Transform your learning experience
Empowering students to achieve their full potential
Open to all Charlotte area students
Applications open May 1, 2024
Earlybird
About Charlotte Speaks
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Mission
Intensive training in the oral presentation of ideas Is essential to full freedom of expression. The ability to analyze a debate resolution, dramatic text, or oratorical concept, and to compose a meaningful response, is what we teach at Charlotte Speaks.
Our Institute helps students achieve their fullest potential through speech and debate
Intensive training in the oral presentation of ideas Is essential to full freedom of expression. The ability to analyze a debate resolution, dramatic text, or oratorical concept, and to compose a meaningful response, is what we teach at Charlotte Speaks.
Our Institute helps students achieve their fullest potential through speech and debate. The skills and theory we promote are vital in English and social studies classes, interscholastic competition, as well as in real life.
Our History
Our Mission
Our Mission
Charlotte Speaks offers a first-class summer experience in an affordable, commuter camp format. In the decade before the Covid pandemic, a Charlotte based summer camp was hosted on the Myers Park campus every summer. Open to all students, the camp was revived in 2023
We have a proven track record of success and are committed to continuing to provide high-quality education for years to come
Our Team
Our Mission
Our Team
Our team of experienced educators is passionate about helping students succeed. We have a diverse group of teachers, administrators, and support staff who are committed to providing our students with the best possible education.
Charlotte Speaks faculty have been selected based on their experience and proven ability to work with students.
Our team of experienced educators is passionate about helping students succeed. We have a diverse group of teachers, administrators, and support staff who are committed to providing our students with the best possible education.
Charlotte Speaks faculty have been selected based on their experience and proven ability to work with students. Our lab leaders have instructed at more than one hundred summer high school institutes and have participated in or coached more than twenty national championships.
teaching Staff
Senior Staff
Senior Faculty
Senior Faculty
Lynne Coyne is the Director of Speech and Debate at Myers Park High School and the Global Politics teacher in the MP International Baccalaureate program. A member of the Tarheel Forensic League Executive Board, Lynne has coached middle and high school programs in MA, NJ, and MA since retiring from political life working as a lobbiest for
Lynne Coyne is the Director of Speech and Debate at Myers Park High School and the Global Politics teacher in the MP International Baccalaureate program. A member of the Tarheel Forensic League Executive Board, Lynne has coached middle and high school programs in MA, NJ, and MA since retiring from political life working as a lobbiest for the National Organization of Women in DC. She has coached students to national Titles at the National Speech and Debate Association, the Catholic Forensic League, and the Tournament of Champions.
Zac Grant, Director of Instruction. Zac was a successful debater for the University of Kansas and attended the College National Debate Tournament in Policy Debate three times. Zac is a two-time NIDT National Champion and was National Student Speaker of the Year. Zac was Director of Debate at UNC-Chapel Hill and has taught previously at 30 summer institute sessions including Kansas, Baylor, Louisville, North Carolina, and Wake Forest.
Dr. Steven C. Combs, Principal Lecturer. Dr. Combs, former university President or VP at Hawaii Pacific, Drury, Maryland-IH, and Bay State, is a perfect example of why debate matters. His debate resume includes serving as Director of Forensics at Claremont Colleges. As an undergraduate, Steve took Second Place at the National Debate Tournament representing the University of Southern California. While debating for USC, Steve won 457 total rounds, a national record that stands today.
McKinley Campbell is the Director of Speech and Debate at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, NC. One of the largest programs in the state, Ardrey Kell has a long history of success in both speech and debate. A speech kid herself in high school, McKinleyis now serving as both an English teacher and coach. McKinley is currently completing her masters in curriculum and instruction at UNCC. Her passion for education and speech and debate is evident in all her interactions and she can't wait to join us this summer.
