When the school bell rang in September at St. Jerome Regional School, Hometown, the opening of the doors for Alice Miller marked a special occasion in her life.

That’s because the new school year is the 50th consecutive one that the popular teacher is embarking upon there, a milestone of great significance but, more so, to her personally, one that offers her a special feeling.

“I still like what I do,” said the former Alice Yacobenas, a Tamaqua native and a daughter of the late Isabelle (Zelonis) Yacobenas, who passed away on July 1 of this year at the age of 104, and the late Joseph Yacobenas. A resident of West Penn Township, Miller graduated from Marian Catholic High School in 1968 and Kutztown University in 1972.

While reporting to her classroom continues to give her great joy after a half century of work, Miller said, “A more driving force is when I have former students tell me what a difference I made in their scholastic lives. Also, having students ask me to write recommendations for them regarding a number of different things is very rewarding.”

While her effect on former students is regularly noted, the work Miller does with her current students gives her a special feeling about teaching. And that feeling, she will tell you, has as much to do with where she teaches as much as it does with who teaches.

Miller said, “I love teaching at St. Jerome because we are like a family. The faculty, staff and administration have always worked together to maintain a quality education for all our students. The stability of our faculty has provided an environment with good communication among all of us. I feel we provide a safe, caring environment for all our students that is appreciated by our families.”

Like those in her profession, Miller said she gets great satisfaction watching the young boys and girls under her watch mature, but she is even more thrilled with how the students grow spiritually. “Watching my students grow mentally, physically and socially is great, but the best part is seeing them grow spiritually,” she said. “Teaching them about their faith and watching them come closer to Jesus is the most rewarding part of Catholic education. Being able to integrate Catholic values throughout the entire day gives me a feeling of deep satisfaction.”

That has been the case for her since 1972. She initially taught two grades (5th and 6th) in one classroom at the former Sacred Heart School, Nesquehoning, which closed after one year.

Since then, however, St. Jerome has been Miller’s home, beginning her tenure there in September, 1973. The school had been on West Broad Street in Tamaqua until relocating to Meadow Avenue in Hometown. Miller said, “The move was very special. It enabled us to provide a quality Catholic education to many more students.”

“Celebrating 100 years since our school was started was a very special year of celebration,” she said.

Through her journey, she taught third grade (eight years), fourth grade (four years) and fifth grade (two years). She spent one year as an eighth grade teacher and for the past 35 years has been the Religion, Pre-Algebra, Language Arts and Science teacher for grades seven and the Algebra 1 and Science teacher for eighth graders.

In an era where less people want teach, that certainly is not the case for Miller. “Teaching is a very rewarding experience, as you see your students grow intellectually, emotionally, physically, socially, and, most importantly teaching in a Catholic school, spiritually,” she said.

“Following students through their high school years and watching the achievements they make is awesome. Meeting former students as adults and hearing how they are doing is rewarding, too. Knowing that I have made an impact on their lives is very gratifying.”

Miller is the widow of Gary W. Miller and the mother of two Marian graduates, Ann Marie Polinger and Lisa Fuller, who graduated in 1999 and 2007, respectively.