I Choose SPS: Meet Sam Overton, Parkview Speech and Debate Teacher

"I did a lot of different jobs after I graduated high school and none of them made me happy or fulfilled. When I finally sat down to reflect on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I asked myself what I enjoyed doing the most. Speech and Debate was the answer. The community of people I'm around and the incredible growth and maturity the activity instills in students is something truly special to watch.

Parkview is a really special place for me. I graduated from Parkview in 2006, and my time here, and in Speech and Debate, really shaped who I am now. Of all the places and careers I could have, being the Speech and Debate coach is something that high school me could not have envisioned. That same special feeling that was here in 2006 is still here today, and I'm super excited to find it.

My favorite part of this first season coaching Speech and Debate would be the Nancy Rowe Almost Winter Classic Speech and Debate tournament we hosted. Parkview hosting a tournament hasn't happened in several years and in this first year we hosted 24 schools from two different states and had more than 750 entries. All of the students did an amazing job, and the area coaches were excited that Parkview was back to hosting. It was also an honor to name the tournament after my high school coach, Ms. Rowe, who has influenced so many of us coaches. Having her back around the team is just another layer of what makes Parkview so great."

— Sam Overton, Parkview Speech and Debate Teacher