David Hammond
Founder, Beyond The Classroom Tour & Travel
David Hammond brings over four decades of passion, purpose, and professionalism to the world of student travel. With a deep foundation in education and the performing arts, David has dedicated his life to creating meaningful learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.
A 1974 graduate of Otterbein College with a Bachelo
r of Arts in Theatre, David began his career at Mount Gilead High School, where he transformed a traditional theater program into a dynamic, student-centered department. His innovative approach introduced full-scale productions, student-directed workshops, and the annual New York City theater tour—an early glimpse into his belief in the power of experiential learning.
In 1978, David began working with Lloyd Meeker, President of Field Studies Center in New York City, as an independent sales representative—an early step into the world of educational travel that would ultimately shape his career.
After leaving Mount Gilead in 1979 to serve as Designer/Technical Director for Players Theatre of Columbus, David joined Upper Arlington High School in 1982 as Director of Theatre and Supervisor of the Performing Arts Facility. He remained there until his retirement from teaching in 2004. During this time, he earned his Master’s Degree in Theatre Education from The Ohio State University (1984), served on the Ohio State Thespian Board, and was a member of the Ohio Theatre Alliance.
David’s impact extended nationally when he organized the first Ohio Youth Chorale Concert at Carnegie Hall in 1992, a milestone that led to his ongoing work with the prestigious Carnegie Hall Music Festivals, including the National Youth Choirs and the National Band and Orchestra Festival.
Retirement from the classroom allowed David to fully immerse himself in educational travel, representing Field Studies Center and WorldStrides at national conferences such as SETC, TETA, the Florida Thespian Conference (the largest in the country), the EDTA National Conference, and numerous music educator gatherings, including OMEA.
From these decades of experience, Beyond The Classroom Tour & Travel was born—an organization rooted in David’s unwavering belief in student-centered, curriculum-aligned, and relationship-driven travel. David works directly with educators, students, and parents to craft memorable, meaningful, and stress-free learning adventures. From the classroom to Carnegie Hall – and everywhere in between – David’s mission is to bring learning to life with travel beyond the classroom.
