Program: Foundations of Public Speaking and Debate

Eddy Cavazos

Eddy Cavazos holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Texas A&M University – Kingsville and an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. In addition, Cavazos is a 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher and Social Emotional Learning Facilitator via Breathe4Change. Cavazos serves as Head Theatre Director, Speech Coach, and UIL Academic Coordinator at Harlingen High School South and Program Director for Musical Theatre at the Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory, located in South Texas. Cavazos has coached numerous finalists and champions at Yale, Glenbrooks, and Harvard, Texas Forensic Association State Champions, University Interscholastic League State Champions, NIETOC Champions, and NSDA National Champions in Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Prose, and Storytelling. Cavazos received NSDA Coach of the Year Awards for the Gulf Coast District in 2021 and 2023.
Cavazos’ coaching philosophy is rooted in artistry and authenticity while providing his student collaborators with the necessary tools to explore the power of both literature and their point of view. He is thrilled to join the ISD team in 2025 as a Senior Instructor in Interpretation of Literature and cannot wait to support you in your journey and watch you thrive!

Jay Rye

Jay Rye first became involved with Speech & Debate as a high school competitor in 1985, and has served as the Director of Speech & Debate at The Montgomery Academy in Montgomery, Alabama, since 1991. As a competitor for and graduate of the University of Alabama, Jay was the recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award from Delta Sigma RhoTau Kappa Alpha, the collegiate honor society for speech education. As a six-diamond coach, he has served as the District Chair of the Mockingbird District since 1999  and has been awarded the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards for District Chair Service as well as being named District Chair of the Year in 2009. In 2007 he was elected a Key Coach of the Barkley Forum at Emory University in Georgia and in 2009 was the recipient of the Bronx Achievement Award by the Bronx High School of Science in New York. In 2013, Jay was the recipient of the Brother Polowy Coaching Award by Holy Cross in Louisiana and in 2014 was named the Jenny Cook Mentorship Award by the University School in Florida. The NSDA awarded him the Pelham Commendation in 2019.

Jay has coached 178 individual state champions along with 158 National Speech & Debate Association qualifiers in all events, including the 2006 National Champion in Dramatic Interpretation. Jay served as the Chair of the Host Committee for the National Tournament of the National Speech & Debate Association in 2009, 2013, and 2017. He is an inducted member of the Alabama Speech & Debate Coaches Hall of Fame and the National Speech & Debate Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2014, Jay was elected to the Board of Directors for the NSDA and on August 1st, 2026 will become the President.

Meg Howell-Haymaker

Meg Howell-Haymaker is the Director of Forensics at Mountain View High School in Mesa, AZ. Throughout her 33 years as a coach, her teams have won seven state championships and fourteen NSDA District Trophies. She has had over 150 students qualify to compete at NSDA nationals, with many reaching elimination rounds and ten students have competed in various final rounds. She has also coached one student to the American Legion National Championship and six students to collegiate National Championships. In 2011 she was inducted into the NSDA Hall of Fame and in 2016, she was named the NSDA National Coach of the year.

Meg is excited to join the ISD Family this summer as the Curriculum Director for the Interpretation of Literature program. Her philosophy of coaching is simple: She will work with any student who has drive, even if finding their forensic strengths is an initial struggle. She cares about students and about forensics…and has seen the transformations that occur when the two are combined. She looks forward to working with you this summer!