Legacy Club
Karin Popkin celebrates her birthday with several of her grandchildren: Travis, Hanni, Hatcher, Camden and Izzie Popkin.
'People Are Called to Be Here' Karin Popkin, former Jesuit High School faculty member and Fr. William Hayes, S.J. Legacy Club member, believes that fate brought her to Jesuit not once but twice during her career. Karin first arrived at Jesuit in 1990 as a substitute French teacher. Classes were small with 5-6 young men and there was not much opportunity for students to have speaking partners and to learn the language from one another.
changed. “I realized during those four years that as a teacher, I am not only exposing my students to a new language, but I am supporting young people to be compassionate bi-lingual leaders for the 21st century,” says Karin. When Karin moved back to Oregon in 2005, a position was open at Jesuit and she eagerly accepted. “I believe people are called to be here,” she says. “This is my place and the students are my people.”
The following year, she became a full-time French teacher. “Once young women came to campus in the fall of 1993, the number of students in French classes tripled and the curriculum expanded,” says Karin. “Going coed was a positive change for the teachers and students.”
Karin returned to campus with a new passion for social justice issues and a global perspective. During her tenure, she started the Global Perspectives Club, took students abroad to study in France, and helped with Setons, Campus Ministry, Brown Bags and more. In addition, current JHS French teacher Emily Schmidt and Karin created the AP French program.
Karin took time off from Jesuit to teach French oversees in Ecuador and Thailand from 2000-2003. Her experience living abroad opened up her worldview and her teaching focus
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