Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders - One Voice at a Time
Speech and Performing
Instructor: Ms. Victoria
Ms. Victoria is a University of North Texas graduate with a degree in music education and a Texas teaching certificate. She has 12 years of experience in theatre, musical theatre, and classical voice. Her teaching specialties are voice and musical theatre with emphasis on building age appropriate tone, musicality, and performance skills, as well as acting (both in groups and individually).
Classes Description:
Storytelling (Ages 5-10):
Students will learn foundations of speech through storytelling, acting, and monologue work. Students will begin with telling familiar stories and then explore how we can change those stories with body language, tone, or other small details, before advancing to monologue work.
Performance-Based Speech/Oral Interpretation (Middle and High School Students):
Students will learn performance based speech skills, body language, acting, and using their voices to convey various points and emotions. We will explore performance-based UIL and National Speech and Debate Association events such as prose, poetry, dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, and duo interpretation. Classes will include many performances in front of other students and feedback to practice these skills.
Musical Theatre (Middle and High School Students):
Students will learn vocal technique, acting, and character work through song in this performance based class. All students will perform in groups and individually, and they will receive individual performance feedback to support their success.
Private Voice Lessons (Ages 10 & up): One-on-one lessons in vocal technique and various vocal styles. This is great for students interested in musical theatre, choir, or solo singing. Any experience level is welcome.
Private Acting Lessons (Ages 8 & up): One-on-one lessons in character work, body language, and monologue skills. This is especially great for students with upcoming auditions or performances. Any experience level is welcome.
Public Forum (PF) Debate
Instructor: Feliks
Feliks is a junior at Seven Lakes High School and the Varsity Public Forum Captain. He has competed in national-level varsity debate for three years and was a two-time Tournament of Champions (TOC) qualifier, earning eight bids at some of the most competitive tournaments in the country. He was also a three-time qualifier to the Texas Forensic Association State Championships, reaching the semifinal round as a sophomore.
Feliks has consistently ranked among the top Public Forum debaters in the nation, with deep elimination-round finishes at premier tournaments such as the Barkley Forum at Emory University, the University of Florida Blue Key Invitational, and the Glenbrooks National Speech and Debate Tournament. He has also been invited to highly selective round-robin tournaments, including the Emory Round Robin, Harvard Round Robin, and the UC Berkeley Round Robin, each of which invites only a small number of the top teams nationally.
In addition to competing, he has three years of experience teaching and mentoring debaters at Seven Lakes, leading practices and instructional lectures and helping teams qualify for state and national tournaments.
Course Description:
Beginner In-Person Lessons (FULL):
Jan 29- May 14 ( every Thursday )
From 6:15 pm - 7:45 pm
This class is meant to help students grasp the structure of the Public Forum Debate Round, learn how to execute each speech, and develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills that assist in tournament wins. Students will research basic global events and compete against each other in class tournaments with personalized feedback for each round they debate.
Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate
Instructor: Chris
SLHS Lincoln-Douglas Squad Captain (Coach 15 first-year debaters on 2025 team, 3 have already championed and majority entered elimination rounds)
Experience teaching hundreds of students at The Voices Initiative sessions
T100 LD national rank, 3x TFA LD state qualifier
National Speech & Debate Association - Superior Distinction
2025 UIL Lincoln-Douglas District Champion
Course Description:
LD Debate, or Lincoln-Douglas Debate, is a one-on-one competitive format focusing on philosophical and moral questions about how society ought to be, contrasting with policy debates about what is. Named after the historical Lincoln-Douglas debates, it pits an affirmative speaker against a negative speaker on a topic (resolution) that changes every couple of months, emphasizing values like justice, fairness, and rights through logical arguments and philosophical frameworks.
This class focuses on building logical argumentation tactics, case-building, powerful speaking voice, and strong debate instincts. Recommended for students who have been introduced to speech & debate, but want to advance further in tournaments or debate skill-level.
Extemporaneous Speaking and Congressional Debate
Instructor: Ishaan
Ishaan is a senior at Seven Lakes High School, who is currently the Congressional Debate Captain. Last year he was the Extemporaneous captain. Ishaan has been speaking and debating for 4 years, and coaching for 3. He has had lots of competitive success, reigning from 5th in the state for Congress, and 7th in the state for Extemporaneous speaking. He has also finalled almost every single National Circuit final round, and is ranked 8th in the country by NSDA. He has accumulated 17 TOC bids across speech and congress, and has been invited to numerous prestigious invitationals. Recently, Ishaan represented his school at UIL State and got 4th place.
Course Description:
This is for students with 0-1 years of experience in Speech and Debate. A public speaking class, delving into 2 separate events, that are the stem of all speech and debate. Learn skills like public speaking, effective research, and most importantly confidence with Extemporaneous speaking. Learn effective argumentation, articulated speaking, and different world topics with Congressional debate. Both events teach a introduction foundation for the rest of the Speech and debate world. Ishaan will reference multiple multiple national champions, and prepare students to win in HS and MS competitions.
In person: Sunday 9-11 AM starting Jan 18 till End of Semester
Online: Tuesday 5-7 Pm starting Jan 20 till End of Semester
Refined Speaking, Leadership and Advanced Communication
Instructor: Flora
Flora is a senior at Seven Lakes High School. As one of two Extemp Captains for the Seven Lakes Speech and Debate team, Flora leads one of the largest and most competitive squads within the program. Her own competitive record is remarkably exceptional, highlighted by being a 3x national qualifier, a 3x Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State qualifier, and the earner of 2 prestigious Tournament of Champions (TOC) bids, alongside 10+ final round appearances at both local and state levels. Beyond speech and debate, Flora serves as the president of the Law Club, vice president of a nationally recognized nonprofit, and a session manager for The Voices Initiative. She also retains extensive experience in instructing elementary and middle school students through these platforms.
Course Description:
This program prepares students with the real-world speaking and leadership skills to help them stand out in school and secure leadership positions in high schools.
Mrs. Luu Speech & Debate Program
Details: https://www.katyspeechanddebate.com/
Mrs. Luu hosts her speech and debate classes at the Enrichminds Katy location at the following days.
Speech and Debate Sundays G6up| 12:00-2:00 (return students only)
Speech & Debate Sunday G7up|2:00-4:00 Intensive Competition level (return students only)
Debate Sundays G7up |4:00-6:00 Advance Debate Intensive Extemp/PF invite only
Speech and Debate Saturdays 2:00-4:15 Advanced (return students only)
Speech and Debate Saturdays G6-8| 4:15-6:45 NOT AVAILABLE
Speech and Debate Monday G3-4|4:30-6:00 (returning students, one spot remaining)
Speech and Debate Monday G5-7| 6:00-7:45 NEW STUDENTS