All Teachers

Adam Pepper : 8+ years of experience in public speaking through high school and college, with a focus on Parliamentary debate followed by extensive experience in Spontaneous Speech events at the high school and college level.

Awards:
University of La Verne: Debate Performance Scholarship Winner of 2017
University of La Verne: Dean’s List – College of Arts and Sciences – Fall 2017 – Fall 2020
Rocky Mountain British Parliamentary Debate IV: Champion
Point Loma British Parliamentary Debate Invitational: Top Speaker
National British Parliamentary Debate Championships: Three-Time University of La Verne Representative
World Universities Parliamentary Debate Championships: Two-Time University of La Verne Representative
Oxford University British Parliamentary Debate IV: University of La Verne Representative

Extra Curriculars: 
Redlands Senior High Speech and Debate (Spontaneous Events Captain 2 Years, President 1 Year)
 University of La Verne Debate Team: 2017-Present [President of La Verne Debate 2019-2020]
 University of La Verne Chamber Singers : 2017-2020 [President 2020, Vice President 2019-2020]
 La Verne High School Debate Camp |Volunteer Student Coach | Summer 2017
 American Parliamentary Debate High School Tournament of Champions: Finalist Judge

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Alex Schutz graduated from University of Southern California with the Master of Arts degree in Teaching, with a stellar G.P.A. of 3.96.

He obtained his B. A. degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Communications: Advertising and Public Relations, with Honors in the Major 2011-2013. He was the Recipient of the 2011/2012 Most Outstanding Junior of The Year Award in the Communications Department, on the Dean’s List with a G.P.A. of 3.80.

He has been teaching for the Montebello Unified School District for three years, developing curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students, and implementing lesson plans for students ranging from elementary to high school seniors.

He has also been an instructor at a well-known private institution for Speech, English, and Essay Writing. Alex has a gift of deconstructing difficult and complex subjects and making them easy to understand. His background in communications and education, coupled with excellent class management skills, making his teaching remarkably effective.

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Alison Kalmus’ students have won numerous National Speech, Drama, and Vocal Competitions. She teaches Speech and Drama, Science, Writing, and English. She directed “A Chrismas Carol” for Sierra Madre Theatre in 2004, was Music and Stage Director for Altadena City Arts Festival in 2011, and was Co-Producer and Director for world premiere of “Aesopera” in 2012. Apprentices from her company, Southern California Lyric Theater, have earned placement in top-tiered colleges and universities. Ms Kalmus is an educational and casting resource for Los Angeles and Orange Counties’ High Schools of The Arts, Disney, Nickelodeon and The Independent Shakespeare Co. Many of her students have gone on to perform in professional stage, television and film productions.

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Curtis Cornell graduated from University of California, Irvine with B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society, Minor in Political Science, in June of 2005. He then obtained Multiple Subject Teaching Credential w/ English Language Learner Authorization from California State University, Long Beach, and Clear Credential: Multiple Subjects w/ English Language Learner Authorization from University of California, San Diego.
He believes that everyone deserves a high-quality education and all can rise to the expectations to succeed if given one.
In more than a decade as a teacher between 2006 and 2017, the school districts he taught in included Irvine, Palos Verdes, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Inglewood. His students ranged from 1st to 12th grades, subjects covering English, Science, and Math. Three summers from 2014 to 2016, he received excellent reviews teaching at Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) in Los Angeles County.
Curtis is the author of Monster Ballet, the Serenium Series novels, and Basic Sentences to Essays. He produced over 100 resources and videos on Teachers-Pay-Teachers displaying his successful strategies. He is a creative and passionate teacher with solid leadership and class management skills.

