Teaching has never been just a job for Brenda Hamm. It’s a lifelong calling that began in childhood at the kitchen table with her father and has since stretched across 35 years in the Richmond School District. “I have enjoyed math since I was a small child,” said Hamm. “On rainy days when I was small, my dad would say, ‘Let’s go to the kitchen table and cipher.’ My father only had an eighth-grade education. He taught me a lot. My dream in life was to be a teacher.” As a graduate of Hardin-Central High School, Hamm credits several educators with inspiring her along the way. “When I was in school, several of my teachers went above and beyond to ensure that I could pursue this dream of mine,” stated Hamm. “ Joyce O’Dell, Martha Balman, Everett Balman, Judy Waters, Opal Richardson and Dean Hays specifically made a huge impact on my life.” That dream became a reality in the same town where she grew up. Hamm’s first teaching position was at Woodson-Dear Elementary, where she taught…