By ALEX COSTELLO
Beller, the recipient of the 15th annual award , started as a business teacher in the Rockville Centre school district in 1985, and became a social studies teacher a few years later, a position she has held ever since. Dr. William Johnson, school superintendent and one of the many to honor Beller at the ceremony, said that she could be described in two words: "service and character. "
Service in the form of the education she gives her students and all the extracurricular activities she helps with, said Johnson. As for character, "I think the best thing that Jane presents is that she's a character," Johnson said to raucous laughter.
Others shared descriptions of how nice and funny Beller is, while making everyone laugh with stories about her. "We all have our Jane Beller stories," Johnson said, "and most should probably be told in private."
Carol Gerrity, who has worked at Molloy for 46 years, was on hand to present the history of the award's namesake, Sister Kathleen Waters. Waters, a Dominican nun, had taught at various schools and had a strong administrative background when she started teaching at Molloy.
"You can best know Kathleen when I tell you that she first fit in like she had been here forever," said Gerrity. "And getting rave reviews from the students. What more could a faculty ask for?"
Waters, a vivacious teacher who was loved by students and staff alike, died of leukemia 16 years ago. The day after she told her coworkers that she had the disease, "there was a sign on her desk saying, 'Life is uncertain: eat dessert first,'" Gerrity said. "And that was her philosophy until the day of her death."
"Often when a faculty member resigns, let alone dies, they're quickly forgotten," Gerrity said. "Your
invitation here makes me keep Kathleen Waters alive."
Middle school Principal Shelagh McGinn was among those who praised Beller. "You are one of the people, without a doubt, that makes South Side what it is," McGinn told her.
"Getting to know Jane is getting to see how many lives she's touched," said Andy Del Rosario, who served as the ceremony's emcee.
When it was Beller's turn to speak, she thanked her family, whom she credited with her success, and also her friends and colleagues. "I love my job, and it's a beautiful thing to come to work every day," Beller said. "The coolest thing about standing up here is that I get to see everyone's faces, and I know the support team I have is never going to fade.
"[Waters] definitely was a woman who upheld the highest regard for education," Bel- ler added, "and it's great to be recognized in that same light."
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