Meet Shawna Christenson
"Coach C"
I almost quit coaching speech and debate after my first year. I found out later, many first year coaches, like first year teachers, have a high turn-over rate. Being a first year coach is quite similar to being a first year teacher; we often do not feel supported or that we have the resources to be successful in our jobs. ​
I want to change that for you.
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I survived my first year, and ended up staying in the field for over 25 years. Sure, there are times I felt like passing the torch over to someone else, but deep down, I found speech and debate to be so much more rewarding than my regular English teaching position. I could see a child grow stronger, more confident, and go from being afraid to give a speech to peer to debating on a national scale. I was recognized as a Speech and Debate Coach of the Year by the National Speech and Debate Association, and I serve as an officer for my local middle school forensic league. Your experience can be and WILL be rewarding, too, and my hope is that I can help you navigate that first year in a way that you will feel empowered to keep going even when you feel like. you have NO IDEA how to find your coaching voice.
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Who IS a Debate Coach?
Oftentimes, a relatively new teacher or someone interviewing at a new school is asked to take on a club or sport a part of the job offer. In fact, I had been teaching three years when I moved to a new school. A friend/mentor was the debate coach at the time, and she recommended I take on the position when contracts were up for renewal. I knew NOTHING about speech and debate (I was more a theater kid myself in high school,) but she assured me I would learn as I go, she would assist, but most importantly, it would make me more marketable as an educator.
She was right.
After several years in, I was hired to develop a speech and debate curriculum K-8 at a private school in my area. I had only ever done high school, so this was a big leap of faith for me! No surprise-- I loved it. I loved watching the youngest students who have NO FEAR of public speaking stand and present. I loved watching self conscious middle schoolers emerge as confident communicators.
Today, debate coaches are not just teachers trying to earn points towards being hired. They are often former debaters looking to make an impact. They are home school parents looking for a way to boost public speaking skills in their own child or pod. In short, anyone can be a debate coach. All you need is a potential debater and the willingness to learn as you go.