Approximately 30 years have passed since Science Instructor Charles Lail first entered the doors of West Iredell High School. As the new Physics teacher, he was a scared but confident educator wanting to make a difference in students’ lives. But little did Lail know that once he began teaching at West, he would stay there for nearly three decades, dedicating his time to finding the best ways to teach students and to educate their minds until his retirement on May 31.

    According to Lail, he developed a love for science and experimenting at a young age.   

    “I would always go experiment in a little lab I made in my father’s garage,” Lail said. “I would always love seeing what would happen when you mixed one thing with another. I almost burnt down my father’s garage a few times too.”

    Lail graduated from Western Carolina University in 1979 with a major in Chemistry, Secondary Education, even though he never intended on becoming a high school science teacher.

    “I started out majoring in Chemistry to go to pharmacy school,” Lail said. “But [in college], I took a course where I had to give a speech on a chemistry topic. I spoke on nuclear fusion and when I was done, my teacher said that I did a great job explaining everything and he asked me if I had ever considered becoming a teacher.”

    Lail took his teacher’s inquiry to heart and switched his major to Chemistry, Secondary Education. After graduating he went to pursue a career in teaching.

    “As soon as I graduated, I started working in a saw mill in Turnersburg, North Carolina,” Lail said. “Then I got my first interview [for a teaching job] at a middle school in South Carolina. But around the same time I got a call from Jay Wayne Miller (the principal of West at the time) who called to set up an interview as well.”

    Even though Lail had not secured a position at West, he turned down the middle school job in hopes of acquiring a high school science position. He officially began teaching at West in 1979.

    “My first year was really scary. Looking back now it makes me feel sorry for the first group of kids that had me because there were so many better ways I could’ve taught them,” Lail said.

    But Lail was not only a science teacher; he was also the softball coach for 22 years, and spent a few years as the Cross Country and Track coach.

    “When I was the softball coach, we went to the state playoffs 18 years in a row,” Lail said. “Coaching was definitely another passion of mine.”

    According to Lail, teaching and coaching have not only given him the opportunity to play a small role in shaping young men and women’s lives, but it has also proven to be a continuous learning opportunity.

    “I’ve learned a lot through teaching,” Lail said. “I’ve learned that teaching is an art form. Taking something so abstract and getting it across to students is something not everyone can do. You have to think outside the box and say to yourself, ‘What’s the best way I can get this to stick in their minds’?”

    But according to Lail, even if it is difficult to get across a concept to a class, he has never hated doing his job.

    “Some people say I’m crazy because I say I love to teach,” Lail said. “But I’ve never dreaded going to work in the morning. I could never work in an assembly line. It’s too much of the same thing every day. That’s why I love teaching because it’s always a challenge and it’s always different.”

    And throughout his entire career, Lail has taught some students that went on to become teachers at West. According to current students, he is consistently inspiring those in his classes today.

    Senior Dallas Crone recalls fond memories of having Lail as a teacher and explains how he has inspired her as a student.

    “Mr. Lail is a great teacher,” Crone said. “He’s very smart and is always willing to help. He will be missed next year and he likes to blow stuff up.”

    Career Development Coordinator Alan Williams also remembers many fond memories of having Mr. Lail as a teacher.

    “Mr. Lail made learning fun. He was always excited about what he was teaching and did a great job of conveying that [excitement] to us [students],” Williams said. “I remember getting acid on my face in his class and almost being blinded [laughs]. I think when he’s gone, West will be losing a teacher with a whole lot of knowledge and experience.”

    However, students and faculty will not be the only ones to miss once Lail he retires. According to him, he will miss many aspects of teaching, including the comradery between his fellow teachers and the diversity of the students at West.

    “I’m definitely going to miss blowing up things,” Lail said. “I’ll miss helping students as well.”

    Lail is not entirely sure about what he will do with the time he has once he retires, but he does know that he wants to travel with his family. According to him, he will always miss and love teaching even if he is not doing it everyday.

    “I hope that I did justice to everyone that passed through my classrooms,” Lail said. “I really hope I didn’t leave anyone behind. I’m going to miss it.”