Two of the new teachers at Ekalaka Public Schools

Mr. Daniel Conley is no stranger to small towns, or Montana, even though the new Carter County High School English teacher was born in New York City. Conley is now in his second year teaching and made the move to Ekalaka just before this school year began.

Conley spent much of his youth in upstate New York, in a town about twice the size of Ekalaka. He spent 32 years as a chef before deciding to make a career change to teaching. His first job as a chef was for an Italian/American restaurant, but over the years he became well versed in almost everything.

As a chef, he had the opportunity to travel, working in fourteen different states including Maine and Alaska. The last 8.5 years of his culinary career were spent at Yellowstone National Park, where he grew fond of Montana and the surrounding area. Conley has, in fact, traveled to 49 of the 50 U.S. states. The remaining state, Hawaii, he is saving for his last stop, he told the Eagle on Tuesday.

Conley has always had a love for reading, which he credits to good teachers back in high school. As an avid reader he had always had a goal of becoming an English teacher. After traveling the U.S. as a chef, he decided it was time to fulfill that goal. Conley first attended a community college in New York for undergraduate studies. He then attended Sienna College where he obtained a bachelor's degree in English education, and finally attended Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York where he completed his master's.

Last year was Conley's first as an English teacher. He taught sixth through eleventh grade in Albany, New York at a Hebrew day school. After the school year, Conley searched for teaching jobs in Montana since he wanted to come back to the Big Sky State. He eventually found the position in Ekalaka.

"It is remote, but I don't mind that at all," Conley said about Ekalaka. "I feel I am well prepared."

Aside from teaching, Conley said he loves to hike and fish. He recently taught his god-daughter bait casting and spinning, and is looking forward to teaching her how to fly fish next.

Conley said that he loved being a chef, but likes teaching even more.

"Education is not a bucket to fill, it's a fire to light," he said. "My goal is to prepare the students for what's after school, whatever that might be."

Josh Spiegelblatt is one of only five Spiegelblatts in the U.S. The others are his mother, father, younger brother and older sister. He is also one of several new teachers at Ekalaka Public Schools this school year. To the students, Spiegelblatt often goes by "Mr. Josh," "Mr. S.," or even "Mr. Spaghetti."

Spiegelblatt was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up in northern Virginia, about fifteen minutes away from Washington D.C. He attended Radford University in Radford, Virginia where he studied music and music performance in tuba. He spent last year as a brass instructor in Virginia. This is his first full-year teaching.

As a K-12 music teacher, Spiegelblatt is adjusting to the new job and the area. He said that it is beautiful here, although he is still adjusting to fewer trees than what he was used to seeing in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Spiegelblatt likes to share his eclectic music tastes with the students. So far, he has introduced several of the students to Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire. "Everybody loves music," he said.

Aside from music, he is a big fan of sports and describes himself as a "foodie." He roots for all sports teams from Washington D.C., Penn State college football, and Radford college basketball. While attending Radford University in 2018, he was able to attend March Madness, one of the highlights from his time in college.

Spiegelblatt was offered the music position at Ekalaka Public Schools late, after school had already started and another teacher had resigned. He started teaching in Ekalaka on September 1. He was visiting at a family beach house in the coastal city of Bethany Beach, Delaware when he got the call.

"I was here [Ekalaka] six or seven days after," he said.

It took him a few days to get ready and the rest was spent driving more than 2000 miles to get here. He made a short stop to visit friends and family before traveling across the country and noted that it was unfortunate he didn't have time to see his sister before leaving as she is in the Navy and will soon be deployed.

Spiegelblatt moved to Ekalaka alone but has a girlfriend who is completing studies in Norfolk, Virginia to become a music therapist. His mother is planning a trip here soon, and will be bringing some of his belongings and clothes that got left behind.

When asked about what he thought of Ekalaka so far, Spiegelblatt replied, "It gets cold here. The wind doesn't mess around."

Aside from the wind, he is so far enjoying the area and his teaching position.

"The students are great and I'm trying my darndest," he said.