the South Florida Business Journal.

Past Recipients

NBOA has given out the Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award since 2011. View the award's past recipients.

About Sarah Daignault

The Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award honors the legacy of Sarah P. Daignault, who served as the Executive Director of NBOA for the first 12 years of its existence. The award recognizes the instrumental role in developing strong relationships in the independent school industry in support of the efforts of the business officer. It honors Sarah's vision and dedication, which transformed NBOA from a small group of like-minded business officers into a thriving organization supported by hundreds of members across the country.