Jim Chvala
Professional Biography
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSeñor Chvala teaches courses in Spanish and Earth Science, and 2025-26 represents his 35th year of teaching, and 32nd at Palmer. He received his BAE from Wayne State College in 1991, with endorsements in Spanish, Earth Science, Geography, and Coaching for grades 7-12. In December of 2017, he received his MSE in Instructional Technology. Currently he is working towards his MAE in Spanish Education.
He has been the high school Spanish teacher at PHS since 1994, and, currently, broadcasts to other schools via Zoom since 2002; he also teaches Earth Science at PHS. He coached junior high volleyball from 1999-2001, served as the head boys' and girls' coach for track and field from 1997-2013, and as assistant coach in 2014, bringing back the pole vault program at Palmer in 2012 after a thirty year absence. From 2015-2020, he was Co-Head Coach; he returned to the position of head boys' and girls' coach for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Coach Chvala also started the cross country program in 2001; the teams have sponsored the Palmer Fall Festival Fun Run and Walk since 2002. He is a sponsor for the house of Integritas, and is a substitute bus driver.
Mr. Chvala previously taught at Chambers and Elba Public Schools.
Professional and Educational Goals
To become a resource person for the distance education community
To complete the MAE in Spanish Education
To continue making presentations at educational conferences
Uses of Technology
Jim Chvala utilizes the following technology tools in his teaching:
Google Classroom; StudySpanish.com; Kahoot.com; YouTube; TeacherTube; WordReference.com; The Shadow Poetry Page; the World Wide Web; ClassTools.com; a puzzle generator; iMovie; iPhoto; e-mail; MicroSoft, Apple, and Google office software (word processing, spreadsheet); and Google's Calendar and Classroom; Google Cardboard
Experience with Diversity
At school and away, Mr. Chvala works with people from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Among other things, he has interpreted and translated for speakers of Spanish, worked cattle with a bank president, coordinated class field trips to the cultural business district in Grand Island, shared grilled fish with natives of Laos, worked with adults from the now-closed local group home, collaborated with high-ability learners, collaborated with various people in the Palmer community and surrounding areas, and in 2022, led a group trip to Costa Rica for ten days.
Great innovators have come from all walks of life; as educators we need to give everyone the skills and tools to make their greatest contribution to society.
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