SCHUYLER HEDSTROM | Director
Dartmouth College, B.A., English

While at Dartmouth, Schuyler spent two semesters abroad, studying Spanish art history in Barcelona and drama with coaches from the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. After performing and teaching theatre in San Francisco for two years, he moved to Madrid to teach English and acting to Spaniards. Now in his twelfth year in Madrid, Schuyler teaches English and runs a bilingual theatre company. A Vermont native, Schuyler enjoys hiking, swimming, and yoga. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Central America. This is Schuyler’s sixteenth summer with Putney. He has led Cultural Exploration Australia New Zealand, and Fiji; Cultural Exploration Switzerland, Italy, France, and Holland; Community Service Hawaii; three summers directing Foundations Costa Rica, and nine summers with Putney’s Pre-College programs in Madrid and Barcelona. He is fluent in Spanish and Italian.

TOBEY WARD | Assistant Director
University of Oregon, M.F.A., Creative Writing
Brandeis University, B.A., Creative Writing

Originally from Western Massachusetts, Tobey has lived and traveled extensively in Thailand, France, Spain and Central and South America, including a summer co-leading Putney’s Community Service program in Costa Rica. In 2008, she received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Oregon, where her story “Suicide Baby” was awarded the Logsden Fiction Prize and published in Red Rock Review. Her fiction and style writing have also appeared in Omphalos, Complex, DC Magazine, and South Park. She currently works as a writer for Urban Outfitters, which allows her to indulge her other obsession: fashion. Tobey is also a 200-hour certified yoga instructor. She is proficient in Spanish and has taught for two summers on Putney’s Pre-College programs for high school students. This is her second year as Assistant Director on Pre-College Barcelona.

ZACK STERN-WALKER | Art & Architecture: Medieval to the Surreal
Chestnut Hill College, M.Ed., Spanish
Columbia College, B.A., Playwriting

Zack studied art history with an emphasis on film and play writing in his undergrad while writing poetry and drawing on the side. His writing and visual art have been published widely, both online and in print. Zack currently teaches high school Spanish, serving as faculty mentor for Spotlight, a student run talent showcase broadcasted live from the school. He has traveled in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, and Spain. When he is not teaching Spanish or working on art projects, he enjoys swimming, cooking, reading and meditation. This is his second year teaching Art & Architecture in Barcelona.

DAVID MARTINEZ | Spanish Cuisine
University of San Francisco, M.A., Education
Occidental College, B.A., American Studies

Born and raised in the Bronx, David grew up in a Puerto Rican household, absorbing the rich culture and language of the island from his family and community. Beyond his frequent trips back to Puerto Rico, David experienced his first taste of international travel as a participant in Putney’s Pre-College enrichment program in Spain in 2005. During his undergraduate studies at Occidental College, David spent a semester abroad in Spain, where he enrolled at the Universidad de Granada. During this time he also worked at the university library, translating their webpage to English. In the last couple of years David has acquired his K-8 Multiple Subjects Credential and recently completed his M.A. in Education with a focus on Digital Media and Learning at the University of San Francisco. He also enjoys the multiple “hats” he wears at Marin Preparatory School, a Spanish-Infusion elementary school in San Francisco. David has led Putney’s Pre-College summer program in Madrid and Pre-College summer program in Barcelona for the past four years.

EVAN OVERTON | Spanish Language: Topics in Life & Culture
Boston University, M.A., Spanish and Education
Boston University, B.A., Sociology

Evan developed his passion for language and foreign culture while studying abroad in Madrid for two semesters. He returned to Spain to teach English at an overnight summer camp for children and to work for the Boston University in Madrid program. Now in his fifth year as a Spanish teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, Evan also teaches 7th and 8th grade mathematics. An amateur gardener, avid cyclist, voracious reader, and board-game enthusiast, he is always pleased to share his experiences abroad and encourage others to pursue their own passions to the fullest.

KATE J. MILLER | Travel Photography
Messiah College, B.A., Art History, B.A., Studio Art, B.A., Anthropology

As an undergrad, Kate focused her art history studies in 17th century depictions of St. Irene and St. Sebastian. She earned a grant to research at the Seattle Art Museum to further her thesis work. In addition to art history, she also pursued photography and experimented with many historic alternative printing processes of large format and digital negatives. Kate studied abroad in Paris, as well as Rome and Orvieto, Italy. After college, she moved to Philadelphia where she worked as a photographer, editor, and consultant for a wedding and portrait photography studio. Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as a professional portrait and lifestyle photographer. When she is not shooting or editing, she enjoys running, yoga, and tacos. Kate speaks Spanish and Italian. She has taught on four Pre-College programs for Putney in London, Florence, Madrid, and Barcelona.