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 2018 recipients. Stay tuned to NetAssets.org for additional profiles.
Title: Vice President of Finance and Operations
School: Chaminade College Prepartory
Years in position: 26
Years in an independent school business office: 26
Superpower: School transformer. "It's difficult to relate the impact of her efforts in transforming Chaminade from a little known greater Los Angeles area independent Catholic school into one of the most respected and recognized middle/high schools in all of Southern California."
Budget master: FA offerings have grown from under $30,000 a year to over $3 million, faculty salaries are competitive and the school recently purchased a $14 million five-acre commercial property adjacent to the school to bolster future financial sustainability. "Her understanding of finance has been instrumental to Chaminade's continued budget surpluses that have allowed for growth in program offerings and facility additions."
Governance guru: "High level board members who are giants of industry have their jaws drop when she guides them through complex documents and transactions. I am sure they wish she worked for them."
Helping hand: "Janet was one of the business officers [who shared] as much information with me as she could as we built our school. ... Here you have a leader who not only gives of herself to her own school, but to many other schools and business leaders through her leadership and teaching in state and national organizations."
Servant leader: "Janet encourages people to contribute and take on leadership positions of their own. This is the sign of a true, confident leader: she is happy to have others have the visibility for the benefit of the school and partner organizations."
See a full list of the 2018 recipients and read more about the Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award. NetAssets.org will post additional profiles of Unsung Heroes throughout the fall — check in to learn more about other recipients.
