Bev Hammond, who joined the School District of Mystery Lake as superintendent Aug. 1, 2010 – a year after Ryan Land arrived to become principal of R.D. Parker Collegiate – refused a formal offer by Wild Rose Public School Board in Alberta to settle her $5.29-million lawsuit against them and the case is set to go to trial in October.

"The settlement offer at the judicial review hearing in Red Deer, Alta. was a formal offer by Wild Rose Public School Board to Ms. Hammond," Keith Warren, chair of the Wild Rose Public School Division, told the Thompson Citizen Jan. 20. "The offer was refused by Ms. Hammond and the trial is set for the full month of October 2012 in Red Deer," Warren said.

Hammond was deputy superintendent from 2003 to 2007 of Wild Rose School Division #66, based out of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, and became superintendent in January 2008 on a five-year contract, but a year later on Jan. 21, 2009, while on sick leave expected to run through June 2009, was fired by the Wild Rose School Division on a "without cause basis," trustee Keith Warren told the Drayton Valley Western Review in an interview in 2009. On April 14, 2009, Hammond launched a $5.29-million lawsuit in Red Deer, against the Wild Rose School Division, along with two of its trustees, Warren, and Eric Tait. Wild Rose School Division also takes in Drayton Valley, Caroline, Leslieville, Breton and Condor.

Four and a half months ago, Wild Rose School Division #66, with Warren as chair, Gary Thompson, vice-chair and trustees Bonnie Miller, Lynn Oberle, Nancy McClure and Dixie McLeod in attendance, held a special board meeting Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. in the courthouse in Red Deer to approve a final settlement offer to Hammond, as presented by defence counsel Gordon Sharek, during a judicial dispute review process held on Aug. 25 and 26, 2011.

McLeod moved approval of the board's making an offer to settle the lawsuit. The terms of the settlement offer were not disclosed publicly and the entire meeting – closed and open sessions – lasted 12 minutes, with the open session lasting just one minute.

Hammond resigned as superintendent of the School District of Mystery Lake Jan. 18. She had been on medical leave from Dec. 13 through Dec. 22 and on holidays from then through Jan. 9 when classes resumed. She attended the school board trustees' meeting Jan. 10.

In an e-mail sent about 5:25 p.m. Jan. 18 to all School District of Mystery Lake trustees and staff, Hammond wrote:

"It is with both regret and anticipation that I must advise you of my resignation as your Superintendent/CEO of Schools effective immediately. Life has a way of throwing us a few curve balls from time to time and my decision, while not an easy one, is the right one for me at this time both personally and professionally."

Hammond replaced Hugh Fraser, a well-known figure in the school district who re-retired. Fraser, a former Thompson student and teacher, was appointed vice-principal of R.D. Parker Collegiate in 1984 and became principal in 1990. After moving to Winnipeg and taking on distinguished positions such as president of the Canadian Association of Principals, Fraser was coaxed out of retirement in 2007 to serve as assistant superintendent, later moving to the full superintendent position.

Hammond, who was born in Newfoundland, has worked in education from kindergarten to Grade 12 and up to the territorial department of education level.

She obtained her undergraduate degree from Memorial University in St. John's in 1990 in biochemistry secondary science and considered going to medical school. In 2002, she obtained her master's degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Alaska Southeast.

She started her teaching career in Alberta and later spent almost five years in the Yukon, both teaching and later working for the Yukon Department of Education. Hammond has also been an instruction and programming co-ordinator for the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy in Calgary and a high school vice-principal in Hope, British Columbia.

Hammond was one of three finalists for the superintendent's job with the Juneau School District in Alaska in April 2009.

Hammond told the Thompson Citizen in an interview shortly after arriving here in September 2010, "It is the superintendent's philosophy and behaviour of leadership which sets a culture and tone in an organization. It's about establishing that with our organization, letting people know who I am, what I stand for, what I believe in, and certainly advising the board, acting on behalf of the board, and ensuring that our operations are effective in support of student learning."

She noted at the time: "The teachers are the ones in the trenches."