SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
BUHLER, Kan. — For Jeff Comer, being honored as the Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Teacher of the Month for May is more than an award, it’s a meaningful milestone in the place where his journey began.
A 2000 graduate of Buhler High School, Comer now teaches in the same classrooms that once shaped his own education.
“As a teacher, it’s sometimes a thankless job,” Comer said. “To have just a little bit of recognition was amazing. That’s not why we teach, we do it for the kids, but it’s still very rewarding.”
Now finishing up his eighth year at his alma mater, Comer teaches civics, modern world history and recently added psychology to his course load at Buhler High School. He is currently facilitating Hutchinson Community College’s Psychology course for upperclassmen while working toward the graduate hours required to teach it independently in the future.
“Last year, an awesome teacher here—Tricia Unruh—retired, and she had taught psychology. I actually had her when I was a student,” Comer said. “That sparked my interest. I taught sociology in El Dorado and loved it, so when she retired, I decided to pick it up.”
Comer said he’s been inspired by the mental side of the subject, especially as it connects to sports and student wellness. He plans to spend the summer revamping the psychology curriculum and refining his overall classroom approach.
“I took a few courses on advanced educational psychology and it really changed my perspective on teaching,” he said.
Comer credits his time as a Buhler student for inspiring his path into education.
“At the time I was oblivious to the great mentoring I was receiving,” Comer said. “People like Brian Wilson, Dave Schroeder, Willie Adkins, Chuck Porter and Don Cameron, they all greatly impacted my life and helped lead me to where I am now. I remember leaving Mr. Wilson’s class thinking I wanted to be a teacher.”
He never expected to return to teach in the same halls where he once roamed as a student, but said the opportunity to come back home in 2017 was a blessing.
“When I interviewed with Principal Mike Ellegood, I realized nothing had really changed about Buhler, it’s still about building relationships and providing a great educational experience,” Comer said. “He embodies what Buhler Schools are all about.”
Comer, a 2004 graduate of Kansas State University, has also served as a high school and junior high football official for nearly two decades. He and his wife, Katie (Reade), a 1998 Buhler graduate, have raised their sons in the Buhler school system, continuing the family tradition.
“Both of my children have been and are being impacted by amazing educators and coaches with USD 313,” Comer said. “I really couldn’t imagine doing any other job. I feel God has guided me to be an educator. Through my experiences at Buhler Schools. I hope I can have even half the impact on my students that my teachers had on me.”
Looking ahead, Comer is eager to grow in his new role teaching psychology. He said the transition has rekindled his passion for the classroom.
“I’m spending this summer revamping the psychology curriculum and all my classes, really,” he said. “I’m going to work until the day I stop improving. That’s how I’ll know when it’s time to move on, when I feel like I can’t get better.”
Comer is finishing up his 20th year teaching, a career which began in 2005 at Marysville Jr./Sr., followed by El Dorado High School in 2006, Newton High School in 2010, before returning to Buhler in 2017.
Comer was nominated by BHS staff member, John Clark: "Mr. Comer builds excellent rapport with all of his students. He utilizes inquiry-based instruction in his social studies classes. He allows his students to guide their learning to provide buy-in which engages them in topics about our society. He encourages his students to learn from our history and to make a difference in their future. I have witnessed his students give presentations to the class and I'm amazed at how much they are learning and can communicate about different topics about our history & world!”
