Current COACH
KATIE HERCHE
ANITA CHEN
Coach Anita Chen desires to lead Response with a focus on Christ, community, and character. She has vast personal experience in both Speech and Debate, competing as a student from 2011 to 2016 under the active mentorship of Response’s prior coach, Katie Herche. In 2015, Coach Anita won the national title for Expository Speech, and placed 11th in the nation in Team Policy Debate. The following year, she ranked 5th in the nation in Parliamentary Debate.
Last year, Coach Anita interned as Vice Coach under Coach Katie in preparation for leading Response. This year, Coach Anita returns with a foundational desire to help students set their eyes on Christ.
Anita Chen serves as the head coach for Response in the 2022-23 season.
Founding COACH
KATIE HERCHE
Response speech & debate is coached by Katie Herche. Katie joined the speech & debate team in high school. She competed in NCFCA for three years, taking 2nd place at the 2007 Nationals in Team Policy Debate. She competed another two years in college, winning 1st place in Impromptu and Communication Analysis at the 2009 National Phi Rho Pi tournament. Over the course of her time participating, Katie competed in Team Policy Debate, Parliamentary Debate, and almost every speech event possible.
Since then, Katie has coached speech & debate for homeschool groups, public schools, and private schools. She has now been coaching for over 10 years. Katie currently serves on the debate committee for the Stoa Speech & Debate League. She married her former debate opponent, Logan, and lives in Virginia with her family.
Katie founded Response in 2011.
