Student’s Heartfelt Letter Scores Teacher a Free Trip to Florida in Radio Contest

Photo courtesy of Peter Goetten.

He treats us like his own kids and he deserves a vacation:

NEW YORK – When Peter Goetten took a call from the morning team at 106.7 Lite FM, the St. Patrick Catholic Academy seventh-grade teacher had no idea what was up.

Within a few minutes,

and with the class cheering in the background, he found out that one of his students at the Brooklyn school had sent a letter in to a contest that ultimately won Goetten a free trip to Orlando.

The student, Soleil, wrote a heartfelt letter detailing a broad variety of reasons that Goetten deserved a vacation.  “He treats everyone with respect and kindness but is also a very good teacher.  He teaches Social Studies and is one of the only teachers who can control my big, noisy class.  Not only does he treat us with kindness, but he also treats us like we’re his own kids,” she wrote.

Mr. Goetten, who has been teaching for 43 years,

including eight at St. Patrick, says he has never won anything before and actually thought he was being pranked when he received the call.

“I have never had a student do anything like this for me and I’ve never won anything before,” he says.  “I was touched, and I feel like I made an impact on Soleil for her to do this for me. It truly was one of the most beautiful things ever.”

Soleil says that if the entire 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade classes voted for their favorite teacher that it would be Mr. Goetten, who also takes everyone’s ideas and takes them into consideration, noting that a few kids wanted to start a fishing club and now “it’s actually happening!”

Soleil and Mr. Goetten have also discussed how he was hoping to go on a vacation during the last summer break but was unable to make it happen.

“That’s why I applied to this contest,” she wrote. “I can’t fix his last summer, but I sure can make his summer wish come true.  That’s up to you now.  In addition, he loves Florida.  Orlando activities are right up his alley. “

Finally,

Mr. Goetten also recently announced to the class that he will be a grandfather, and Soleil says he is “super happy but stressed. This trip can help him not feel as stressed, so he can have a few days to relax.  Every time I hear about this contest, I think of him and how much he deserves it.  He is truly the best teacher, and I hope you choose him for this month’s contest in Orlando.”