Hello. My name is Scott Hammond, and I am the Speech and Language Pathologist at Westridge Elementary School. (PWCS knows me as Hugh Hammond. My parents did a Jr. routine on my name, so I use my middle name.) I have been at Westridge ES since May 2019. I have worked in PWCS since 2011. I have worked in Baltimore City Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, and Prince George's County Public Schools as well. I have been a Speech and Language Pathologist, a first grade teacher, a school-based administrator, and a central office administrator. My undergraduate and graduate training was completed at Towson State University in Maryland. I completed additional coursework at The University of Maryland and Trinity College. I retired in June 2018, and spent a year reflecting, enjoying my interests, and spending time with family. After that year I realized I missed my identity, which is that of an educator and life-long learner, and most of all I missed the children. My personal beliefs are fairness, kindness, equity, communication, and children first.
In that spirit, I am developing this space, which I have not utilized before, as a "jumping-off" space to connect with students and parents virtually. The work I do with students is a bit different from that of other professionals. The children don't complete "assignments", per se, I do not grade work, and the essence of my work is face-to-face therapeutic support to enhance communication skills.
So this will be a "space under construction" as PWCS educators receive guidance regarding our virtual presence. I will post helpful links, suggestions for activities, tablet and phone app suggestions, and other information.
This is a difficult time, and a time with an uncertain future. It is a time to engage in the spirit of mutual support in our family lives, our social lives, and our professional lives.
With a collective virtual elbow bump,
Scott Hammond, M.S., CCC-SLP