Where Are They Now?

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Alicia Broth (nee Katznelson)

Written By Carly Schleider Photography Provided

Alicia Broth (nee Katznelson), Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Class of 1990, feels blessed to work closely with a community that’s helped her and her loved ones through the decades. After years of teaching children in various Jewish institutions around the area, the Baltimore native has returned to her alma mater, where she works as a preschool teacher for the 3-year-old class. When the last toy block has been put away for the day, Broth channels her seemingly tireless energies into home and family life.  She lives in Pikesville with her husband, Jason, who graduated from Beth Tfiloh with her. They have two children, Jocelyn, 14, and Noah, 12.

iNSIDER:  Did you always want to work with kids?
Alicia:  Yes, although for a time I thought it would be in the public interest sector of the legal arena. I came to realize that I could have a much greater personal impact working with children in an educational setting.

What got you interested in early childhood education?
I realized during my own children’s preschool years that there was something incredibly magical about that particular time in a child’s life. These children teach me how to have fun, remind me how wondrous the world is and restore my faith in human beings. They are full of hope … and I get to experience life through their eyes.

Outside of work, are you involved in any hobbies or volunteer work?
On an informal basis, I try to help people in the community wherever I see a need — hosting guests, visiting the elderly, preparing meals…. Many of the formal volunteer hours I have go into giving back to Beth Tfiloh. Any spare hours I have (ha!) I spend reading or catching up with friends.

Your son has a bar mitzvah. Is he involved in any special mitzvah project?
Noah is the sort of child who did not need to be assigned a mitzvah project because he already involves himself in performing mitzvot on a regular basis. Unfortunately, my late father was ill Noah’s entire life until he passed away 5 1/2 years ago, and was in assisted living or nursing care for years. As a tribute to my dad, to this day, every year before Rosh Hashanah, Noah returns to one of the assisted livings and sings with the residents and does a bit of an educational presentation about the upcoming holiday.

What’s it like coming home to two teenagers after spending the day with 3-year-olds?
Exhausting!  And wonderful!