Wooden shed students are building in building trades.
After nearly three decades in the weight room, Coach Charlie Shoemaker is stepping into something new. For 27 of his 28 years in education, he has taught Sports Performance, building relationships with student-athletes and helping them develop interests and work ethic. Now, he’s trading in weights for tools, moving into Skills and Technical Sciences (STS), Woodworking, and Building Trades—a change that reflects not just a new classroom, but a new chapter.
“When you have been doing the same thing for 28 years, sometimes you just need something different,” Shoemaker said.
With about six years left before retirement, the decision was not about leaving something behind—it was about starting something fresh and finding a new way to impact students.
“I have had belief in trades for a while and have been looking for a change. I am excited to share and help students find that interest.” Said Shoemaker.
The opportunity came at the right time. Shoemaker had already been considering a change, and when the position opened, it felt like a natural fit—both for his interests and for the needs of the school.
“This seemed like something that I would have a strong interest in and be able to relate to students well,” Shoemaker said.
His experience working on personal projects and remodeling homes, along with earning a Career Prep endorsement, has helped prepare him for the transition. Beyond that, he sees real value in what the program offers students.
“There is so much opportunity for our students to find a skill and turn it into a career,” Shoemaker said.
While the transition brings excitement, it also comes with challenges. Moving into a new subject means stepping outside of comfort zones and learning something new alongside students.
“There will definitely be a learning curve for me,” Shoemaker said.
To prepare, he has been working closely with Mr. Daniel Birnie, learning from the structure and success of the existing program. That collaboration reflects a larger transition happening within the building.
For Birnie, who is leaving Hastings High School after 10 years to become an assistant principal at Hastings Middle School, this moment is both reflective and forward-looking.
“Change can be difficult no matter your level of experience, but it also creates opportunities for a fresh start,” Birnie said.
Having built the woodworking and construction program, Birnie sees Shoemaker as someone capable of continuing and growing what has already been established.
“He’s someone who has the drive and work ethic it takes to step into this role,” Birnie said. “It’ll be exciting to see how he makes the program his own.”
Even as Shoemaker leaves the weight room, he is not leaving behind the relationships that have defined his career. Coaching will remain a constant, and his presence in students’ lives will continue in new ways.
“This may even open up some connections to a different group of kids in our school building,” Shoemaker said.
In his new role, he is especially looking forward to the hands-on nature of the class—something that mirrors the active environment he has always thrived in.
“I’m just looking forward to creating a product and the kids working together to get it done,” Shoemaker said.
At the same time, both Shoemaker and Birnie recognize the similarities in their transitions. Each is stepping into something new, relying on experience while learning along the way.
“We’re both stepping into the unknown in a lot of ways, but making these roles our own is what’s going to set us up for success,” Birnie said.
That sense of uncertainty is balanced by purpose. For Shoemaker, the goal remains simple: help students discover something meaningful.
“I just want to do good in my job and help the students find something they might be interested in,” Shoemaker said.
