Each day leading up to our first "Stars of Public Education" banquet to be held Thursday, April 27, at the USC Aiken Convocation Center we will be featuring a different Honor Court member from among this year's Giving Even More (GEM), Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year honorees.
STEPHANIE HAMMOND – MOSSY CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
POSITION: PRINCIPAL
The anticipation in the air meant the minutes passed by ever so slowly, but still the Mossy Creek Elementary students waited – quiet as mice.
They were hiding on the far end of the gymnasium, ready to let loose with cheers for their principal, Mrs. Stephanie Hammond, who was about to be surprised by District representatives on hand to announce Hammond as an Aiken County Teacher of the Year finalist and Honor Court member.
Suddenly, Hammond appeared and the students were ready. “Surprise!” they screamed.
Hammond, who eventually waded into the crowd of students, calling children by name as they smothered her with congratulatory hugs, says students are always the school’s top priority.
“We have established a student-centered culture here by forming a school leadership team and working with our stakeholders to create a school-wide vision where we focus on the whole child, build relationships, and use formative and summative assessments to drive instructional decisions in order to meet the needs of each individual student,” Hammond stated. “Our culture of learning allows teachers to work collaboratively with stakeholders to close the achievement gap. Using data and stakeholder input, we have provided instructional resources with technology, instructional programs, and leveled literacy libraries. This has enabled teachers to differentiate student instruction and prepare students for higher levels of education.”
Hammond has also used creative methods to head off bullying in an attempt to foster a safer school and learning environment.
“We established a school protection committee to work together with parents, teachers, and students to create a bullying prevention plan, which focuses on conflict resolution, using student peers, and building trusting relationships where students can report and stand up to bullying,” Hammond commented. Our plan raises awareness through curriculum, events, and activities, with an emphasis on bullying prevention and increasing student pro-social behaviors through Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports. With this program, we want to increase academic achievement by lowering many sources of student stress and frustration.”
Laurie Reese, who serves as Aiken County Public Schools Executive Director for Elementary Schools, says she has been thrilled with Mrs. Hammond’s work at Mossy Creek.
“I have enjoyed watching her transform Mossy Creek Elementary into a data-driven educational environment with an emphasis on student academic and personal achievement,” Reese stated. “Mrs. Hammond works hand in hand with her teachers to determine strategies to promote academic growth in students, and she provides professional development experiences to assist the faculty and staff in building their own professional capacity.”
Mossy Creek Elementary PTO President Joanna Arnold says Mrs. Hammond has been an outstanding supporter of the organization – whether that support come in the form of her attendance at a meeting or her willingness to be the “target” of the next fundraiser.
“She is willing to allow herself to be taped to the wall or sprayed with silly string as motivation for students to participate in fund raisers, she regularly attends PTO meetings and she has been in attendance at every after school activity that the PTO has sponsored this year,” Ms. Arnold commented. “I have also become much more aware this year of the tremendous scope of the job of a school principal, and Ms. Hammond manages all of her many school responsibilities with a friendly smile and a wonderful attitude.”
Sara Ratcliffe, who has served as the Mossy Creek Elementary School reading interventionist over the past eight years, credits Mrs. Hammond with bringing the school family together.
“Building a unified team, developing trust and respect among coworkers, students, parents and teachers takes time, but under the leadership of Mrs. Hammond we came together to function as one unit,” Ms. Ratcliffe stated. “Mrs. Hammond is outgoing, task oriented, organized, and able to maintain professionalism under high stress or difficult situations. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she takes pride in building relationships. She leads by example, focusing on equality and teamwork regardless of your job title.”