Grandville — Once a coach, always a coach. That’s how Charlie Hess got into education, and it’s how he views school leadership today.
The Grandville Public Schools graduate is now Oakestown Intermediate School’s new assistant principal, and in his office filled with sports memorabilia, he’s ready to coach Grandville’s fifth- and sixth-graders through all the highs and lows that come with the intermediate years.
Get to know the new assistant principal in this edition of Meet Your Administrators:
Other positions you’ve held in education:
- Elementary physical education teacher, Kelloggsville Public Schools
- Middle and high school PE and health teacher, Comstock Park Public Schools
- Interim AD and athletic director, Comstock Park Public Schools
- Dean of students, Grandville Middle School
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, Northern Michigan University
- Bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, Grand Valley State University
- Master’s degree in education, Grand Valley State University
Did you always know you wanted to work in education? Hess’ original plan was to become a physical therapist, but he said he “always had an itch” for teaching. After college he returned to West Michigan and began coaching football for Grandville Public Schools. That’s when his career aspirations changed.
“Honestly, the coaching did it for me because I found out that I really liked working with kids, I liked seeing their growth and I liked seeing the light-bulb moments,” he said. “And to be honest, kids are just fun to be around. I couldn’t imagine finding something that was as fun as that was.
“I kind of always had (teaching) in the back of my head, but there’s that old saying, ‘Those who can’t teach, teach PE,’ and that was kind of a mental block for me. I’m thankful for the coaching because I got into the field a different way and that sparked me to go back and get my teaching degree. So I got a late start, but it was worth it in the end. It’s where my passion is.”
What made you want to become an administrator? “I want to see people grow. I want to help them become better at whatever thing they want to get better at. This role is a coaching role, and I really enjoy coaching. I think coaching kids and other people in the building is a really big task, but I think it’s a task that’s worthy of being held by someone who really wants to do it. And that’s where I’m at.”
Why the middle-level grades? “That also goes back to coaching. I think these kids are coachable. I think a lot of students need someone who’s there to coach them — who is willing to do the ‘not so cool’ things, but also just hang out with them and let them be a kid. I like this age because they are impressionable. They want to learn new things. They are going to fail, but this is a great time to fail and then learn. We have the opportunity to teach the right way to do things or how to fix mistakes or figure out how not to fail the next time. And I just think it’s really important at this age (for students) to find someone that they can trust and someone who believes in them.”
What would you like to share about your family? “My family is busy! I’m married to my wonderful wife and we have three beautiful kids, who are (ages) 5, 3 and 1. The oldest starts kindergarten this year and wants to do all the sports, so that’s going to be a whole new level of busy. … We spend time camping, riding on the dunes at Silver Lake and things like that — really, we just like to be together. Anything we can do, we try to do it together. We don’t sit around a lot.”
Is there a book, TV show or podcast you’ve enjoyed lately?
“LEAD…for God’s Sake!” by Todd G. Gongwer, about a basketball coach who learns different leadership and coaching styles from the people around him.
“It was really good to read, because it showed that whole idea that teaching and leadership is not ‘one way fits all.’ We have to take different avenues to learn about them and meet them where they are and all those important things.”
What kind of kid were you at the age of your Oakestown students? “I was quiet and shy. I was always busy with sports, so I just didn’t ever want to get in trouble. I just kind of went about my own business and that was it.”
‘I think coaching kids … is a really big task, but I think it’s a task that’s worthy of being held by someone who really wants to do it. And that’s where I’m at.’
— Assistant Principal Charlie Hess
What is one thing on your bucket list? “I want to travel to every MLB stadium in America — I’ve got about 20-ish more to go. And you have to not just visit, but go to a game to fully count.”
Describe your leadership style in seven words or less:
- Flexible (“Especially in a school, a leader needs to be flexible. There’s no such thing as a ‘day-to-day.’ Things change a lot.”)
- Consistency (“In education, consistency in what you do and what you say is really, really important.”)
- Caring (“I think some people look at me as kind of a big and scary guy, but I care about what I’m doing and I care about the kids, so I try to project that I’m here to help and to do whatever needs to be done.”)
What’s the best thing about going into K-12 education? “Definitely it’s working with the kids. That’s why I went into it — for the relationships and the success of the kids. Even on tough days or busy days, there’s always something positive you can take out of the day. You remind yourself that you’re here for the kids and for what they need. We’re giving kids a place that not only educates them and keeps them safe, but they get to see people that care about them. That’s the whole reason I got into it and that’s still the same today.”
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