By Hector Flores
Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat of Merrick, presented the honor to Goller during a ceremony at the Legislature building in Mineola. The award is given during Women's History Month to an individual who has shown courage and conviction in bettering her community.
"Janet Goller has set an example and created opportunity for women today and tomorrow," Denenberg said.
Richard Narby, trustee of the Bellmore School District Board, said that Goller is the most deserving of the award and does a lot of good work for the community.
Goller was gratefull for the opportunity to represent her community in a positive light, but added that her accomplishments would not have been possible without the support of her neighbors.
"The accomblishment of our kids are not done by me alone," she said. "But by the whole community, my fellow board members, teachers and students."
Goller has served on the Bellmore board for a decade. She graduated from Mepham High School and holds associate's degrees in early-childhood education, and business management and accounting. For 24 years, she has worked as a financial operations manager for a major cheese importer.
In addition to serving as a board member, Goller has been an active member of the community for over 20 years. She served as co-president of the Shore Road PTA, president of the Bellmore Elementary Council of PTAs, president of the Bellmore Elementary Special Education PTA, vice president of the Grand Avenue PTSA, co-president of the Kennedy High School PTA, co-president of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Council of PTAs and vice president of the Kennedy Sports Boosters Club.
Goller is a past recipient of the New York state PTA's Honorary Life Membership Award, the state PTA Distinguished Service Award and the National PTA Life Achievement Award in recognition of her dedication to children and community. The Bellmore Faculty Organization presented her with the Community Service Award, and the Bellmore-Merrick United Secondary Teachers awarded her the Jacob Gunther Community Service Award.
Goller has played a part in instituting many Bellmore district reforms, including: establishing public Board of Education work sessions; allowing parents to take part on curriculum and decision-making committees; passing a bond issue for capital improvements and new technology in the classroom; and instituting full-day kindergarten. She was also instrumental in developing new programs in foreign language, math and English Language Arts.
Goller believes in maintaining quality schools while respecting taxpayers. "In order to minimize the budget's impact on our taxpayers, we must continue to find efficient use of our resources and new cost-saving initiatives," she said."We need to be sensitive to the needs of our taxpayers by stretching their hard-earned dollars as far as possible."
Goller and her husband, Edward, have three children: Matthew, a graduate of Kennedy High School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Melissa, a graduate of Kennedy and Quinnipiac University; and Megan, a Kennedy graduate and sophomore at Siena College.
Comments? Hflores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
