Director Bios
Joel Anguiano
Senior Director
Specialty: Program Oral Interp., Poetry, Prose, Duo, Dramatic Interp.
Joel Anguiano competed in both High School at Bel Air High School in El Paso Texas, and college speech at El Paso Community College. In College he was a 4 time Pi Kappa Delta National Champion in Prose, POI, Drama and Duo Interpretation as well as a National Champion at the Phi Rho Pi National Community College Speech Championships.
Immediately after competing he coached at El Paso Community College as the Assistant Director of Forensics where he coached 32 Phi Rho Pi National Champions, as well as 7 consecutive years as the Gold Team Winner at Phi Rho Pi. He also coached 4 consecutive years of top community college at the AFA-NST National tournament. After his tenure at EPCC he coached at Wiley College where he coached a Pi Kappa Delta and NFA National Champion in Poetry Interpretation.
Currently Joel works as an Executive Director for Advantage Communications and is the District Director at Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. In 2023 he coached the Middle School National Champion in Program Oral Interpretation.
Joel has been an elected council member for the Pi Kappa Delta National Speech and Debate Association as well as a committee member for the AFA-NST National Championships and the National Forensic Association Speech Championships.
Quote: "What matters in life is not what happens to you, but what you remember and how you remember it.” – Gabriel García Márquez
Mariela Garcia-Alvarado
Senior Director
Specialty: Debate, Limited Preparation, Platform, Interpretation
Mariela attended California State University-Fullerton and pursued three Bachelors of Arts degrees in American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, and Philosophy. Mariela debated for the Varsity Policy Debate division, receiving multiple individual speaker and finalist awards along the way. She was awarded the Giles Forensics Scholarship and was recognized as a CEDA All American Scholar.
Mariela has coached numerous school and academy teams in California and Illinois since 2015, helping many students place in finalist rounds, raise their grades, and get accepted to prestigious schools. To her, speech and debate activities act as a vessel for students to excel as students, citizens, family members, and friends, "Our students build their confidence to be active listeners, speakers, and members of a community. Most importantly, our students learn to care about the world and their ability to change it. Not all students will be first-place winners, it is simply not possible for everyone to win. But they will gain a network of support in this community. They will learn to compete against themselves to reach their fullest potential. And they will learn how to create goals and the work ethic necessary to meet them. Our students will learn how to care for themselves and others, and that is much better than a trophy."
Claribel Gomez
District Director
Specialty: Prose, Dramatic and Humorous Interpretation
After competing with Sal Tinajero's Fullerton High School team, Claribel Gomez decided to share her team's knowledge with other students. She believes that all students deserve an opportunity to explore their public speaking skills to find their voice. Claribel believes in using a student's natural abilities and skills to give them a competitive edge when performing. Her philosophy is to "Pay it Forward". She felt changed after participating in Speech and Debate, and strives to help others grow competitively and personally.
Raul Ruano
Co-Director
Specialty: Platform, Limited Preparation, Debate
Raul Ruano studied Philosophy and American Studies at California State University, Fullerton. Throughout his undergrad, he competed in Varsity Policy Debate, winning multiple awards, including: 1st place speaker, top-10 speaker finishes, and octo-final finishes in 2 National tournaments. He was also awarded All-American Debater at the national CEDA Policy Debate Tournament in 2018.
His training in performative-style argumentation fueled a passion for teaching others how to use Debate as a platform for refining civic leadership and critical thinking skills. Raul has trained and coached up many students to compete at a higher level in Limited Preparation and Debate events, as well as Platform speaking events.
Emily Trader
Co-Director
Specialty: Platforms & Interpretation
Emily Trader graduated from Bradley University in 2021 with a degree in Spanish and History. She also competed for Bradley University’s illustrious speech team, making her way to four national finals, becoming the Vice President, and winning a national championship in Persuasive Speaking in 2019. She has coached for Santa Ana Unified School District and Advantage since May of 2020, and now proudly works with the brilliant students of Peoria, IL.
Emily’s extensive experience and success in both interpretation and platform govern her belief that students can convey any important message through argumentation, humor, drama, or movement. Her coaching paradigm emphasizes accessibility, meeting students where they are, and creating a compassionate environment in which students of any and all identities can thrive in their unique creative expression.
Megan Thompson
Co-Director
Specialty: Programmed Oral Interp., Dramatic Interp., Prose, Poetry
Megan Thompson began her speech and debate career at Mount San Antonio College, where she quickly established herself as a standout competitor, earning multiple accolades right from the start. In her second year, she contributed to the team’s 1st place victory at the Phi Rho Pi National Championship and received the Huffer Goldman Award for Reader’s Theater while also being a part of the first-ever all-Asian Readers’ Theater.
Transitioning from competitor to coach, Megan brought her expertise and passion to guiding students to success. In her first year as a coach, she played a key role in coaching two middle school National Champions in Poetry Interpretation and Programmed Oral Interpretation. Most recently, in 2024, Megan was a part of the coaching team that led Hacienda La Puente School District’s Mesa Robles Middle School to their first National School of Excellence Award.
Megan Thompson has also been instrumental in starting not one but two high school speech programs across two different districts. These programs have achieved significant success, with students advancing to out rounds at prestigious tournaments such as the Harvard, Tournament of Champions, and NSDA Nationals.
Now serving as Co-Director for the Hacienda La Puente School District, Megan Thompson is pursuing a Master of Communication Management at USC. She is committed to fostering a student-centered environment where each participant is empowered to find their voice and reach their highest potential.
Amelia Burns
District Management Trainee
Specialty: Original Oratory, Informative Speaking and Interpretation Events
Amelia graduated from Bradley University in 2021 with a degree in Organizational Communication after competing for the nationally renowned Bradley University Speech Team. Amelia competed in speech and debate for about 12 years, making her way into both High School and College state final rounds. She was nationally ranked by the National Speech and Debate Association in Poetry in High School. In 2021, she became a double college national finalist, first in Dramatic Interpretation, and then in Prose Interpretation.
Amelia has been coaching students of all levels and ages ever since she graduated, helping schools earn National School of Excellence and Overall National School of Excellence awards, as well as coaching National Speech and Debate Association National Champions and National Runner-Ups in Original Oratory. Amelia is most passionate about helping students find their voices, explore their interests, and fostering a love for literature and writing. She hopes that students take away from speech and debate an ability to advocate both for themselves and for others.