printNovember 7, 2008
Where Are They Now?
Our popular feature looks at Robin Neumann who graduated from Randallstown High School in 1985.
Debra Roth Kane
After graduating from Randallstown High School in 1985, Robin Neumann (nee Blitzstein) bounced around Baltimore, but never left town. She went to Towson University, where she was an elementary education major, and subsequently got her master’s degree in reading and language arts from Loyola College. She then taught at Centennial Lane Elementary School in Ellicott City.
Robin currently lives in Owings Mills with her husband, Mark, a venture capitalist who graduated from The Gilman School.
They have three children, Paul, 13, Andy, 11, and Chloe, 8. Robin teaches fourth grade secular studies at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, where her children attend.
iNSIDER: Did you always know that you wanted to be a teacher?
Neumann: My mom, Elaine Blitzstein, is a teacher. She taught (preschool) at Har Sinai and Beth El when I was a child. I always went with her to class when I did not have school. I always saw myself teaching.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The best thing is that the children make me laugh. I love the unexpected. Children are funny without meaning to be. I love having the chance to be creative.
Why did you choose to teach in a Jewish day school?
I taught in Ellicott City for six years. Then my son was born and I didn’t work for ten years. I wasn’t planning on going back, but when my littlest one went to kindergarten, I heard there was an opening at Beth Tfiloh. I kept thinking about it, that maybe it was meant to be. It sucked me in. Now I work part-time, which is really nice. My kids go there and I see my daughter during the day. Being at a Jewish institution has brought more Judaism to our family. We try to live our lives so that our children know they are Jewish; we want them to have Jewish roots.
How did you meet your husband?
We met at an Associated Super Sunday phoning. He was there to make calls and I was there to meet a Jewish guy.
What has kept you in Baltimore?
Going to Towson, I never went far from home. Mark and I love that our children are near both sets of grandparents. It’s nice for us too. We spend time with them weekly.
What stands out in your memories from your high school years?
I was on the journalism staff and wrote for the school paper, The Ramshead, for three years. Once I wrote an article for the (BALTIMORE) JEWISH TIMES (about a female dentist at the University of Maryland). I worked at the Wendy’s near the Randallstown Library. My friends and I spent many evenings at Maria’s in Randallstown; Saturday nights we bowled at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl. And we did a lot of driving past the houses of boys that we liked.