Miss Jeanne says goodbye after 48 years

Dunedin, Florida -- It's easy to tell when someone loves their job. They tend to do it with a smile and never quit.

If that's the case, then you could say Miss Jeanne Hiller really loves her job in the classroom. She's been a teacher for nearly 48 years and has been at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Dunedin since 1966.

She's been at the school so long that now some of her former students have children who are in her class.

Miss Jeanne, as her students call her, has seen a lot of changes in the classroom. Blackboards are now smartboards.

She even used a record player at one time.

While technology and the faces of students have changed, her philosophy of teaching them has not.

Miss Jeanne says, "I believe children are to be respected and because I respect them I can approach them. There's a mutual respect for one another."

5^th grader Mariah Russo says Miss Jeanne has a great sense of humor.

"Our class used to call her Miss America because she liked to be called that and for her birthday we actually bought her a crown and a robe and had a little party."

Miss Jeanne has many fond memories in the classroom. Memories she'll have to hold onto because after nearly 48 years Miss Jeanne is calling it a career. She says it makes her a little sad and sentimental to leave a job she has loved for so long.

Former students at Our Lady of Lourdes remember hearing stories about how tough Miss Jeanne's class could be.

Andrew Gracy remembers hearing those stories. His daughter Jillian is one of Miss Jeanne's students. Gracy says he was impressed by what his daughter learned in Miss Jeanne's class.

"She learned all the counties...you know there are 67 counties and this kid could rattle them off and she could tell you exactly where they were on the map."

And after 48 years in the classroom what's next for this Miss America?

"I am looking forward to a new beginning just like the kids. I am a risk taker as I teach them to be."