Linda Tapsak

Linda Tapsak

Energy, Joy and the Best Interest of Students at Heart

It’s a little difficult to imagine Breck without Linda Tapsak, even though she’s taken breaks from her Breck career. She started working here in 1971 and has served under four headmasters in roles including choir and English teacher, Performing Arts and English department head, Middle School dean and, for the past four years, Head of Upper School.

Though her role has changed, many things have been constant. “The school has grown in its size and its offerings," she observes, “but the mission and the world view are the same. Breck teaches students how they are to be in the world."

Constant, too, is her work in the field of education. As the oldest of her group of cousins, Linda says she was always the “bossy" one organizing them into games and, especially performances. “My cousins still haven’t entirely forgiven me for making them be in shows all the time," she laughs. “We did operas, quiz shows, pageants and plays. A few years ago, I found a program for one of our performances among my aunt’s things. It said, ‘Sorry, no refreshments. Grandma’s mad at us.’"

That sense of joy is a constant as well, as her colleagues all seem to know. “Dating back to our days in Middle School, I’ve known Linda for a long time," says Upper School teacher Chelen Johnson. “Whether it’s dressing up as her favorite super hero for Halloween, avoiding geese on the golf course, cheering for the Twins or teaching English, her passion for life is quite apparent."

And then there’s that contagious laugh.

“I love the fact that I can sometimes hear it in my office," says Director of College Counseling Melissa Soderberg. “It helps keep everyone balanced." “I absolutely love working with her," says Upper School Assistant Marcia Novatney. “She may lose her car keys or key card on a regular basis, but ask her about a conversation she had with anyone six months ago and she can repeat it word for word."

“I do love the students," Linda remarks. “They’re so hopeful, caring, intelligent and open. And they’re involved in so many wonderful things. We have such high quality academic conversations, and we also have such terrific arts and athletic events."

But her colleagues appreciate her more serious sides as well. Says Marcia, “She amazes me. She helps us look for solutions to our own problems and encourages an attitude of continuous improvement in the office. But she laughs at herself well and never blows her own horn. And she’s always listening—even when you think she’s not!"

Born in northeast Minneapolis, Linda grew up in New Jersey and Texas, graduating from Memorial High School in Houston before her return to Minnesota’s Carleton College. She was teaching in the Minneapolis public schools when she met former Headmaster Kathryn Harper, who introduced her to Breck.

Despite breaks from teaching to earn her MBA, manage an opera company and head the middle school at Canterbury School in Ft. Myers, Florida, Linda has been very comfortable here at Breck. Her sons Nick Eugster ’94 (now married and an attorney with a Twin Cities firm) and Willie Eugster ’98 (a businessman in Seattle) keep the connection in the family. And her husband, David Pote, who has his own financial company, often teases her by calling the perpetual teacher “Ms. Tapsak" at home.

Linda’s big laugh is an especially amusing contrast to her somewhat diminutive physical presence in the hallways. “What Linda lacks in stature, she makes up for," smiles Math Department Head Brad Peterson—leaving room for any number of Linda’s positive qualities to fill in the blank.