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.
See a full list of the 2022 recipients. Stay tuned to Net Assets online for additional profiles.
Title: Chief Financial Officer and Associate Head for Finance and Operations
School: The Langley School, McLean, Virginia
Years in current position: 6
Years in an independent school business office: 9
Superpower: Resilience: During the pandemic, Bokman “exercised exceptional vision and management as the school made budget and staffing adjustments during a challenging time … ensuring the necessary resources went toward areas with the greatest impact on the well-being of our faculty and students” wrote Head of School Michele Claeys. “He has kept Langley safe and sound, and the school has shined as a local example of a school thriving at a difficult time. School pride is at an all-time high as a result.”
Equal-opportunity advocate: Bokman goes out of his way to “recognize and appreciate outstanding teachers, bus drivers, maintenance staff and senior team members equally. I love that he stands up for employees on his team when they should be recognized or advanced in some way. He is keenly focused on each employee's individual growth and opportunity.”
Master campaigner: Bokman led a capital campaign that has helped the school embark on a major campus renovation — which is currently running under budget and ahead of schedule. “Thanks to his analysis and guidance, we locked in our financing and costs before inflation hit. This growth sets us on an excellent long-term path,” said Claeys.
Investment guru: Throughout Bokman’s tenure, the Langley’s school endowment has more than doubled. Claeys attributes the growth to Bokman’s careful management and strategic guidance.
