Teachers actually have lives

At C.M.Russell High School, dozens of teachers work hard to educate their students, but two English teachers in particular stand out. Although they haven’t taught for the longest, they definitely have some interesting tales to tell.

Jeremy Comstock, a sophomore Honors and regular English teacher, has been teaching English at CMR for 11 years.

Likewise, English teacher Ryan Anderson has been an English teacher at CMR for nine years.

“I’ve been teaching for… say, nine years so far,” Anderson said. “I taught for two years over in Libby, and one year in Wyoming… which honestly wasn’t the best year of teaching.”

Although both men have been teaching for roughly the same amount of time, each has his own amazing stories to share of how they fell into teaching.

“I didn’t always want to teach English. I actually worked for a lawyer-client relations committee for a while,” He said. Comstock then found his teaching groove when he was in college, and realized that the lawyer-client business simply wasn’t for him.

Anderson, on the other hand, had a more direct story on how he became an English teacher.

“I’ve always liked English, but I originally wanted to get my major in film, and my teacher was Mr. Sexon, but we had to take an acting class to get the major. So I immediately changed my mind, shifted my credits to get a teaching degree, and I’ve been teaching ever since,” he said.

Although Anderson and Comstock have different stories on how they came into being a teacher, both agree that they enjoy their job.

“I wouldn’t be an English teacher if I didn’t enjoy it; and besides, it’s always… Interesting, to encounter events and surprises such as the ‘Thunderdome’,” Anderson said.

Through the thick and thin of teaching, and the love and hate that follows suit, they both have their own passions outside of their career.

“If I wasn’t a teacher I would most likely be a writer instead. I’ve always enjoyed writing,” Comstock said.

“I find myself being absorbed in my football coaching, my kids, and of course my passion for classic cars,” Anderson said.

Between the two of them, however, one of these teachers truly stands out as a true role model and leader to the future, even when the months turn to years, and time marches on. Comstock still believes he will be right where he is now.

“I would probably still be here corrupting the youth of CMR.”