Coaching Philosophy
Successful debaters and speakers find the truth and speak that truth. Debate events rightly focus on strategy, but strategy should never replace communication of truth.
When prepping, two types of knowledge are critical to communicating the truth in a way that wins rounds. First, students must understand the actual mechanics of the event. Second, students must develop a deep understanding of the nexus issue within that content. As I coach, I focus my efforts on building both types of knowledge. Students who work with Peek Performance can expect significant guidance on building strategic arguments and coaching focused on how to effectively communicate those arguments.
Successful interpers and platform speakers must do the same thing as debaters: find the truth and speak it. Success in IE’s should come not from tricks of blocking or overuse of pathos but instead from lived truth conveyed realistically and in an engaging manner.
Expertise
- Basics: teaching students the basic structure of policy, LD and congress as well as basic strategies for all three
- Judge Adaptation: helping students understand what judges need from a competitor
- Argument Intersection: assisting students to effectively use intersecting ideas to win debate and congress rounds
- Truth: listening to students’ stories and helping them build arguments and performances from that truth
Student Accolades
- 52 state medalists in 2A Texas UIL state speech and debate since 2007
- 2A Texas UIL policy debate champions 2017
- 2A Texas UIL LD state champions 2017
- 2A Texas UIL Congress champions 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,2023
- 2A Texas UIL Persuasive Extemp champion, 2017,2023
- 2A Top Speaker State CX Meet 2019
- LD NSDA Top 16 2017
- LD NSDA Top 8 2021
- LD NSDA Top 24 2023
- 2A Texas Prose, 2nd place 2017, 2018, and 2A prose champion 2019
- LD Middle School NSDA, Top 16, 2019
- Semifinalist NSDA Nationals, Dramatic Interp, 2020
- LD NSDA, 7th Place and 12th Speaker, 2021
- 2A Texas Poetry, 1st place, 2021