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But it wasn't until the Landover school's principal, Judith White, asked for everyone's attention that Hammonds-Richardson noticed this was no ordinary observation. Amid pictures snapping and heartfelt appreciation from White for her hard work, Hammonds-Richardson discovered she was one of 1,300 teachers nationwide to win $1,000 in office and classroom supplies through the OfficeMax "A Day Made Better" program.
"When people come in, they never really interrupt the class like that," Hammonds-Richardson said. "Even then it didn't click. I saw some people that had nametags on. It wasn't until she said I was nominated for something that I stood up because I go ‘Okay this is something completely different than what I thought.'"
Hammonds-Richardson, a second grade teacher, won a leather office chair, a digital camera, two 100-sheet packs of photo paper and pens, pencils, glue sticks and other supplies for her classroom. This school year marks Hammonds-Richardson second year at Dodge Park and in teaching.
"I got teary-eyed," Hammonds-Richardson said. "I cried just from the standpoint that I've only been teaching for a little over a year and the fact my principal and my assistant principal thought enough of my abilities to deserve that award was overwhelming."
Dodge Park was one of four Maryland schools that recognized teachers in "A Day Made Better" and the only school from Prince George's County. The others included Howard County's Laurel Woods Elementary teacher Paul Carpenetti, Baltimore City's Edgecombe Circle Elementary teacher Kelley Taylor and Rockville's Wheaton Woods Elementary teacher Theresa Baker.
The schools are registered with Adopt-A-Classroom, a nonprofit organization that gives the public a chance to donate money to the school of their choice. Adopt-A-Classroom partnered with OfficeMax for the "A Day Made Better" program and White nominated Hammonds-Richardson for the award.
Hammonds-Richardson said she spent more than $1,300 last year purchasing supplies such as pens, erasers, pencils and glue sticks for students. Event spokeswoman Beth Cleveland said the National Education Association estimates teachers spend an average of $1,200 per year equipping their classrooms.
"You have some kids that are going to come to school that might not necessarily be able to bring in school supplies," Hammonds-Richardson said. "I feel like part of my obligation as a teacher is not to let a child sit in class without materials. They don't come to schools with pencils or pens because maybe their parents didn't get a chance to buy them."
White was the only staff member who knew about the surprise until she briefly filled in Vice Principal Victoria Holmes on Sept. 29. Holmes said Hammonds-Richardson deserved the recognition because she "goes the extra mile to make learning fun and enjoyable" and recognized how expensive it is for teachers to prepare their classrooms.
"Although we have a [few] resources in our building it's those little things in this package that will really help supplement the things she already has," Holmes said. I just think it's a great program. For one of our teachers to receive that award I thought it was amazing."
Hammonds-Richardson said her students were shocked at the surprise and attentive as she welled with emotion.
"The thing I thought was really cute, one of my students raised his hand and said ‘Mrs. Richardson, do you need a hug?' and that was like the icing on the cake," Hammonds-Richardson said. "I said ‘Yes, I need a hug.' My kids were super excited for me."
E-mail Natalie McGill at nmcgill@gazette.net.