Leading the largest manufacturing shop on the Oregon Coast is shop teacher Tom Hull. After 31 years of teaching, 11 of which were spent at Marshfield, Hull is preparing to hang up the coveralls and welding hat as he plans for retirement at the end of the year.
However, Hull did not start his working career as a teacher. He first worked for his father as a cable installer for 10 years throughout the state of Washington.
“I started to get bored with installing cable,” Hull said. “I had a friend ask me what I liked to do in my spare time, and I told him that I liked fixing things so he said I should try teaching shop.”
Hull began his teaching career at South Umpqua High School and continued to teach there until 2003, when he and his wife moved to the bay Area.
“The thing that I enjoyed the most about Marshfield was the support that came from the school and community, everyone was so involved,” Hull said.
Junior Shanderah Milton has been in Hull’s manufacturing class for three years now. Milton needed to pick up an elective credit her freshman year so she joined Hull’s class. Upon entering manufacturing she said she enjoyed the atmosphere Hull provided.
“I like the challenge the class gives me,” Milton said. “Mr. Hull gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself and create whatever you like.”
However, like many students, Milton said she was saddened upon hearing the news of Hull’s plan to retire at the end of 2014-15 school year.
“When Mr. Hull leaves, the environment will be different,” Milton said. “It’s something the returning students will just have to adapt to.”
Senior Tyler Vassar has been in Hull’s class for his entire high school career, and he plans on seeking employment as a machinist after high school. Vassar said he enjoyed Mr. Hull’s hands on teaching and valuable real world experience.
“It’s a bummer he’s retiring,” Vassar said. “It was a privilege being in his class. He really helped me decide what I wanted to do with my career.”
Though Hull is ready for retirement, he said giving up teaching is no easy task.
“I enjoy working with kids,” Hull said. “Walking away from the job isn’t any easy thing to do, any teacher will tell you that.”
Though he will no longer be working, Hull’s routine will not change. He will still be found taking on projects and looking for his next big challenge in his personal shop at home.
“I’ll still be doing the same things,” Hull said. “It’ll just be in a different location.”
