 The new superintendent lives in Canton with her husband, Todd, and
their two children. Griffin is entering seventh grade, and Emma will
be a kindergartener. Todd Hamm is a special education teacher at
Cuba High School and is the special education coordinator for Cuba CUSD 3.
Mrs. Hamm is an experienced teacher but is also not a stranger to
administrative responsibilities. She graduated from Illinois State
University with a degree in history education and spent several
years teaching junior high social studies and language arts. Junior
high is usually considered to be a world all its own, but she really
enjoyed her time with that age group.
"I have a particular fondness for sixth through eighth grade,"
she said. "You can't take them seriously when they roll their eyes
and get mouthy. At least, within reason.
"I miss being in the classroom, but this (administration) is the
direction I've been headed for awhile, and I finally realized I
wasn't going to stay in the classroom. I was not, by any means,
burned out in the classroom. In fact, I cried when I boxed up my
things after accepting a different position."
After teaching at the junior high level in Lewistown, Mrs. Hamm
was the district curriculum director for East Peoria schools for
three years and principal at the junior-senior high school in
Delavan for one year.
"I always enjoyed working with the development aspect of
teaching," she said, "and it just evolved. The principal at
Lewistown suggested I look into a leadership and administrative
course of study."
She gives credit for her advancement and personal development to
administrators who saw her interest in professional development and
leadership skills. For example, Dr. Mary Parker, Delavan
superintendent was a "super mentor." Cliff Colbert, East Peoria
superintendent, was a wonderful mentor in finance and did "a great
job of managing administrators."
Dr. Bill Phillips, a former superintendent at PORTA, is an
instructor in the teaching and leadership program at University of
Illinois-Springfield. When Hamm was completing those courses, he
encouraged her and was a major influence on her career choice. In
her opinion, Phillips is the foremost expert on school
administration in the state of Illinois.
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"Had I had a different group of administrators to move me along,
I might not have continued in this direction," she said.
"I love working with teachers and cannot imagine doing anything
else. I am committed to this profession and to students."
She has looked at Chester-East Lincoln's record of
accomplishments and is impressed with the staff and their commitment
to the students.
"They met AYP in 2010-2011, and I credit the teachers who paid
attention to students' needs and addressed those needs."
For Chester-East Lincoln, her greatest hope is to have the school
be seen as progressive. She has already concurred with the board of
education to increase technology.
"We would like to see each student with some kind of electronic
tool to be more successful, whether that is to be a laptop, iPad,
whatever we decide," she said. "The school is lucky to have a board
that understands the importance of technology and is willing to
pursue that option.
"But it really is about all of us -- teachers, students and
families working together to move this district forward," she
continued. "They're already headed in the right direction here, and
I am excited about being part of what will come next."
[By MARLA BLAIR]
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