Speech and Debate

The purpose of the George Washington Speech Parent Organization is to support the efforts of the George Washington High School Speech and Debate Team made up of over 150 participants. The team ended the 22-23 competitive season as the 5A State Champions and is currently ranked 4th in the nation by the National Speech and Debate Association, the governing body for high school speech and debate. Additionally, Program Director, Maryrose Kohan, was named the “2023 National Coach of the Year” out of the thousands of amazing speech and debate coaches across the country. Competitive speech and debate helps foster public speaking skills and instill confidence in today's high school students. They learn about complex world issues and through research, discussions, and debate, they are able to intelligently articulate possible solutions. They use their voices to bring attention to systemic inequities in society and to highlight the struggles of the marginalized. These students are our future leaders and problem solvers. They choose to spend upwards of 14 hours on any given Saturday at tournaments where they are able to hone their craft. Doing so requires funds for entry fees, coaches, and transportation that exceed the school's budget. Through active student involvement and inspiring teacher leadership and guidance GW Speech and Debate truly changes students' lives for the better.