The Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award is given to business officers who have made extraordinary contributions to their schools and exemplify exceptional integrity, knowledge and motivation. At the end of each school year, new Unsung Heroes receive their award from their head of school, often at a significant school occasion such as a board meeting or an all-school ceremony. What makes these Unsung Heroes so special? The highlights below come straight from their colleagues' nominations.
Title: Finance Director
School: University School, Cleveland, Ohio
Years in Position: 22
Years in an independent school business office: 22
Benefits pro: Wright oversaw University School’s shift to a self-insured captive program, which has been successful now for seven years. Wright has “taken an incredible amount of his time to help guide and grow this effort,” said fellow business officer Chuck McCullagh, CFO of Williston Northampton School and NBOA’s immediate past board chair. “By bringing together Ohio independent schools and broadening the reach of this captive to other states, Wright has brought forth a remarkable innovation, which still has tremendous potential to grow and support more schools.”
Bridge builder and creative budgeter: “In Cleveland, there are seemingly always efforts and planning to consolidate or share costs and services, and whether successful or not, David always seems to be at the center of it. Countless business officers and schools have already benefited from such work,” said McCullagh.
Font of knowledge: “I have known David for eight years, and in that time, I have been consistently amazed by his depth of knowledge on just about any school business management subject, as well as his willingness to share. He is a voracious reader and is always sharing book titles and reading materials with his peers, all of which makes our schools better and improves us in our roles as business officers,” said McCullagh.
Other duties as assigned: Since 2007, Wright has overseen University School’s student investment committee, which gives students $10,000 a year to invest in stocks and bonds for the school’s endowment fund.
See a full list of the 2021 recipients and read more about the Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award.
