Walking a Mile in Someone Else’s (Famous) Shoes

Q&A with Matt Hamilton of the East Jordan Shoe Club

By now, there are few who don’t know of social studies teacher Matt Hamilton, or his labor of love, the East Jordan Shoe Club. The educator has, since 2008, helped his 7th and 8th graders discover their own value, and that of others, through acceptance, empathy, and civic spirit.

The club gets attention for its hundreds of shoes donated by famous folks—athletes, scientists, actors, entrepreneurs, and more—who, by determination and focus, reached their personal goals. We’re talking Michael Jordan, Dolly Parton, Steph Curry, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall, and more.

While Shoe Club is inspirational and upbeat, its origin was something else entirely: A double tragedy, the passing of two promising East Jordan High School students a month apart, put the student body and the entire community back on its heels. A school presentation was hosted by Mike Donahue, the founder of Value Up, a national motivational program designed to reach young people at their most vulnerable ages.

“Kids were hurting, and after listening to Mike Donahue speak about walking a mile in people’s shoes, and not assuming [to know] what [goes] on in someone’s life, kids [were ready] to share [their feelings]. Shoes became the symbol that we…connected with after the assembly, and the Shoe Club was created,” Matt Hamilton says.

Below is our conversation with Hamilton, lightly edited for length and clarity.

Express: Were you mentored by a special person in your youth?
Hamilton: I have absolutely wonderful parents. They were great role models who lived out their faith every day. God blessed me with compassionate, loving parents who taught me how to care for others, gave me a strong work ethic, and encouraged responsibility. My faith and my life’s mission of loving God and loving people is what drives me to do what I do.

Express: What motivated you to become a teacher?
Hamilton: I had great teachers [in Cadillac] who invested in me [and] believed in me. I wanted to offer these same values to my students. I love having the ability and opportunity to have a positive impact on others.

Express: How many students have joined Shoe Club since 2008?
Hamilton: I will estimate that about 400 kids have been a part of the Shoe Club over the years, usually about 25 percent of [each] grade.

Express: You said that you try to add a pair of shoes every month. How do you and your students decide on candidates?
Hamilton: We have about 220 shoes now. We try to find people who live out the values of the club and have interesting stories—dreaming big, setting goals, working hard and giving back. We don’t collect [the] shoes…of perfect people, because there aren’t any.

Express: Is the collection insured? What happens when you run out of room?
Hamilton: The collection is not insured—but it should be! I am already out of room…in my classroom, [so] I rotate shoes throughout the year. I also have a display case in our school lobby [and] I rotate shoes…each marking period. The display case allows…all grade [levels], community members, and visiting schools during athletic events to see the shoes.

Express: Has anyone ever turned you down?
Hamilton: We do get turned down quite often. Lin Manuel Miranda sent a handwritten note last month expressing gratitude for the request and respect for educators, but politely declined sending [his] shoes. Sometimes they send a note, and sometimes they simply [don’t] respond. We have about a 25 percent success rate, which I feel is pretty good.

Express: Who was the first person you contacted?
Hamilton: Josiah Middaugh, a 1996 East Jordan grad, who is a professional [tri]athlete, now living/training in Colorado. He has won 11 Snowshoe Championships, Xterra National, and [is a] World Champion as well as a Fat Bike World Champion. He said yes and that gave me the confidence to try more. A few months later…Tony Hawk [skateboarding legend]…sent his shoes, and it took off from there. I have been pleasantly surprised and honored by the support we have received from people all over the world!

Express: What about the horseshoe and the stuffed squirrel we’ve seen in the collection?
Hamilton: We had a local mentor, a retired doctor named Arch Dettman. He was a wonderful man…[and]…thought we needed… a horseshoe in the collection. I am not certain which horse wore it. [And] the squirrel—I was bit by one in college while trying to feed it and then peed on by one while deer hunting. [My] students find it quite funny and will give me squirrel-related things. One of my former students got that stuffed squirrel from an uncle and gave it to me.

Express: Shaquille O’Neil’s shoe is protected in plexiglass. Why is that?
Hamilton: It is just so big that I thought…a case would showcase the size (22) of it… I also have a case for the shoe worn by a sentinel [at] the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. That is really an honor…[and] it should be honored a bit more than the others.

Express: The Shoe Club raises serious money for its projects. How have they managed to raise $70,000+, not once, but many times?
Hamilton: [W]e do worthwhile projects that invest in our school and community. When…raising funds, we…leave no stone unturned. We write grants, make presentations to organizations and businesses, do fundraisers, and complete a GoFundMe. East Jordan is extremely supportive and generous, [and] I am…grateful for the financial help as well as the adult mentor[ing]. We have a great team of people who support…us with their time and talents. I am very appreciative of our wonderful community.

Express: What was the social climate in EJPS prior to the Value Up presentation and Shoe Club?
Hamilton: Just like in any school, there were/are problems with bullying, cliques, socio-economic issues, lack of parental/school cooperation, etc., [when students] come together from so many different backgrounds. [I]t’s…easier to like and respect each other when you understand where they come from and why they act or believe a certain way; in other words, walk a mile in their shoes.

I believe our school culture has greatly improved over the years [as students develop] a better understanding of their value and the value of their classmates. All schools work very hard to combat the problems of our society. It is not an easy fight, and the problems are ever changing.

Express: What was the name of the book that you co-wrote with presenter Mike Donahue? Do you plan to write a book about your experiences?
Hamilton: The book, Value Up, is for sale on the valueup.org website or download it for free on our website. Kids across the country have read it. I would love to write a book someday! I have a lot of great stories over the years that would make a great book!

Express: Has there been any interest yet from larger media—60 Minutes? CBS Sunday Morning? Hollywood?
Hamilton: We have not been approached by larger media—patiently waiting!

In Their Own Words: Shoe Club Members Share Their Thoughts

Elke Knauf, Senior: “[I]n Shoe Club, I have learned…leadership, empathy, work ethic, and teamwork. These guiding principles will have a profound impact on my future, [and] I will hold them close to my heart…”

Rylan McVannel, Junior: “I’ve learned a lot from the Shoe Club. The most important takeaway is to get results or become successful you have to try. You can only get results or change by putting in the effort.”

Able Tall, 7th Grade: “I have learned…[to] value yourself in order to value others, …that you can always switch paths and make better decisions, and…to stop and think about what other kids might be going through,…and to be more empathetic.”

Gabby Hamilton, Senior, (Matt Hamilton’s daughter): “I really enjoyed…the big projects: the solar array, elementary garden and the Veterans Memorial Park. I know I will [use] the skills I learned…in college and beyond.”

Stephanie Buckholz, Shoe Club 2015: “I am still living authentically with the values and lessons I learned back in middle school. Now more than ever…it’s important to understand that everyone has their own life experiences and to value others even if they are different from you…”

Tristan Riggs, Shoe Club 2012: “[A]lthough brief in my life story, Shoe Club ignite[d] something in me to reinvent myself and move through life with positivity and understanding. I…loved the fact that [Mr. Hamilton] kept everyone in the club involved, so no one got special treatment.”

Visit shoeclub.org/shoe-museum for stories and the entire contents of the Shoe Museum, including some local heroes: Charlevoix grads Luther Kurtz, sky-diving world record holder; Geoff Nelson, Hollywood director/producer; Chuck Fairbanks, New England Patriots coach; Jasmine Hines, Central Lake grad, MSU basketball player; and, many, many more.

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