Meet Hammerstone’s Teaching Assistants
At Hammerstone School, our Teaching Assistants (TAs) all share a deep commitment to creating a space where others can learn, take risks, and grow.
Many first walked into a Hammerstone class feeling unsure if they belonged in a carpentry space. Now, they volunteer their free time to help others discover that carpentry is for everyone.
We are endlessly grateful for the time, care, and soul our TAs bring to Hammerstone. Because of them, we are so much more than a school - we are a vibrant and growing community of builders, each of us ready to pick up a power tool and share our expertise to help others. Every TA brings their own unique gifts to Hammerstone, and the tapestry of unique life experiences and backgrounds is a marvel.
Kelly commonly assists with our Adirondack Chair class - you can catch her teaching intro power tool skills with a contagious smile!
Kelly Cobb (she/her)
Kelly has a sparkle in her eye and a fierce dedication to learning—she's here to grow and help others do the same. She remembers being '“terrified of not being perfect” the first time she picked up tools at Hammerstone, and now she’s the person helping others push past that fear. Her support style is gentle and intuitive: sometimes just standing nearby and offering encouragement, other times giving a hands-on lesson to boot students off the struggle bus. Oh, and her favorite tool? “The Power to Smash the Patriarchy (gently, with a mallet).”
Yvette de Boer (she/her)
Yvette is a retired science teacher who spent decades educating middle and high school students. She first came to Hammerstone as a student, where she overcame her nerves around power tools and quickly fell in love with the hands-on learning environment. Now a Teaching Assistant, she finds joy in watching others build confidence and independence through carpentry. Yvette brings patience, encouragement, and a deep belief in everyone's ability to learn and grow. When she’s not in the shop, you’ll find her exploring trails, listening to bird songs, and soaking in the beauty of the natural world.
Yvette in the wood shed she built after taking classes in the Tiny House Series
Rachel working in Basic Carpentry Skills 102: Cat Shelves
Rachel Druger (SHE/HER)
By day, Rachel works in tech solving big problems. Outside of work, she’s all about creating. Introduced to Hammerstone by her mom, she was instantly hooked. “Helping people and building things are my two favorite things,” she says. As a TA, she loves watching students leave class feeling powerful and confident. “Carpentry looks intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.”
Sue Irvine (She/Her)
By day, Sue works in IT at Cornell and understands the challenges of working in a male-dominated field. That’s part of what draws her to Hammerstone’s mission. After taking Basic Carpentry Skills 101 in April 2024, she said YES to becoming a TA to help others discover how fun and empowering carpentry can be. Sue’s favorite tool, the table saw, speaks volumes about her approach: precision and power, clean lines, and confidence.
Sue with her Elevated Planter Box
Shinong Ji (She/They/她)
Shinong test-fitting a sturdy shelf in our Build a Bookcase class.
A psychotherapist by trade, Shinong brings deep listening skills and a love of movement into the workshop. Whether it's climbing, dancing, or swinging a hammer, they cherish helping students find joy in their bodies and build confidence through carpentry. Shinong first joined Hammerstone in Basic Carpentry Skills 101 and hasn’t looked back. What excites her most about Hammerstone? "Literally EVERYTHING...a feminist carpentry school that invites all people to the trades? Yes, please." Her favorite part of teaching is witnessing those lightbulb moments, “when that face lights up like, Oh! I can do this!"
Suz Newman (they/them)
Suz works as an event coordinator for Research & Innovation at Cornell and is a long-time fiber artist with a passion for handcraft. They joined Hammerstone shortly after the 2016 election and have remained deeply involved ever since, drawn to the school’s empowering, inclusive environment. As a TA, Suz brings thoughtful encouragement, vulnerability, and humor, helping students navigate learning with compassion and curiosity. They believe in meeting people where they’re at and creating space for failure, growth, and pride. Off the clock, Suz enjoys time with family at their camp in the Finger Lakes, canoeing, and playing hockey.
Like many of our students, Suz took our Basic Carpentry Skills 101 class and hasn’t looked back!
Clém at our Table Saw Fundamentals class
Clémence Saillant (She/Her)
Clémence is a court reporter by day, but her heart is always looking for more tool time. “More tool time?! Say less,” she joked when asked why she became a TA. Her first interaction with Hammerstone was calling to ask about sawhorses, and now she’s one of the key people helping others feel at home in the shop. She’s passionate about physical work and emotional power, and her favorite part of TAing? "The students’ sense of accomplishment." Clém describes Hammerstone’s teaching vibe as “patient, skilled, and knowledgeable,” and her favorite tool is the reliable table saw.
Emme Wong (She/Her)
A local design-build professional, Emme first learned about Hammerstone while working in the trades. She was immediately drawn to the community and its values. “I love teaching things that I’m passionate about and seeing others gain confidence in themselves,” she says. Her favorite part of weekends? Long bike rides to swimming holes—and yes, she’s equally adventurous in the classroom. She’s especially moved when students realize they can build something themselves. “It will empower you to create more!” she says. Her go-to tools? The pocket hole jig and drill.
Emme has volunteered during our free Solidarity course for Immigrants and Refugees. Emme is also our TA for Intro to CAD, a fully virtual class. Here she is sitting in her newly-built Adirondack chair!
Our TAs bring their whole selves to every build. They understand that growth isn’t linear and that empowerment often begins with encouragement. They create a culture of respect and shared triumph. Ask any of them what they love most, and they’ll likely mention the pride on a student’s face after a tricky cut, or the way a group of strangers transforms into a tight-knit team over a few days. As Suz puts it,
“When I think about my time at Hammerstone, I think about all the pride, smiles, and people overcoming fears and barriers. And all the friendships I see form at every class.”
Some of our TAs first arrived to Hammerstone in moments of personal transformation or big life transitions. Others first came to us with plans to gain skills for a specific home project. They all started as students, and we’re incredibly proud to now have them on our teaching team. If you’re wondering if you should take a class, we think Yvette said it best:
