Beth Eskin is a 3 Diamond National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) coach and founder of the Florida Debate Initiative. With 33 years’ experience as an educator, Beth has led the development of academic programs to meet the needs of all students. Beth built the speech and debate program at Timber Creek High Schools from the school’s inaugural year in 2001 with only four students to become the largest forensics program in Orange County Public Schools with an active squad of over 100 students. Beth has been honored as the 2018 Florida Educator of the Year for the NSDA, the 2015 National Federation of State High School Associations’ Florida Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator of the Year, a Finalist for 2018 Orange County Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for the 2020 National Speech and Debate Educator of the Year. Beth has served the forensics community in many leadership roles, including chairing the Florida Panther District of the NSDA and the NSDA Public Forum Debate Wording Committee. Beth was Regional Director for the Florida Forensic League and past president of the North Florida Catholic Forensic League. She also serves on the Public Forum Debate Advisory Board of the University of Kentucky’s National Tournament of Champions. Beth believes that all students should have access to participation in speech and debate. 

Elizabeth.eskin@fldoe.org