“I have always been interested in inner city schools. I was introduced to St. Benedict’s when my son was in 3rd grade and had a soccer game [at The Hive], I walked through the halls and was amazed at everything about the school. I loved it and thought this would be a great place to teach.”
Ms. Katie Foster is an English teacher from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She attended The Hotchkiss School, a boarding school in Lakeville, Connecticut, where she played and fell in love with the game of field hockey. She continued to play as an undergraduate student, attending Barnard College, Columbia University.
Upon graduation, Ms. Foster began her teaching career in Kanegasaki, Japan, teaching English to children and serving as a government liaison. After spending a year in Japan she returned to the United States, teaching in the Bronx and concurrently earning her masters in teaching at
Teachers College, Columbia University. After living and teaching in New York, Ms. Foster and her husband moved to Millburn, New Jersey, where they raise their two children and dog.
Arriving at St. Benedict’s this year, Ms. Foster was not only ecstatic to teach, but planned to continue a decades-long passion: coaching.
She recalls Fr. Edwin in her interview, saying, “It would be nice to have a [girl’s] field hockey team here.” When she got hired, she knew that this was a perfect calling for her. With nearly 20 years of coaching experience combined with being, “always in the need for starting something [new]” she accepted the calling and put it into action.
“Athletics are so beneficial to everyone involved because they help with leadership and teamwork, they help to prepare for a workplace environment where you are expected to play different roles and really learn how to accept defeat and accomplishments as a team”
She knew that starting a new program was going to be difficult but was determined to actualize it. After summer planning, coordination with Millburn High School and The Pingry School, the program began to take shape.
The program began as Ms. Foster established girl’s field hockey as a club sport, training her 14 players and bringing them to numerous clinics and daily practices to prepare them for next season. The 2023-2024 season will be the inaugural season St. Benedict’s Prep offers girl’s field hockey as a varsity sport.
To the Girls Division, she is now known as Coach Foster, the coach who – along with her 14 players – started a new program through determination, teamwork and trust.
