By Zoe von Zweck, '10

     Ian Hamlet: dorm parent, coach, advisor, colleague, teacher, and jokester of Proctor. Senior Thomas Jennings describes Ian as, “One of the best teachers I have had at Proctor. He is a stand up guy.” 

     For eight years Ian has been a valuable  part of the Proctor community.  I sat down with Ian one night in the Carriage House common room and got the inside scoop of Ian Hamlet’s life. 
     In college, Ian worked as a lab teacher's assistant in chemistry classes. Then he worked for two years in Boston as a lab chemist working for two different pharmaceutical companies. Ian enjoyed the work.  He said, “That line of work was fun at first, but I began to realize that I was a more social person.”  Teaching never crossed Ian’s mind as a job, but his college advisor recommended he give it a shot, and possibly Ian would find it to be a rewarding experience. Then Ian discovered Proctor.  “I quickly realized it’s a great place to be a teacher and that's why I have stayed.”
    On top of teaching Ian also coaches soccer and lacrosse. He played both throughout high school and college. Curious, I asked him, “Did you ever want to become a professional player?” with that goofy smile he replied, “ When I was young, of course, but who doesn’t?” 
     Around campus, I asked both students and faculty for one word to describe Ian. Senior Rob Serifan replied with a huge smile,  “Donkey, because he is as stubborn as one.”  Sara Mcintyre described Ian as “playfully cunning,” Philip Goodnow, a fellow ice hockey coach added, “mischievous.”
     Students who have had Ian as a teacher find that his classes are memorable.  Rob thinks Ian is an amazing teacher, “I have had Ian as a dorm parent for three years and I have him as a teacher, so we have a work relationship. But we are buddies too. It’s the best of both worlds.” 
     Phil Goodnow continued his description, “He's funny, bright, articulate and dedicated.  In the classroom he knows when to be playful and then when to be demanding.  He cares deeply about his students and athletes.  He also knows how to liven up a conversation or a meeting. Don't let his jocularity fool you, however.  He takes his work very seriously.  Despite our age difference, we are good friends”
     As a coach, his players respect him, and Oliver Moore adds, “He’s a player’s coach.”  Lacrosse player Connor Toomey remarked, “He’s a true kid at heart, doesn’t really have a temper. Also, he has brutal flow.”     
     Another aspect of Ian is playfulness. After eight years of being at Proctor and pulling pranks, Ian agrees he rightfully deserves the title of a jokester.   With a huge smile and chuckling to himself, Ian described his favorite prank played on a student. “Setting up a halloween ghost/ skeleton in Katie Cunningham’s (’09), room. I propped it up so it was sitting with it’s legs out waiting for her return. She screamed for five minutes.”
     Smiling some more, he recalled a prank he played on Scott Allenby.  Ian found a workable version of the block schedule and changed the letters around and printed it out and posted it over Scott’s current block schedule. 

     Ian Hamlet, the teacher at Proctor Academy with a mischievious smile and a playful twinkle in his eyes. He’s dedicated to all aspects of his work, and is the one teacher at Proctor who’s respectfully earned the title a jokester.