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 2025 recipients. Stay tuned throughout the summer for additional profiles.
Title: Director of Finance and Human Resources
School: Follow the Child Montessori School, Raleigh, NC
Years at the School: Five
Superpower: Financial Precision : From day one, Emily Evans brought clarity and structure to the school’s financial operations — modernizing processes, correcting past issues and implementing policies aligned with GAAP and FASB standards. “Evans is the backbone of our school's financial operations, demonstrating exceptional dedication, expertise and leadership,” said her nominator, Operations Manager Carson Smith. “Her judgment is trusted implicitly, and she is the go-to for all things finance and HR.”
Shape-Shifter: When Evans joined the business office at Follow the Child Montessori five years ago, she dove headfirst into the world of independent school human resources. “Her remarkable ability to adapt and excel in this role has been transformative to the school,” said Smith. Today, Evans manages onboarding and offboarding, benefits programs, donor compliance and more.
Future Builder: Evans played a crucial role in securing a major loan and managing financial planning for the school’s upcoming building project. “This project is vital to the future of the institution, and Emily’s strategic oversight ensures its financial feasibility.”
Evans embodies the essence of an unsung hero — working tirelessly behind the scenes, taking on complex responsibilities with diligence and grace, ensuring the school's long-term success.
Other Duties as Assigned: In addition to her core responsibilities, Evans stepped up to lead a professional development workshop for staff on “appreciation languages”— how to express gratitude in the workplace to foster a culture of mutual recognition and support. “She sets an example of how quiet, steady leadership can profoundly impact an organization,” her nominator shared.
Heart and Hustle: “Evans embodies the essence of an unsung hero — working tirelessly behind the scenes, taking on complex responsibilities with diligence and grace, ensuring the school's long-term success. She is a true joy to work with.”
