SHA Principal - Mr. Bob Hamm

Bob Hamm has been a Catholic School Principal for 27 years. Mr. Hamm has served as a School Board member for the University of San Diego High School and also serves as a University of California, San Diego (U.C.S.D.) instructor as well as a Core Knowledge Consultant.

More about Mr. Hamm

Mr. Hamm holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Texas Tech University, and a Masters of Education degree from the same university. He earned his Lifetime Teaching Credential from the state of Texas.

Mr. Hamm is a native of Waco, Texas and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He taught American History to eighth grade public school students for nine years before beginning a career as school a Principal. As a public school teacher he was named the Outstanding American History teacher in Central Texas. He also was the first middle school teacher in the State of Texas to introduce "Death and Dying" as part of the middle school curriculum. Mr. Hamm has been a principal of Catholic schools for 27 years, including nine years at St. Louis Catholic school in Waco and 18 years at Sacred Heart Academy. As a principal of Sacred Heart Academy he introduced the Core Knowledge Curriculum to the school and Sacred Heart Academy became the first school - public or private - in the state of California to adopt this curriculum. When asked why he chose his role as principal, he said, "I am a principal because in this position I am able to be an educational and spiritual leader. I can be a viable catalyst for change in a school, always leading a school into a more challenging and rewarding direction. As principal, I am able to form a team of professionals who are committed to the same educational and spiritual goals as I am and who work toward the same ideals and goals."

Before beginning his career in education, Mr. Hamm served in the U.S. Army, spending most of his time in the Adjutant General's office in the U.S. Army Headquarters for Europe in Heidelberg, Germany. Before his service in the military, he was a member of VISTA, the domestic Peace Corps, working with families living in poverty in the Mt. Shasta area of northern California. While with VISTA, he met the future Mrs. Mary Hamm, who hails from Minnesota. Mrs. Hamm "retired" to become a full time mom when their daughter, Elizabeth was born. "Elizabeth, is the very special person that she is because her mother was there for her while she was growing up."

Mrs. Hamm concentrated all her time and energies to ensure that Elizabeth attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through college, receiving her degree from the University of San Diego. Today she is Director of Marketing at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. Mrs. Hamm is still "retired" and enjoying life in beautiful San Diego with her " incorrigible husband" (Mr. Hamm's words not mine). Anyone can see that Mr. and Mrs. Hamm are duly proud of their daughter and relish every fleeting moment they spent with her, a good lesson for us all!

Mr. Hamm's favorite sport is football and guess what his favorite team is...you got it...the Dallas Cowboys!!! Those Texans are loyal to the end!

Mr. Hamm's parting words: "I talk to my best friend, God, many times everyday, and I thank Him for the many blessings He has given me in my life, especially for allowing me to spend time with you!"