Hawken Senior Recognized by Cleveland’s Board of Education

 

 

Cleary his efforts to elevate speech and debate programming in city school districts are succeeding.

The national grant was awarded to the CMSD for constantly improving outcomes within the district, and the district’s CEO Eric Gordon chose to designate the funds to the Lincoln-West Speech and Debate Team. Hedayatnia explains, “Mr. Gordon thought it would be proper to use that additional funding to support a program that, in his view, is partially responsible for the district’s success – the Lincoln-West High School Speech and Debate Team.” At the meeting, Gordon asked Hedayatnia to stand before the board and be recognized, crediting his Fight for Forensics campaign as the inspiration that motivated the CEO’s monetary allocation. He also stated his interest in working with Fight for Forensics to expand speech and debate within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Following Gordon’s acknowledgements, students from the Lincoln-West HS Speech and Debate Team, coached by Carrie Cofer, stood to publicly thank the board for their financial contribution and Phillip for his support via Fight for Forensics.

"Speech and debate isn't another extracurricular activity,” Hedayatnia commented. “It's an opportunity to develop meaningful skills for life, and to become a master at argumentation, communication, and teamwork. Our goal at Fight for Forensics is to make sure that gift is available to everyone who wants it, and we're overjoyed that the Lincoln-West Speech and Debate Team is getting the opportunity to offer more opportunities to more students through this award."