Fun, experienced, patient, and engaging coaches that will help your child develop their speaking confidence!
Coach Anna
Coach Anna is a nationally-awarded Lincoln Douglas and Collegiate Parliamentary Debater. She has also placed top in many multi-state tournaments in Impromptu and Humorous speaking. She is the recipient of the Trivium, Academic, Forensics, and Music Scholarships and holds a 3.91 GPA at Patrick Henry College majoring in Literature. She has successfully taught students in essay writing, speech, and debate. Her relatable style, enthusiasm, and insightfulness will inspire our students to achieve their speaking goals.
Coach Sarah
Coach Sarah has tutored teens and children with special needs for over ten years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Screenwriting and a Minor in Television Production from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. She is an avid reader and writer. She brings her experience and knowledge as a writer/ director/ producer in the entertainment industry to help students communicate in their most authentic way. Her love for creativity and storytelling will help our students strengthen their written and verbal communication skills. Her energy and humor are infectious which will make sessions with coach Sarah fun and engaging.
Coach Karin
Coach Karin is from Chicago, IL. She believes “Helping a student become a “formulator of thoughts” is the best job imagined”. She has a BS in Communications and Theater, and an MFA in Creative Writing. She has also completed Continuing Education at Northwestern and Stanford University. Karin has devoted her personal and professional time to diversity and storytelling. As a professional features writer and arts reviewer, her passion is helping young people to find and communicate their voices. She brings a wealth of film, commercial, and speaking experience to each interactive session. She is a SAG-AFTRA actor who will help our students build their confidence to write and speak with pizzazz.
Coach Chellam
Executive Director
NaTishia, Executive Director
Chellam is a student at the University of Kentucky and a top State and National Champion in Speech & Debate. She holds the State Champion Title in Kentucky High School Speech League (KHSSL) Chellam is also a fierce competitor and top award recipient in public speaking competitions in Declamation,Impromptu Speaking, Broadcasting, Poetry, and Extemporaneous Speaking. She’s been featured on Nickelodeon, Refinery 29, and a Danish Podcast for speaking about the 2020 election. Chellam is a student advocate who knows the power of her voice. She truly understands that public speaking is more than giving a speech . She is authentic and fun. Her passion,experience and relevance brought to each class connects and inspires our students to speak up and speak out.
As a parent raising a teenage daughter, my desire is for her to become a confident communicator who can advocate for herself and others. I searched for a program where we could begin the journey to building her speaking and social skills. A program that would:
understand my parental concerns
help manage shyness, fear and anxiety
develop a more confident and effective communicator
provide results
It was a challenge to find a program that could help. I knew other parents like me were feeling the same frustration. After much research and speaking to other parents, the decision to launch Public Speaking for Teens(PSFT) was made.
With 25+ years of experience as a Professional Speaker, Consultant in the Speaking and Training Industry, former National Forensics Speech & Debate Champion, Entrepreneur with a genuine passion for public speaking, I launched PSFT for families seeking support for their children.