Karen White Kearns Classification Speech: Today we learned more about New Member Karen White Kearns.
Karen was born at Abington Hospital, daughter of Morris White  and Martha (Hetzel). She grew up in Hatboro, attended Meadowbrook Elementary, Loller and Hatboro Horsham. She was active in Future Teachers of America and a member of the HH colored Guard. She graduated from Shippensburg State in 1965 with a BS in Elementary Education and Library Science. She later graduated from the University of Miami with an MS in Instructional Technology. She held positions at Hallowell Elementary School, Rydal Elementary, and Abington. In 1966 she traveled to Europe and to feed her travel bug, she made her own clothes and saved her money. In 1969 she heard about the DODDS program (Department of Defense Dependents Schools) program. Her first assignment was to Japan, where she met and married Mike Kearns. She worked at several places in mainland Japan,and on the island of Okinawa. She also volunteered for the Red Cross. After Japan, their assignments took them to Fort Worth Texas, Penna (while Mike was in S.Korea), Germany (Spangdahlem and Bitburg), Florida, Las Vegas, California, and Georgia. In Georgia, she volunteered at Zoo Atlanta (16 years) as a Docent, Research Librarian and Animal Handler. In 2003 she was the Teacher of the Year. In 2007 she studied and became a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner. (this is a type of acupressure). Mike and Karen have no children of their own however she keeps in touch with many of her former students, has hosted 2 foreign Exchange Students (from Germany and Japan). Over the years, they have had 13 cats and 3 dogs (currently 3 cats and 2 dogs). Hobbies include gardening, working with animals, travel and driving MGs. Karen joined Rotary as she was looking for a direction for volunteering and donating of funds where she could see her monies going to good use. She was looking for a way to serve Hatboro. Welcome to the club Karen. We are so glad you joined us!