Debra Loya, the Fine Arts Director for McAllen ISD, has been named the District Administrator of the Year for the Gulf Coast District by the National Speech and Debate Association.
She was nominated and subsequently selected by the Gulf Coast District Committee during a National Qualifying Tournament held February 20-22 in La Vernia, Texas.
The Gulf Coast District includes schools from across the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Corpus Christi, Victoria, and up to Galveston.
Schools compete at one Speech and Debate tournament each year which serves as a National Qualifier. The top students in each event will qualify for the national tournament. McAllen High has three students who have qualified for the national tournament which will be this June in Des Moines, Iowa.
McAllen High Speech and Debate Coach Vanessa Chapa submitted the nomination.
“From day one with McAllen ISD, Debra Loya has been an advocate for Speech and Debate,” Chapa wrote. “She supported programming that allowed our students to attend summer debate camps which is a significant factor in our students’ success. Her support of our program has ensured that our students received the recognition they deserve as they qualify for multiple regional, state, and national tournaments. She has sought out and provided funding for our students to compete not only across Texas, but at the national level.”
Loya, an educator since 1998, is in her fourth year as Fine Arts Director for McAllen ISD.
The National Speech & Debate Association is the national authority on public speaking and debate. The Association provides the infrastructure for speech and debate competitions around the world and creates a platform for youth voices to be heard and celebrated.
More info here:
https://www.speechanddebate.org/