Wayne Magazine Back to School 2020 | Page 14

school Making room for preschool Early childhoodcenter comes to Wayne, led by educator Jessica Hammond WRITTENBYPHILIPDEVENCENTIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN R. WEXLER The building blocks of learning start getting stacked before kindergarten, and Jessica Hammond is an architect ofthat early childhood instruction. This year, she is laying anew foundation for academic achievement at the K-12 district’s most historic schoolhouse. Hammond is the principal of the district’s new early childhood center at Preakness School onHamburg Turnpike inWayne. The east wing of the circa-1924 building was renovated toaccommodate 11 classrooms for 3- to 5-year-old children. Hammond, 44, says her life’s work has revolved around those formative years. “We’re really the gateway to the educational system for students,” she says. Anative of Massachusetts, she lives in Upper Saddle River with her husband, Todd, and her sons, Maverick and Zachary. “There’s just so much learning that happens,” she adds. “I love that —I love being apart of it. I’m beyond excited for this position, and I’m eager towork with our teachers and families.” Hammond, who is being paid an annual salary of $139,821, was hired by the Board ofEducation in May. She was among more than 110 applicants for the job. Schools Superintendent Mark Toback says her background in preschool settings cinched her appointment. “Her qualifications are aligned with what we need for an early childhood principal,” the schools chief says. “It’s a new school, so someone with that experience, who can step in and help toshape the program, is an enormous benefit for the district.” Hammond was most recently a coach in curriculum development and early literacy for the state Department of Education, and has 18 years of experience as a teacher or administrator for preschools in New England. She was also an adjunct professor of early childhood and human development for Purdue University Global Inc. (an accredited online college) and Rutgers, and earned a doctorate in education leadership at Johnson &Wales University in 2011. She completed undergraduate work at Fitchburg State University. There is a lot riding on the success of the district’s early childhood center. Opening the preschool was the second step of a multi-million dollar plan to bring full-day kindergarten to the township. Wayne remains the last public district in the county without such a program. Voters rejected 12 BACK TOSCHOOL 2020 WAYNE MAGAZINE