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Erika Myers teaches 2nd grade at Ribet Academy College Preparatory in Los Angeles where she teaches Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. She just completed her 7th year teaching at Ribet Academy. Erika also taught students in the 3rd – 8th grades in a
variety of subjects including Elementary Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Spelling, Reading, and Algebra. Proudly, Erika is a graduate of USC’s Marshall School of Business where she earned a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance

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Evan Feldman

Coaching History:

• Director of Forensics, 2013- 2017, North Hollywood High, North Hollywood High School, CA

• Director of Forensics, 2015- 2016, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies School, Culver City, CA

• Assistant Speech and Debate Coach, 2014- 2016, Ridgecrest School, Palos Verdes, CA

• Assistant Speech and Debate Coach, 2017- 2019, iLead Schools, Van Nuys, CA

• Assistant Speech and Debate Coach, 2017-2020, Perfect Score Academy, Northridge, CA

• Senior Tournament Affairs Coach, 2018- Present, Kudos College of Youth Leadership, San Marino, CA

Coaching Achievements:

• 5 National Speech and Debate Association(NSDA) National Championships Finalists + the National Runner up in Congress and Program Oral Interpretation; 8 Semifinalists; 1 Quarterfinalist, 4 Octofinalists (2014-2018, 2021-2023)

• USA National Debate Team Debater; Team Captain (2016-18); World’s School Debate Education Program (Developmental Team) Debater (2023)

• Donus D. Roberts Quad Ruby Award; NSDA Diamond Award (2014-19); Leading Chapter Award (2014-15)

• 14 MS Tournament of Champions (TOC) Finalists, 7 Semifinalists (2019, 2021-2023)

• 28 HS TOC Qualifiers 2 Finalists, 5 Semifinalists, 1 Quarterfinalist (2015-2018, 2021-2023]

• Harvard University 10 Leadership Awards (2 in Semi’s, 1 in Finals), 8 Best PO’s (1 in Semi’s, 1 in Finals), 7 Finalists, 6 Semifinalists, 1 Runner Up, in MS Congressional Debate (2021-2022)

• Stanford University 14 MS Finalists and 7 Semifinalists (most in the nation),1 Runner Up in Congressional Debate (2019-2023)

• Southern California Junior Forensics League 180 Breaks & 88 Championship Qualifiers, 16 Champions, 15 Top PO Awards, (all 2x any other program) in Congressional Debate (2020-2023)

• 3 California HS Speech Association (CHSSA) State Championships Champions; 11 Finalists; 8 Semifinalists. (2014-17 and 2021-2022)

• California HS Speech Association Top 20 School at State Champs (2016, 2017); Top 5 School (2018), CHSSA Rookie of the Year Coach (2014)

• California Middle School Forensics State Champions Top 10 Program (2020)

Competitive Achievements:

• Professional Speech & Debate Association Champ in Prepared Speech, Runner Up in Spontaneous Debate & Spontaneous Speech, 3rd in Indy Sweeps (2022)

• National Online Forensics Championships National Champion in IPDA Debate, Poetry Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Overall Individual Sweepstakes; Runner Up in After Dinner Speaking and Speech Individual Sweepstakes (2021)

• American Forensics Association (AFA) & National Forensics Association (NFA) National Qualifier in Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking (2015, 2016, 2021, 2022), Octofinalist in Impromptu Speaking (2021, 2022)

• American Forensics Association National Qualifier in After Dinner + Poetry Interpretation (2021, 2022) & Persuasive Speaking (2021), Semifinalist in Persuasion (2021), Quarterfinalist in Poetry Interpretation and After Dinner Speaking (2022)

• National Forensics Association National Qualifier in Poetry Interpretation, After Dinner & Persuasive Speaking (2021, 2022) & Informative Speaking (2022); Semifinalist in After Dinner (2021,2022), Quarterfinalist in Persuasive (2021) Octofinalist in Poetry (2021, 2022)

• Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League Quadrathlon Winner (2021) & California Community College Forensics Association State Championships Tabor/Collins Award Winner for Top Individual Speaker (2016)

• Interstate Oratorical Association National Qualifier (2021)

• California Community College Forensics Association (CCCFA) State Championship Gold Medals in Extemporaneous, Silver in After Dinner Speaking, Bronze in Parliamentary Debate, IPDA and Extemporaneous (2015-17)
• CCCFA State Champion in Impromptu Speaking (2016 & 2017)

• National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) Qualifier (2015-2016)

• NPTE 7th Ranked Community College Debater and Top 75 Nationally for Parli Debate (2015-16)

• Phi Rho Pi National Championship Bossard-Twohy Award for Best Parli Team

• Phi Rho Pi National Championship Silver Medal in Impromptu Speaking, Bronze in Parliamentary Debate, Extemporaneous and Impromptu, 8th Best Speaker in Parli(2015-16)

