Victoria Beard has been the director of forensics at Spring Woods High School in Houston, Texas, for 18 years and has been a dedicated educator in the Spring Branch Independent School District for over 35 years. In 2019, she coached the NSDA National Champion in Congressional Debate – House and has also mentored state champions for the Texas Forensic Association, the University Interscholastic League, and The Tournament of Champions. Victoria has consistently produced top finalists at renowned tournaments such as the National Speech and Debate Association’s Nationals, Harvard, Glenbrooks, the Tournament of Champions, the Longhorn Classic, and the Grapevine Classic.

With a bachelor's degree in speech and theatre and a master's degree in theatre, Beard has garnered recognition for her outstanding contributions to education. She received the Jim Moore Memorial Award for Outstanding Educator at Spring Woods High School and the Stars in the Classroom Award, sponsored by the Houston Texans and First Community Credit Union, in 2021. Victoria was named Educator of the Year by the Texas Speech and Communication Association in 2013 and has been selected as Spring Woods’ Teacher of The Year (2013) and as a Spring Branch ISD Teacher of the Year finalist (2013). In 2021, she was honored as CASE (Children’s After School Education) Debates’ Coach of the Year. Victoria was inducted into the Texas Forensic Association’s Hall of Fame in 2022 and served on the TFA executive council for four years. She was also recognized as the Outstanding Educator of the Year for the National Federation of State High School Associations (Sector 6) in 2023. At Spring Woods High School, Victoria serves as the UIL Academic Coordinator and chairs the Fine Arts/Visual Arts Department. She has earned her third NSDA Diamond and is a member of the Space City NSDA Committee. For nine consecutive years, Victoria has been the senior instructor for Congressional Debate at the Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops. She also serves as one of the caucus leaders for the NSDA Hispanic/Latinx Caucus and has organized and taught speech and debate summer camps for the Spring Branch Initiative, benefiting SBISD high schools, for the past 15 years.

Brian Darby serves as the director of Speech and Debate for Clear Creek High School in League City, TX. A graduate of Deer Park High School, Brian developed his skills as a debater before continuing his debate journey on scholarship at San Jacinto College. During his time at San Jacinto College, he achieved notable success, winning the Silver Award for Parliamentary Debate and the Bronze Award for Policy Debate in 2008.

Subsequently, Brian transferred to Texas State University, where he pursued a major in communication studies and a minor in mass communication while continuing his involvement in debate. Throughout his competitive career, he participated in a variety of debate events, including Policy Debate, Congressional Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Parliamentary Debate.

As a coach, Brian has guided students to finals and deep elimination rounds at both state and national levels in debate, speaking, and interpretation events. Before assuming his current role at Clear Creek High School, he served as the assistant coach at Alief Hastings High School for two years.