At Concord Carlisle High School, most faculty members hold the title of “Teacher.” However, one special individual earned a designation far more unique: “Kind of a Big Deal.” That person is Ms. Martha Hammer, who served as the administrative assistant at the front desk running the high school for over three decades.

Ms. Hammer was a cornerstone of the CCHS community, known not only for her professionalism but also for her warmth, wit, and dedication. I had the privilege of interviewing Ms. Hammer to learn more about how she came to CCHS, the lessons she’s learned, and her reflections on a long and successful career.

Career Beginnings: 

Evan Wang: Can you tell us how you came to work at Concord Carlisle High School? What was your first impression of the school? 

Ms. Hammer: I was interested in working in a school setting because it was a schedule that would work with my family. I first interviewed to be a secretary in the English Department but didn’t get the job. Shortly after that I was contacted and asked to be the receptionist in the main office. My first impression of the school was that it was a fitting role for me; I always wanted to be a teacher but grew up in a timeframe when girls weren’t encouraged to go to college; I went to secretarial school instead. I’m a master multitasker and every day was different at CCHS, something exciting was always happening and there was never a dull moment; it was fun!

Memorable Moments:

Evan Wang: Over the years, what have been some of the most memorable moments you’ve experienced at the front desk? Have there been any particularly funny, heartwarming, or unexpected encounters with students, staff or parents that stand out?

Ms. Hammer:

(Below are the many stories Ms. Hammer enumerated!)

• June 1996 — I was incredibly honored to have the yearbook dedicated to me in 1996. 
• March 2001 — After an undefeated season, the Girls Basketball Team won the Division II State Championship.
• 2005 — I had a crew of kids that served detention for 6 hours each week from October to December as a way to buy back credits in order to graduate. Their time finished right before winter break and we had a Christmas party to celebrate! We watched Christmas movies on VHS and had snacks!
• 2017 — Michelle McElroy changed my job title on the school website to “Kind of a Big Deal” and it remained there until the recent website change. 
• Throughout her career — I was a chaperone on a few school trips. Being a chaperone gave me the opportunity to travel to places I wouldn’t have been able to see on my own. We traveled to Prague, Vienna, Salzburg and Ireland with lots of kids! 
• The two days that stick out in my mind as being the busiest and when I received the most phone calls are tragically, the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and more positively, February 6, 2002; the day of the duck boat parade in Boston to celebrate the underdog New England Patriots winning Super Bowl 36. 

Changing Times

Evan Wang: What changes have you observed in the school community, technology, or the way education is approached over the years?

Ms. Hammer: Technology might be the biggest change. When I started at CCHS we didn’t even have email! Teachers would take attendance on paper and Mrs. Tracy would walk around to every classroom and collect the papers. When we had a bell schedule change I used to ring the bells by hand.

Relationships and Impact

Evan Wang: Tell of a moment in your career when you’ve changed someone’s day or even their life. 

Ms. Hammer: Henry Damon – Assistant Principal in the 90’s told the office staff that he wanted people to come into the office and feel welcome; we’d call this a sense of belonging today. His words always stuck with me, whether it was parents, teachers or kids I tried my best to make connections. I remember a particular student who started in 10th grade and needed a bit of extra kindness. The office became a safe space for her, she visited daily, just to chat and eat Funyuns. Making her feel comfortable is something I will never forget; we still keep in touch!

Reflection and Advice

Evan Wang: If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting as an admin in a school setting what would it be?

Ms. Hammer: Treat people the way you want to be treated and stay in your lane!

Fun and Personality 

Evan Wang: What’s the most unusual or surprising question or request you’ve received at the front desk?

Ms Hammer: 

Best reasons for being late or absent.

• My book fell off the table and knocked the alarm clock plug out of the wall.
• My clothes were in the dryer.
• Raccoons scared a muskrat, I had to save the muskrat. 
• My mother was mad.
• I’m driving behind my son, it’s his first time driving alone, he’s driving slow.
• We are lost in the town forest.
• Out sick, I ate bad mushrooms.
• I’m exhausted from overnight power outages.
• I ran over a squirrel, it was still alive so I ran over it again.
• I had to help my Dad with a dead cow.

Most interesting questions or comments.

• Are shoes required at high school?
• Did my son make it to school? He was riding his unicycle. 
• When does senioritis set in? 
• Where should I bring my money for the March Madness basketball pool? (this was when gambling was illegal in MA)
• There’s a TV on in the cafeteria and Ellen is on.
• I didn’t see my son this morning; can you wish him a happy birthday for me?
• Do you have toenail clippers?
• Where is lifeguarding? 
• Is it true that if it’s raining in Massachusetts you’re required to have your windshield wipers and lights on?
• My Dad will serve my detention. 
• Does Lexington High School have craft shows?

Legacy and Final Thoughts

Evan Wang: How do you hope to be remembered by the Concord Carlisle High School community? What’s the one lesson from your time at the school that you would want everyone to hear?

Ms Hammer: I hope people remember that I was rarely absent and always willing to help them, and if I didn’t have the answer to someone’s question I would try my hardest to find it. When I think back over the past 32 years, I can’t believe how fast it’s gone. In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” That becomes clear when I think about the former students that became grown-ups, their kids became students at CCHS, and some of those former students became teachers and staff members in the District or became members of the Police Department and Fire Department. Don’t dismiss the connections you make along the way, even if they don’t seem like much at that time, they’re all meaningful and important to your story in some way.

Lastly, and maybe the most important thing of all, I would like everyone to know that when I was offered the job in the main office I called my mother to ask her opinion. She said, “Martha, you need to take that job, Concord will be the best thing that will ever happen to you.” My mother was right about everything! 

The legacy of Ms. Martha Hammer will forever be cherished by the Concord Carlisle High School community. Her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts endeared her to students, faculty, and staff alike. For over three decades, Ms. Hammer poured her passion into every aspect of her work, becoming an integral part of what made CCHS feel like home for so many.

Thank you, Ms. Hammer, for your years of hard work, kindness, and leadership. Your presence will be deeply missed, but your impact will live on in the hearts of everyone you touched.