The East Jordan Shoe Club inspires students with famous shoes

What do Oprah Winfrey, Tony Hawk and Dolly Parton have in common? Aside from being famous, they each have a pair of shoes on display in a northern Michigan middle school classroom.

Matt Hamilton knows he doesn't have a typical social studies classroom. Yes, there are a few maps and history posters – but he also has shelves full of worn-out shoes.

Still, the smell in the classroom at East Jordan Middle School doesn’t seem that bad.

“Governor. [Gretchen] “Whitmer was in our class last week, so … I put a dryer sheet in each shoe to help alleviate the smell a little bit,” Hamilton said, laughing.

Hamilton and some of his students stand in the classroom and point to various pieces in the “shoe museum.” There are many famous athletes and celebrities, but also historical figures, inventors and activists.

Just below Jane Goodall's brown loafers are Shaquille O'Neil's bright yellow size 22 shoes. There is Charlie Duke, the tenth man on the moon, and Barbara Henry, Ruby Bridges' former teacher.

Hamilton points to Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions and a pair of cherry red high heels that belonged to Dolly Parton.

In total, Hamilton has collected nearly 200 celebrity-themed shoes. They were all donated and he said he tries to acquire a new pair every month.

That doesn't always happen, but students like Seinna McLeod and Bristol Skop said they enjoy watching the collection grow.

“I can't even think of my favorite shoe,” McLeod said. “We just heard so many great stories that I couldn't even pick one. [pair] if I tried.”

The shoe museum is the flagship of the East Jordan Shoe Club, which Hamilton founded in 2008. But the club is not actually about collecting the shoes of famous people.

The year the club was founded, 2008, was a sad year for the community of East Jordan, “the kind of town where everyone knows everyone,” Hamilton said.

In January, a 15-year-old girl named Sarah Higdon died in a snowmobile accident. A month later, her boyfriend, Brandon Patton, died.

Hamilton was Sarah and Brandon's teacher and their deaths hit him hard. He can still remember them sitting in the classroom and walking through the halls.

“I was teaching eighth grade at the time and Sarah was a freshman. Brandon was … a sophomore. They were both great kids at our school,” Hamilton said. “Just smiling, hard working. Just normal young kids who are full of life and promise and have a lot of potential.”

Later that semester, the school district invited a speaker named Mike Donahue, an author and founder of Increase in value — a company that motivates young people.

Donahue visits schools to talk about difficult topics, and he believes that most of the problems young people face stem from their self-esteem.

Hamilton said one part of Donahue's speech stuck with him: when Donahue pulled out a huge duffel bag and began taking out sneakers from students who had been through tough times but persevered.

“This girl had problems at home and then she was laughed at at school. Then this boy here got a scholarship and got straight A's, but his father wasn't in his life. Kids look like everything is perfect and fine… but inside they have problems,” Hamilton said.

These worn-out sneakers were a symbol for Hamilton and his students.

They tell the story of a person who wants to reach their full potential. That's why Hamilton collects the shoes of remarkable people – because they can serve as a source of inspiration.

“When a child realizes that he is valuable no matter what, he will see himself as valuable and dream big,” he said. “He will set goals, work hard and give back.”

To participate, students must read the book “Value Up,” co-authored by Mike Donahue and Hamilton, write a paper on it, then make a list of 10 life goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

Afterwards, the students must complete a community service project every year.

In the last few years alone, the team has raised $70,000 to purchase solar panels for school buildings, helped beautify a memorial park in town and compiled a book of stories about local veterans.

The students said these were experiences they and their community would not soon forget.

“You could do some things like we do, just on a local level, just little things that you do every day that can impact your community,” says junior Ryan McVannel, who now mentors the younger members of the Shoe Club.

The last thing students have to do to be accepted into the shoe club is to donate a pair of their own.

These shoes are on the shelves opposite all the famous footwear in the classroom.

Although Hamilton's classroom is filled with the shoes of famous musicians, athletes and changemakers, he said the shelf containing students' shoes is the true “Hall of Fame.”

“These guys are my heroes,” he said. “Some would call them future leaders. I would call them current leaders.”