Popular Seymour College teacher Leland Dutcher dies in traffic incident in the US

A top SA private school and family members have paid tribute to a popular teacher following his death in California.

A well-respected teacher at prestigious Adelaide girls school Seymour College has been remembered as a titan of his community who dedicated his life to his students, after he was killed in a traffic accident in the US.

Long-serving teacher Leland Dutcher, 56, died after returning from a bike ride along the beach in California on Saturday, rocking the tight-knit school community.

In a post shared to social media, Seymour College said Mr Dutcher – who had been on leave from the school in 2023 to care for his parents in the US – brought “exceptional qualities” to the college.

“He has worn many college hats and always delivered excellence and absolute commitment to his leadership and teaching roles,” the school said.

Mr Dutcher, who was born in the US, moved to Australia in 2004 and became an Australian citizen.

The school wrote that Mr Dutcher “taught his students to truly love maths and believe in themselves as learners”.

Former Seymour College teacher Leland Dutcher, who passed away in California over the weekend in a traffic accident. Picture: Facebook

“He will be greatly missed by all of the colleagues, friends and students who were blessed to have known him.”

The post was flooded with tributes from former students, remembering Mr Dutcher’s life-changing effects on the students who sat in his classrooms.

Mr Dutcher’s sister-in-law Libby Starling said his legacy would be “in the love, encouragement, and support he gave his family, his nieces and nephews, his friends and colleagues, and the thousands of students he taught over the years.”

“While nothing will bring Leland back to us, help me honor Leland’s memory by sharing his words and encouraging more people, especially young women, to be their best selves and to live as fully as he did in his 56 years,” she wrote, along with a letter penned by Mr Dutcher to Ms Starling’s then “6th grade” daughter, encouraging her to believe in herself.

Leland Dutcher was an enthusiastic cyclist who had recently returned to the US. Picture: Facebook

Mr Dutcher’s brother Kevin said the pair shared several passions — particularly, music.

At Seymour College, Mr Dutcher was known for bringing his guitar in to the classroom to strum tunes about quadratic formulas to students.

“Gerald Leland Dutcher Jr. – or Leapy, as I affectionately called him – was one of the smartest, funniest, warmest, most wonderful people I’ve ever known,” Kevin wrote.

“His path eventually led him to Australia, where he taught high school maths at a private girls school.

“The students loved their funny, brilliant Yank teacher, and he made an incredible impact on those young women.

“Sleep well, beloved brother.”

His parents, Jerry and Carol Dutcher, also paid tribute to their son on social media.
“Our son Leland passed away yesterday after a traffic accident while returning from a beautiful bike ride along the beach,” Mr Dutcher wrote.

“He loved riding and it was a glorious day – he uploaded a few pictures along the way.

“He was living the life he loved to the very end.

“He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.”