Hello to MERSD Debate

To the Editor,

I’m thrilled to introduce myself as your new Debate Director.  As a Manchester High School alumnus who discovered their voice through competitive debate, I’m passionate about creating similar opportunities for our students.  My journey in debate began in a classroom and culminated at national competitions, and today, I bring both that foundational experience and my current leadership role as Chief Product Officer at eCornell to this position.

What excites me most about debate is its unique power to develop both critical thinking skills and personal confidence.  I’ve experienced firsthand how the art of debate teaches students to analyze complex arguments, evaluate evidence, and articulate their positions clearly and persuasively - skills that are invaluable in today’s world.  Watching students grow into confident, analytical thinkers who can tackle challenging ideas while respecting diverse perspectives is truly rewarding.

For those new to debate, students will prepare cases on rotating topics throughout the year.  They’ll attend regular club meetings where they’ll learn debate techniques, practice their cases, and receive feedback from coaches and peers.  From September through March, students can participate in monthly debates, putting their skills to the test in a competitive yet supportive environment and they will meet students from schools from New York to Kansas and beyond.  This structure allows students to develop their abilities progressively while building confidence throughout the season.

In the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to developing our yearly schedule, reinvigorating our annual fundraiser, identifying parent volunteers and establishing club norms.  As we get our footing this year our focus will be on Public Forum which is a partner style of debate over the course of the year I will look at bringing in middle schoolers to help sustain our program.  As we grow the program and our students gain
more experience we will expand into other areas including Lincoln-Douglas and Speech events.

There are several ways you can help support our debate program: please speak with your student about joining this engaging club, encourage them to sign up at club day, help spread the word throughout our community, and consider volunteering for our initial letter writing fundraiser.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need more information.  This program works best when parents actively support their students’ journey in debate.