Michele Goetowski, a fourth/fifth-grade combination teacher at the Village School in the Campbell Union School District, was awarded Teacher of the Year by the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce at its 20th annual Legends & Leaders celebration on Dec. 8.

But that’s not all. Earlier this month Goetwoski also was recognized by the San Francisco 49ers and financial services company Symetra as a Hero in the Classroom for her classroom environment. She was nominated by the same parent who nominated her for Teacher of the Year.

“I really encourage and teach a growth mindset; that it’s OK to make mistakes,” Goetowski said, adding that she even thanks kids for making mistakes and then pointing out how to learn from mistakes.

For the Hero in the Classroom recognition, she received $1,000 for her classroom and 49ers memorabilia.

Goetwoski, a Campbell resident, taught in the Moreland School District from 1998 to 2006 and has taught at the Village School for three years. Goetowski was recognized for her dedication as an educator and for keeping her students engaged in lessons by using modern technology and programs such as the PC Pals.

PC Pals partners Intel employees or retirees with students; they exchange emails twice a week on various topics under teacher supervision. During the spring, Goetowski’s students met their PC Pals partners at Intel and then toured the Intel Museum. Goetowski has also welcomed Google engineers into her classroom to talk and share the latest technologies with students. Her classroom also participates annually in the Family Giving Tree, which provides toys to low-income children.

Goetowski over time became enamored with teaching, which she says was not her first career choice. She remembers watching her mother work hard in the teaching profession and knew she did not want the same career.

“I always said I would never become a teacher,” she said. “Teaching was something I fell into but grew to love.”

Also receiving Chamber of Commerce recognition was Lincoln High School Principal Matthew Hewitson, who was named Principal of the Year. Hewitson was nominated for the award for his commitment to turning Lincoln High School students into college-ready graduates, according to the Chamber.

Through his efforts the high school has one of the highest Latino college-ready graduation rates in the Bay Area. Four out of five Lincoln students who apply to the University of California system are accepted, according to Hewitson.

Hewitson, who has been principal for six years, also has won grants for his schools, including $100,000 to design and implement the Summer@State program, in which students spend nights at the dorms of San Jose State University while participating in experiences outside the classroom.

Rounding out the Chamber awards was San Jose High School senior Alejandra Bonilla. She was one of 27 students chosen to spend a week at Boston University for an orchestra internship. Bonilla also participated in R2L Next Gen Institute during the summer to encourage Latinos to vote in the 2016 election.