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: Chief Financial Officer and 2021–22 Interim Head of School
School: Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, North Carolina
Years in Position: 22
Years in an independent school business office: 27
Superpower: Growth mindset: Under Mancos’ leadership, Charlotte Country Day was able to grow its endowment from $11 million to $50 million. Mancos also oversaw the largest campus improvement and infrastructure project in the school’s history: a four-year, multi-phase process that resulted in the construction of 12 buildings over the course of three capital campaigns. He is now overseeing the next phase of campus improvement, the 47,000 square foot performance gym and natatorium, set to open in winter 2022.
Above and beyond: Mancos is “extremely hard working" and "equally at ease leading a multimillion-dollar investment discussion as he is checking in on a bus transportation issue," said Head of School Mark Reed. "With humility, he puts his heart and soul into every aspect of operational excellence." For example, every August, Mancos "personally checks every single classroom to ensure we are ready before the first day of school.”
Next phase: When Reed announced his departure in January 2020, Mancos agreed to step in as interim head of school for the 2021-22 school year. “David never planned to be a head of school, but his priority has always been to put the school first. He accepted the role out of his devotion to always do whatever he can to best serve the school,” said Reed.
Other duties as assigned: In 2015, Mancos was inducted into Country Day’s Honorary Alumni Association, joining a small and distinctive group. “It’s the highest honor a faculty or staff member can receive, and it speaks to the attributes and qualities he models for others in the way he approaches his work,” said Reed.
See a full list of the 2021 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.
