After eight years of living abroad, Mr. Hammond and his wife, Darby, repatriated and settled in Wenatchee, Washington, in the summer of 2008.  He currently teaches Band and Orchestra at Pioneer Middle School. 

As a teaching couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hammond have eight years of international school experience with Brent International School, Manila in the Philippines, Country Day School, Escazu in Costa Rica, and Bilkent University Preparatory School in Ankara, Turkey.  At Brent Mr. Hammond developed an Upper School Band program for grades 9-12.   He also started a jazz program and coached the Scuba Diving Club, which boasted thirty nine student members.  At CDS Mr. Hammond taught middle and high school band.  He also started a jazz band for students and a scuba diving club for faculty.  At Bilkent Mr. Hammond initially taught band, but became the university guidance counselor for those students who applied to universities and colleges outside of Turkey including the UK, Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia.

Prior to his international teaching experience, Mr. Hammond was the Band Director for both Friday Harbor Middle and High Schools for nine years.   The teaching assignment also included 5th Grade Beginning Band, Jazz Ensemble and one year of conducting the High School Choir.  He was the Fine Arts Department Head for several years.  During Mr. Hammond’s tenure, the Friday Harbor MS/HS bands toured internationally for their first two times: the UK in 1996 and France/Spain in 1999.  As a result he was awarded a certificate of Inspirational Leadership by the Town of Friday Harbor.  He has also instructed K-12 Classroom (General) Music to Grades K-8 for the Southeast Island School District in Southeast Alaska.  In all, Mr. Hammond has approximately 26 years of teaching experience.

In July 2002 Mr. Hammond completed a certificate of International School Leadership through the Principals' Training Center in Miami, Florida, and is currently enrolled in an extended International Principal program with USA certification through Lehigh University.  Also in 2002 Mr. Hammond completed the PADI Divemaster certification and became an instructor for Emergency First Response while in the Philippines.  In 2006 he completed a certificate for International College Admissions through the College Board at Georgetown University.

Mr. Hammond has been married to his wife, Darby, for seventeen years.  They have a son, Alex, who is in the process of finishing a teaching degree in History at Central Washington University in Ellengsburg, WA, and hopes to relocate to Japan.