Christen Goeloe
Christen Goeloe
Born in Purmerend (Netherlands), and raised in Playa/Madiki (often spending time in San Nicolas), Christen (34) grew up in a close knit group of friends formed in primary school. His large family, on both his mother’s and father’s side, instilled in him the values of respect and kindness. Sports were always central: tennis (inspired by his uncle Yubi Toppenberg), competitive paintball, and BMX (“the bus stop was our own track”).
Christen earned an Associate Degree in Hospitality Management & Marketing, but once he started working, he realized it wasn’t his passion. Around the same time, he fell in love with fitness. “That’s when I realized I also had a big passion and joy for working with children.” Thanks to his cousin, Sean Toppenberg, he discovered the Movement & Health program at IPA. “I quit my job and went full back into student mode. The rest is history.” Today, he teaches Movement and Health at Scol Preparatorio Nos Paraiso.
The most rewarding part for Christen is seeing a child turn “I can’t” into “I can.” Whether it’s finally mastering a somersault or overcoming fear, those smiles are his biggest reward. He also enjoys teaching Health lessons about the heart, body functions, and anatomy. “The moments when I spark their curiosity whether in sports or health give me immense energy.”
But there are challenges too: screen time and lack of outdoor play. “Their screen time is too high. I’m not saying tablets are bad, but they remain an obstacle to moving, exploring, and creating friendships. I even have a special lesson where I tell them: “Tablets are nice, tablets are good, but nothing in excess is good for the heart.”
At the start of the school year, Christen takes a stricter approach to maintain control, but once the class stabilizes, he becomes more creative. “I use lots of materials in my gym and during Health lessons. My style overall: strict in structure, but afterwards fun and interactive.”
- Movement Education: gymnastics with coordination, throwing & catching, teaching children to understand and control their bodies before moving into sports.
- Health Education & Social Emotional Learning (SEL): empathy, sharing, helping others, and instilling values that shape children into kind, responsible individuals.
At Scol Preparatorio Nos Paraiso, together with internal supervisor Miss Lenny and colleagues, they work hand in hand. “We always have one goal: the best for the student,” and that is why they always strive to work with parents for the benefit of their child.
“Throughout the years, many students have left a mark on me.” One of his most powerful memories comes from coaching his girls’ soccer team. During a school match, one student was injured badly. “She was in pain, with tears on her face, but she told me: ‘No, Meester, I want to go back.’ She returned, still with tears, and played with such determination that she inspired the entire team. That moment wasn’t just a sports victory it was a lesson in character. In pain and difficulty, a student chose to keep fighting for her team. That moment left a deep mark on me as a teacher.”
Christen doesn’t limit himself to the gym. He uses technology to make his lessons interactive. “The children stand in a hoop, click on the board to roll the dice, and then they have to walk the number of steps that comes up. When they land on a space, a video or an instruction appears with an example of the exercise they have to do. In this way, we combine movement with play.”
In Health class, he uses iPads for coloring activities about the organs, with voice-overs and explanatory videos about what each organ does. “What you need is creativity; the tools are there.”
As a male teacher, Christen is aware of the extra responsibility his role carries. “It’s important to always keep boundaries clear,” he says. For him, guiding students means doing so in a safe, respectful, and professional way without creating discomfort. Maintaining proper physical distance and treating all students equally is part of his daily practice.
“As a teacher, I protect myself and my students by setting clear rules in the classroom and gym, keeping healthy boundaries, and modeling respect. That’s how we create a safe environment where everyone can learn, grow, and feel valued.” He emphasizes that male figures in education have a crucial role.
“Honestly, many people don’t see all that we do. Education is our main job, but in reality, we do much more than just teach. We guide, motivate, care, and become part of the children’s lives at a very high level. Teachers reach their salary peak quickly, and it’s not much. That makes the profession less attractive for many.”
According to Christen Goeloe, motivating people especially men to enter education is not an easy task. “Most people who become teachers do so because they already have a passion for education,” he says. But he believes that the way we present teachers in society needs to change. “One idea is to create special campaigns to showcase teachers (male) in different areas of education. This could help raise awareness and show that teachers also play an important role in shaping the next generation.”
“A male teacher can be a strong role model, especially for boys. When we put more visibility on this impact, we can inspire more men to see teaching not just as a job, but as a career with meaning, substance, and respect.”
“I see myself working with children, but possibly in another area of education. I want to continue developing myself both in teaching and in coaching, so I can combine both passions: guiding students in their learning and inspiring people in sports and health.”
“A teacher in society is someone who can change a generation: motivating them to believe in themselves, pursue their dreams, and learn values like respect, discipline, and empathy.”
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