It takes a special kind of person to inspire in the classroom. Teachers come from all walks of life and bring their unique experiences to the table. Sometimes, it is the experiences gained in teaching that propels these special people into successful careers outside of the classroom. Or is it that the profession draws unique and passionate people?

Bill Cosby

This family favorite is the consummate renaissance man. Cosby has been a sailor, a track star, a jazz multi-instrumentalist, a standup comic, the first African-American action hero on network television, a movie star, and the patriarch of one of the world’s most beloved television families. It makes you wonder when he found time to teach. Though he studied physical education after the Navy, he did not finish his degree. It wasn’t until after the cancellation of his first sitcom (where he played a gym teacher) in 1971 that he finished his degree. From there he began to develop educational and children’s programming. He wrote his doctorate dissertation on the Fat Albert!

President Barack Obama

There’s that mean old saying “Those who can’t do teach.” If it were true, I guess that would mean President Obama left the teaching profession because he had things to do… like ruling the free world! After graduation from Harvard Law School, President Obama took a job as a fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. He was a lecturer there for 12 years, including the entire time that he was a state senator! It wasn’t until he ran for U.S. Senate that he retired the chalk.

Both Simon and Garfunkel!

After the breakup of the dulcet duo, Art Garfunkel tried a few different things. He made a solo record and a few movies. While his former singing partner, Paul Simon was carving out a successful pop solo career, Garfunkel spent some time teaching mathematics at a small prep school in rural Connecticut. Simon moonlighted by teaching songwriting workshops at NYU around the time he struck it big on his own.

Mr. T

His name sounds like a gym teacher’s name, right? That’s what he was indeed. Laurence Turead worked two jobs. At night he was a no nonsense bouncer at a club, and during the day he taught gym class in some of Chicago’s toughest south side schools. Once Mr. T earned his fame and fortune in Hollywood, he turned his attention to helping people. In 1984 he made a series of self-help movies and recordings for children and teens. The videos deal mostly with self-esteem, personal motivation, and hygiene, while the records were positive raps about staying in school and avoiding drugs.

People who are passionate about their specialties make really great teachers. These may be examples of individuals who couldn’t stick with the profession for one reason or another, but each has tried to make the world better in their own way. It makes sense that they would try teaching first!

Janet Rivas writes for higher education blogs. Several schools offer Masters in Education degrees.