Village School Teacher Named ‘Symetra Hero in the Classroom’

Symetra and the San Francisco 49ers honored Village School teacher Michele Goetowski as a “Symetra Hero in the Classroom” on Dec. 5 during a surprise presentation. Goetowski teaches fourth grade at the K–5 school in Campbell.

“Step inside Michele Goetowski’s classroom and you will experience engaged students taking responsibility for their learning and for their environment,” said GiGi Griffin, a Village School volunteer and student parent. “You will see students who understand and accept that everyone is at a different level—and help each other. You will feel the confidence of students who have had an opportunity to voice their opinion and help write the rules. And you will see them supporting fundraisers and championing causes they’ve decided upon themselves because they know they are in a supportive, caring environment where anything is possible.” Griffin nominated Goetowski for the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom® award.

“Michele celebrates the process, not the product of learning. Student effort and success is validated through descriptive feedback, conferencing times, sharing opportunities, student-led classroom meetings, and publishing parties, where children can demonstrate their knowledge through project-based learning,” said Griffin. “The climate in her class is warm, positive, safe and inclusive, embracing families in a collaborative effort to support all children on their road to lifelong learning.”

Griffin also noted in her nomination that “the respect and admiration of Michele’s students can be seen in how they describe her. For teacher appreciation week, each child decorated a star with two adjectives to describe Michele. Those stars were used to decorate the classroom door. Here are the words used: ‘amazing, kind, nice, smart, beautiful, funny, fantastic, bright, loving, caring, intelligent, clever, cheerful, epic, inspiring, bright, cool, fun, joyful, sweet, courageous, friendly, lovely and helpful.’ It was no surprise that Michele was also selected to be Teacher of the Year for our school!”

Goetowski is one of 16 K–12 teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area who will be honored for educational excellence in the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program during the 2016 NFL season. Teachers are recognized in front of their students and peers at surprise in-school presentations, and they receive a $1,000 donation for classroom books and supplies. In addition, they receive tickets to a 49ers home game and a special pre-game experience at Levi’s Stadium. Goetowski will be recognized at the Dec. 11 game against the New York Jets.

Teachers may be nominated by their principal, district staff, student or student’s parent. The winners are selected based on their ability to make a real difference in students' lives; to go above and beyond in their day-to-day responsibilities; and to help students build life skills.

More information about Symetra Heroes in the Classroom is available at www.SymetraHeroes.com/49ers.

About Symetra

Symetra Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.