In the Classroom Bor n i n B u rl i ngton , Wisconsi n Grew u p i n Por t Cha rlotte, Flor ida BA , U n iversi t y of South Flor ida Favor i te Movie: The S hawsha n k Redem ption Favor i te Book : Catcher i n the Rye Hob bies: G u i ta r, d isc golfi ng a nd homeb rewi ng 2021 M idd le School Teach i ng Excel lence Awa rd winner as voted on by m idd le school studen ts
Adam Chumbley
Making PE Awesome Where did you grow up?
Who inspired you in teaching?
I moved to Florida when I was young and went to Port Charlotte High School. I lucked into a track scholarship to the University of South Florida and earned my PE degree there.
Mr. Valella, who taught me that anything is possible. This had to be true because I have no idea how I could do three sports and still be in his Thespian Society troupe. Also, Rob Heller, my former co-athletic director at Corbett Prep in Florida, helped me understand how important patience is while teaching and coaching. And my parents always told me they didn’t care what I chose to do in life as long as I worked tirelessly to be the best at it.
Any hidden talents or interests? Funny story. I figured after one year of little league, as an 11-year-old, that I would for sure hit it big. My strategy was not to play baseball until high school, then make varsity, and then make the natural transition to professional baseball. Shockingly, I did not make the team. The track coach had watched me crush the baseball offseason conditioning workouts and recruited me to be a distance runner for cross country. A couple of state championships and a Division I 10K title later…turns out my talent wasn’t on the baseball diamond. 6
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Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher? Yes, ever since my sophomore year of high school. My high school PE teacher asked me what I wanted to do for a career, and I said, “I want to do you what you do.” She jokingly begged me not to do it. I’m not sure if it was my innate desire to inspire students to have a love of movement or if it
was to prove others wrong, but either way, it has worked out pretty darn well.
What is your favorite part of teaching? I love when a student tells me that PE is their favorite class. Many adults tell me their PE experience in high school wasn’t the greatest, so my goal is for every student to have a fun and positive experience when they leave my class and to share that experience with others. That is the most important standard or benchmark I can hit.
Any surprises about virtual PE? Their willingness to think outside the box surprised me. Some days we are doing survivor-style planks to see who can last the longest, then we are volleying a paper ball on one leg, and then we finish with a cupstacking competition. The students have had awesome attitudes. They humor me, regardless of the silliness of the activity. It’s been fun.
