Spring Class

The San Ramon Academy is excited to offer a Spring Class for select 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to prepare for and attend the 

California High School Speech Association Middle School 

State Championships dates May 15-17  

Spring 2026 Classes.

Our Spring classes build on the Fall program and will allow students to focus in depth on one event (LD Debate, Public Forum Debate, Parli Debate or Congress) and prepare for the CHSSA Middle School State Championship Tournament.   Enrollment will be by invitation only and limited to select students from the Fall class.  This will allow students to continue to learn their event and practice at a much greater depth than the Fall class.

All students participating in the Spring class will be invited to attend the CHSSA Middle School State Championship Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17.    All rounds for the State Tournament will be online.   The rounds on Thursday and Friday will start after 4pm.  Final rounds will take place during the day on Saturday.  Attending the State Championship tournament is not a requirement of the class.   

All classes will take place online.  Classes will meet every week between January 27 - May 14, except for the second week of April due to Spring Break in the SRVUSD.  

Tuition for Spring Class: $895.00

Classes are taught by David Matley and Jackson Matley.

David Matley - Director of Debate at Monte Vista HS for 35 years.

Jackson Matley - UCSD grad, former championship high school debater.  He currently works as a debate coach at Monte Vista HS.  Jackson has been teaching speech and debate in the San Ramon Valley for the past 10 years.

Contact information: 

David Matley: dmatley@gmail.com

Jackson Matley:  jacksonmatley825@gmail.com

SPRING CLASSES

TUESDAY CLASS - 4:00-5:30 pm - This class will focus only on Congress.  The class will be a combination of lecture, student activities, and speeches. Lectures will include various speech structures, analysis of legislation, persuasion strategies, use of introductory material, and rhetorical devices.  Students will participate in an various mock congresses to practice to improve their presentation and prepare for the Middle School State Tournament.   

Classes start Tuesday, January  27th.  Last class is April 28 .  No classes during the week of  SRVUSD Spring  Break April 6-10.  

WEDNESDAY CLASS - 4:00-5:30 pm .  Both the Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum class will take place on Wednesdays.  The classes will be a combination of lecture, student activities, and debates.  Lectures will include topic analysis, argumentation and organizational strategies, logic, use of evidence and various debate strategies.  Activities will consist of primarily of rebuttal, delivery and cross-examination drills.  Students will participate in multiple debates and drills to improve their skills and prepare for the Middle School State Tournament.  

Classes start Wednesday, January  28th.  Last class is April 29 .  No classes during the week of  SRVUSD Spring  Break April 6-10.  

Students do not need to be enrolled in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in order to participate.

The San Ramon Academy is private debate academy and is not affiliated with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

Registration for the Spring class will be made available by Nov. 14.