Senior Faculty
Senior Faculty
Senior Faculty
Ben Jacobs debated for 3 years in PF for Myers Park. He now does British Parliamentary at Vanderbilt. During his high school career, Ben served as a novice captain, overseeing the coaching of all his team's new PF debaters. As a competitor, he qualified to the TOC twice, receiving three bids and an auto qualification. Notably, he was rank
Ben Jacobs debated for 3 years in PF for Myers Park. He now does British Parliamentary at Vanderbilt. During his high school career, Ben served as a novice captain, overseeing the coaching of all his team's new PF debaters. As a competitor, he qualified to the TOC twice, receiving three bids and an auto qualification. Notably, he was ranked as high as 9th in the nation in the fall of his senior year. He reached deep elimination
rounds at the CFL tournament, the Laird Lewis Invitational, and Bellaire, while additionally winning out rounds at UK and the MidAmerica Cup. Since he began coaching this year, his students
have attained 11 bids, and won North Carolina states and multiple national circuit tournaments. Ben specializes in traditional debate and novice education but is fluent in all forms of debate. Ben can't wait to join the tournament staff this summer.
Ethan Jacobs debated at Myers Park High School for four years, where he served as team captain for the public forum team. Throughout his debate career, he qualified for NSDA nationals and amassed seven bids to the Tournament of Champions. Notably, Ethan was ranked as high as 6th in the nation during his senior season. He reached deep outrounds at numerous tournaments including Millard North, Mid American Cup, TOC digital series, Emory, and. many others. After graduating, he continued to coach privately, and his students have had competitive success amassing numerous TOC bids and winning two state
tournaments. Ethan is adept at teaching all styles of debate and is passionate about research. When he isn't thinking about debate, he enjoys basketball, video games, and politics.
Junior Faculty
Senior Faculty
Junior Faculty
Isaac Barsoum is a 2024 graduate of North Mecklenburg High School and was voted by both the State of North Carolina, and the Western Carolina District, as the Student of the Year in 2024. Isaac will be attending Princeton University in the fall.
Hadley Smith is a 2024 graduate of Myers Park High School. A 3x qualifier for the CFL Grand Nat
Isaac Barsoum is a 2024 graduate of North Mecklenburg High School and was voted by both the State of North Carolina, and the Western Carolina District, as the Student of the Year in 2024. Isaac will be attending Princeton University in the fall.
Hadley Smith is a 2024 graduate of Myers Park High School. A 3x qualifier for the CFL Grand Nationals or NSDA Nationals in public forum debate, Hadley's speciality lies in working with beginning debaters and younger students. Hadley will be attending Clemson University in the fall and majoring in automotive engineering.
Gil Altman, is a 2024 graduate of Myers Park High School. A qualifier to the NSDA nationals in Lincoln Douglas deabte, World Schools Debate, and Extempraneous Speaking, Gil placed 7th in the nation in the combined Expetemporaneous Debate category in 2022. Gil will be attending Yale University in the fall.
Explore your options
1 Week Debate Camps
Partial Week Speech Camp
Partial Week Speech Camp
Classses will include sections for novice and varsity students in Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas debate. Don't know what format is best for you? That's what the first diagnostic day can help you decide!
Topics addressed will include building research skills, case construction, developing rebuttal strategies, and adapting your argument for different audiences.
Interested in college level debate? Take advantage of our College Advisors to explore your path to possible admission.
Partial Week Speech Camp
Partial Week Speech Camp
Partial Week Speech Camp
Classes will be divided into student prepared topic speeches/public address and speeches which examine the presentation of literature. General topics of audience analysis, the non-verbal aspects of communication, and verbal strategies will be covered in both divisions.
Congressional Debate
Partial Week Speech Camp
Professional Development
Congressional debate takes for its model the United States houses of Congress. Building upon basic civics lessons, students will research and write their own legislation, write authorship speeches and speeches against legislation proposed by others. Learn to pose strategic questions and how to answer the objections of others.
Professional Development
Judge training and Parent Involvement
Professional Development
Take your career and team to the next level with our career development courses. We are conducting a special three-day session exclusively for Charlotte area coaches seeking to develop and enhance their skills in program management, tournament administration, coaching technique, and judging approach. For coaches with four (4) or more students enrolled in our full-week 2024 camp, your fees to participate will be waived.
Judge training and Parent Involvement
Judge training and Parent Involvement
Judge training and Parent Involvement
Parents who wish to participate are invited to attend our Judge Tutorial class, conducted the morning of our final day. Immediately following the tutorial, a tournament will be staged at which you may test your skills as a judge.
Sample Schedule
Judge training and Parent Involvement
Judge training and Parent Involvement
Contact Us
Thank you for considering us for your family's educational needs.
Charlotte Speaks
