SYA France Class of 1974 Faculty Chair in Memory of Peter Greer and Charles Hamblet
This endowed chair was established by the Class of SYA France 1974 during the 50th anniversary of SYA France to honor two beloved teachers — their English teacher, Peter Greer, and their math teacher, Charles (Chuck) Hamblet. The chair is awarded each year to a deserving math or English teacher at SYA France and underwrites a portion of the salary and benefits package.
Paul Eldrenkamp FR’74 IN’09P, who led the fundraising effort, made the following comments about Chuck and Peter and the impact they and their families made on the class that year:
“I attended SYA’s 50th anniversary gathering in Boston the summer of 2015 and talked at length with Barbara Tsairis and Carol Hamblet, who accompanied Peter and Chuck to Rennes. They helped me understand for the first time that SYA is as much about the teachers as the students, and the influence of one year can ripple through a whole career and touch thousands of students.
While the Greers and Hamblets mostly tolerated our teenage antics, they also opened relationships with our Rennes neighbors, fostering respect and trust among us and our French hosts. We learned to recognize and appreciate our differences, ultimately enriching our lives. We have them to thank for providing such a caring and supportive environment.
Barbara and Carol have said that their SYA experience helped Peter and Chuck grow from “good to great” teachers. They talk with gratitude about the “cascading effect” their Rennes experience had in abundantly enhancing their sensitivities and skills as teachers, as future administrators and participants in matters of international education, and in their lives. I know that many of us have been the beneficiaries of this same cascading effect that carried us through our year in France, and nurtured the flow of learning and growth throughout our lives.”
Meet the SYA France Class of 1974 Faculty Chairs
Letty Roberts
2022-2023
Mathematics
Letty taught at SYA France during the 2001-2002 academic year and is thrilled to be back in Rennes for after 31 years teaching at The Hotchkiss School. She has returned to our campus to teach math and is excited for the opportunity to work with students who want to grow and learn in another language and culture.
Lynée Connelly
2021-2022
English
Lynée made her way to Rennes in the fall of 2019 as an English Teacher and College Counseling Liaison. She remained with SYA throughout 2020, taking time to collaborate and plan for the year ahead with her colleagues across all campuses. In October 2020, she was featured in this webinar series, helping to educate our community on the importance of faculty support funding through The Campaign for SYA.
Robert Northcutt
2020-2021
Mathematics
Robert joined SYA in 2016 after teaching mathematics internationally at the American School of Madrid and the Fukuoka International School in Japan. He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Stanford University and a master’s in applied mathematics from the University of Arizona. Prior to his career in teaching, he worked as a software engineer in the Silicon Valley, a research scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratories, and he spent twenty years with the consulting firm Accenture, where he was a partner in their global utilities practice. Robert and his wife, Rose, spend the summer months at their home in Red Lodge, Montana where they enjoy hiking, biking and photography in the surrounding mountains.