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.

ANTHONY POULLARD | Program Assistant
Dallas Baptist University, M.Ed, Educational Leadership
Dallas Baptist University, M.B.A., Business Administration
University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Education and Spanish

Anthony’s interest in Spanish began as a young child, and led him to study abroad at La Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina, where he focused on Argentine literature and Hispanic linguistics. Infatuated with these cultural experiences and the kindness of the Argentine people, he traveled back to Argentina the following year as an apprentice teacher and taught at La Escuela Superior de Comercio Manuel Belgrano in Córdoba, while also taking time to travel extensively throughout the country. During college, he enjoyed mentoring young leaders and served as the University of Texas at Austin mascot. Anthony is an educator in Dallas, Texas. He has taught all levels of Spanish at the middle school and high school levels, and is currently an assistant principal at Coppell High School. In addition to his sojourns in South America, Anthony has traveled throughout Central America, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. A few of his favorite travel experiences were admiring the natural beauty of Iguazú Falls in Argentina, visiting the awe-inspiring works of Antonio Gaudí in Spain, and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. He has led Putney’s community service programs in Argentina and Peru, and Putney’s language learning program in Costa Rica. Anthony is fluent in Spanish.

KRISTA OLESON | Art in Madrid
Lipscomb University, M.Ed., Education
The University of Texas, B.A., Psychology and English

For nine months of the year, Krista works as a 5th grade writing and ESL teacher at a charter school in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves nothing more than sharing her passions of writing, drawing, and traveling with her students. Trained as Teach for America corps member, she recently received her M.Ed. from Lipscomb University. She is currently taking art classes through Vanderbilt University. In college, Krista had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid for half a year,through which she became proficient in Spanish and developed a deep interest in Spanish art, history, and culture. Having debuted with the Madrid Pre College program last summer, she is looking forward to exploring Spanish art and art history with like-minded individuals.

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.