UIL Speech Judges

Judging qualifications:
I have been coaching UIL speech in Small Town, Texas since I started teaching in 1995. I got my feet wet with middle school oral reading the first five years in Jacksboro, and then High School Prose/Poetry beginning in 2001 in Muenster. I've been coaching in Salado since 2006. Judging in invitational meets comes with the job. I've learned much over the years and even have had some experience giving advice and pointers to new speakers at early invitational meets, like The Tournament that Teaches. I've been judging both Interpretation and Extemporaneous Speaking all these years. Being in a small school, one wears many hats. I have also put in many years as a UIL One-Act Play director and Spelling and Vocabulary coach. I consider myself from the "old guard," where poise, attire, and book management still play a part in the overall speech. I have noticed lately that many students are shifting and moving while doing a Prose/Poetry piece. I still believe that movements should be contained to upper body only. I've had students qualify for state six different years, but unfortunately, only one of those years did I have someone place in the top six.