Have you ever wanted to meet Indiana Jones, Julius Caesar, and the goddess Artemis combined into one brilliant teacher? Look no further than room 204 in Benet Hall. One of the newest additions to Benet Academy is Ms. Molly Katkin, archaeologist and Latin scholar extraordinaire. Ms. Katkin graciously answered some getting-to-know-you questions so that Benet students can learn some fun facts about our newest member of the Benet family.
Why did you choose to come to Benet?
“I chose to come to Benet because from the start I could tell that it is a really special place. I was really impressed with the high academic standards, Catholic commitment to serving others, and the community that Benet presented. I was very impressed that so many alumni choose to come back as teachers, and I really think that that says great things about the community.”
What has been your favorite thing about Benet so far?
“My favorite thing about Benet so far has been the engagement of the staff, families, and students. Meeting everyone’s families on Parent Get Acquainted Night and seeing everyone in the community come together to support students and each other was really something special. Many parents were very eager to participate in the classroom, and I was really excited to see that support for students.”
What is your favorite part of teaching?
“My favorite part about teaching is the chance to work in a team of very dedicated people to help students achieve their goals. I get the chance to work with a lot of different people, all of whom really want to support students and help them get where they want to be. I also love the enthusiasm that my students bring to the classroom and seeing them get excited about learning topics that I love.”
What do you like to do for fun/as a hobby?
“For a hobby I really love to bake. I also really enjoy taking walks, going hiking, and being outside. I like to do art as well, especially drawing and different types of needle work.”
What was your favorite subject in high school, besides Latin?
“My favorite subject in high school besides Latin was definitely history! Art history and Latin/classics brought me onto the archaeology career path, which opened up a lot of interesting opportunities and experiences. I also really enjoyed biology, and studied a second major (comparative human development) in college that involved a lot of biology.”
What advice would you have for a student who was interested in learning about ancient cultures and/or history?
“I would say that it would be a great idea to take the leap and get involved in programs to learn more! I would love to talk to students about opportunities for high schoolers in archaeology and ancient history. I also would encourage everyone to join the Latin club (or any club that they have interest in) and give it a try!”
Do you speak any other languages?
“I speak a few other languages. In addition to Latin, I speak French and know basic Italian. I have reading and listening comprehension in Spanish, and I can read German and Ancient Greek.”
Who is your favorite Roman god or goddess, and why?
“My favorite Roman Goddess may have to be Artemis. I appreciate her connections to the natural world and her protection of young women. I started my career in classical archaeology in Tuscany, on an Etruscan site (the people who lived in Italy before the Romans) and we found some pieces of the earlier version of Artemis, in the guise of the Potnia Theron (“mistress of the beasts”), in which she is depicted with wings and holding onto the paws/feet of wild animals. This gave me a lot of affection for her, since the pieces we would find were mostly depicting her with big cats. I think she would have been a cat lady too.”