• CHSSA State Championship Qualifier in Duo Interpretation & Original Prose and Poetry (2013)
• CHSSA State Championship Qualifier in Student Body Congress (2012-2013)

Educational History:

• Bachelor of Arts: Communications (2023), Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

Cum Laude with a 3.51 GPA,

Speech & Debate Team, Full Ride Scholarship 2020-2022, Volunteer Coach 2022-2023

Sport Management Club 2020-2023

Super Smash Bros Club, 2020-2023 Captain of “B Team” 2022-23

Jewish Student Union (Hillel) 2020-2023

• Associate of Arts: Communications (2018), LA Valley College, Valley Glen, CA

Cum Laude with a 3.65 GPA , Dean’s List 2014, 2015, 2018, President’s Honor List 2015

IGETC Certificate of Achievement for Cal State University & University of California

Speech & Debate, 2014-2017, Team Captain 2015-2017, Team Leadership Award 2015

Congressional Recognition Certificate for “Outstanding Service to the Community” (2015, 2016)

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Gabriel Lopez Gabriel started competing in speech and debate in high school; he was a member of “Junior States of America”, a nationwide youth debate and leadership organization. During the two years he won Silver in IPDA at Jannese Davidson Memorial, and Bronze NPDA, from Fall Champs at Cerritos College, and two “Best Speaker” awards. In college, he excelled in his studies, majoring in "Communication Studies" and "Debate Methods.", and was elected and served as student government president. He consistently displayed impressive performance, earning recognition from his professors and from tournaments. Gabriel has a warm and approachable personality, coupled with valuable classroom management experience. His teaching approach is creative, systematic, and has garnered the admiration of students as well as the trust of parents.

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Joseph has 7+ years of public speaking, debate, and mentorship with proven ability to optimize the skills and well-being of teammates.

University Of California – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Bachelors: Political Science
Graduated with 3.7 GPA
Chancellor’s Service Award
Captain, Debate Team from 2016-2018
2017 George Oliver MVP Award
Most Valuable Debater
UCLA Department Of Political Science – Constitutional Law Course
Reader 03/2017 – 06/2018
● Graded/proctored exams and graded papers.
● Addressed student inquiries.
● Met weekly with professor to develop exams, essays, student progress.

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Karrie graduated from California State University at Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and TV Communications.

For five years, she worked as Case Manager at Department of Public Social Services in LA County. Her experience in Education included being an Afterschool Instructor at Los Feliz Charter School of the Arts (now California Creative Learning Academy) in LA, planning and implementing many craft activities; and a Tutor at Elite Academy, where during the pandemic, helping kids completed their school days on Zoom and then tutoring them in generalized homework and studies. In the summer she served at Camp Kinneret as a Camp Counselor, in a nature specialist position, for elementary students.

Her background in service, creative content, arts, and education, coupled with excellent class management skills, making her teaching effective. At Kudos, Karrie now teaches first and second graders “Storytelling” Class.

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Nina Canelo has been a full time teacher for Los Angeles School District for more than ten years. She is learned and experienced in child behavior, psychology, and curricula. Warm and loving towards students, she is goal-oriented and possess great classroom management skills. She has taught at Kudos Storytelling and summer school and is loved by all students.

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Sean Manross

Sean Manross and Bear the Chess Husky

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Thomas Yungerberg

Thomas Yungerberg: Graduated with honors from Berry College in Georgia, majoring in Communication and minoring in Business Administration. He served as a high school debate
coach at ECC College for a duration of five years, where he was responsible for teaching courses in "Speech" and "Public Forum Debate." With a wealth of experience spanning eight years, Thomas not only excels in the realm of debate but also showcases his talents as a writer and playwright, with a specialization in English literature and the works of Levi.

During his time in university, Thomas achieved five state champion titles in "Persuasive Speaking" and "Dramatic Interpretation," along with earning numerous accolades in "Poetry Interpretation." Coach Tom has a remarkable ability to simplify intricate debate topics associated with current events and policies, all while strengthening the foundational skills of public speaking. While he values progress, he also recognizes the significance of rigorous foundational training. His history of successful coaching experiences serves as a testament to this balanced approach.

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