Meet Our Coaches
Dr. Lawrence Jarocki
Dr. Lawrence Jarocki
Hi, I’m Dr. Jarocki. While I’m new to UHS, I’ve been doing this speech thing for a long time. Back at Clovis High in the 80s, I competed in forensics and debate all four years, including making the top eight in team debate at State my freshman year and earning a Double Ruby (the highest award at the time) rank by my junior year. While I didn’t compete in debate after high school, I do credit my successes in college and beyond with the skills that competitive speech developed in me: the ability to think on my feet, to speak without fear in front of large and small groups of people, to bring people around to my point of view through the use of rhetoric, and, above all, to love words and all they can do for us. I hope to develop all of these in the students at UHS, as well.
Hi, I’m Dr. Jarocki. While I’m new to UHS, I’ve been doing this speech thing for a long time. Back at Clovis High in the 80s, I competed in forensics and debate all four years, including making the top eight in team debate at State my freshman year and earning a Double Ruby (the highest award at the time) rank by my junior year. While I didn’t compete in debate after high school, I do credit my successes in college and beyond with the skills that competitive speech developed in me: the ability to think on my feet, to speak without fear in front of large and small groups of people, to bring people around to my point of view through the use of rhetoric, and, above all, to love words and all they can do for us. I hope to develop all of these in the students at UHS, as well.
Following college and stints in the Navy and with humanitarian organizations overseas, I became the debate coach at Buchanan High School in 2001. Three years later, life led me to Boston and then back to the Valley to teach AP English (both Lit and Lang) in Visalia. Unfortunately, competitive speech wasn’t a thing in Visalia, so I had to be content advising students in yearbook and a creative writing club. Now firmly planted again in the Fresno area, I am excited to be diving into speech and debate again. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm and knowledge with the students of UHS.
Following college and stints in the Navy and with humanitarian organizations overseas, I became the debate coach at Buchanan High School in 2001. Three years later, life led me to Boston and then back to the Valley to teach AP English (both Lit and Lang) in Visalia. Unfortunately, competitive speech wasn’t a thing in Visalia, so I had to be content advising students in yearbook and a creative writing club. Now firmly planted again in the Fresno area, I am excited to be diving into speech and debate again. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm and knowledge with the students of UHS.
LoRainna Carter
LoRainna Carter
Hi, I am LoRainna Carter. I have been coaching at UHS over 6 years, my did 4 years of Speech and Debate in HS and qualified for State 3 times (Duo, Duo, POI) and Nationals as a sophomore. I also did 3 years of Public Forum Debate as well as Congressional Debate. I have coached MANY students to the California State tournament, and the national tournament.
Hi, I am LoRainna Carter. I have been coaching at UHS over 6 years, my did 4 years of Speech and Debate in HS and qualified for State 3 times (Duo, Duo, POI) and Nationals as a sophomore. I also did 3 years of Public Forum Debate as well as Congressional Debate. I have coached MANY students to the California State tournament, and the national tournament.
Outside of Speech and Debate, I work full time in Maintenance Operations and Analytics for the Air Force. I love my job, I travel a lot and am constantly learning something new each day. I am also a sorority alumni adviser, where I get to oversee Philanthropy (volunteering and community service) activities and planning at Fresno State. I graduated from Fresno State with my BA in English Education with an emphasis in Speech/Communication. When I can find free time...I love reading, riding my Peloton, cooking, drinking coffee, traveling, and doing yoga.
Outside of Speech and Debate, I work full time in Maintenance Operations and Analytics for the Air Force. I love my job, I travel a lot and am constantly learning something new each day. I am also a sorority alumni adviser, where I get to oversee Philanthropy (volunteering and community service) activities and planning at Fresno State. I graduated from Fresno State with my BA in English Education with an emphasis in Speech/Communication. When I can find free time...I love reading, riding my Peloton, cooking, drinking coffee, traveling, and doing yoga.
As a coach, I believe every student should find a platform that is near and dear to them to create drive that can be turned into a ten minute speech. I love coaching speech because it varies from acting, talking off the top of your head, to creatively write a speech. Public speaking is more than getting in front of people to talk, it is about the audience and competitors have their phones off and giving you all their attention, so Speak. It's an amazing feeling to perform, speak up, and debate with an audience who gets to listen to You.
As a coach, I believe every student should find a platform that is near and dear to them to create drive that can be turned into a ten minute speech. I love coaching speech because it varies from acting, talking off the top of your head, to creatively write a speech. Public speaking is more than getting in front of people to talk, it is about the audience and competitors have their phones off and giving you all their attention, so Speak. It's an amazing feeling to perform, speak up, and debate with an audience who gets to listen to You.
Aubrey Der Torosian
Aubrey Der Torosian
Hi, I'm Aubrey! Some of you might recognize me from the front office where I work as an attendance clerk. I have been coaching Speech and Debate for 3 years and before that I was a student here at UHS. During my 4 years of high school I dabbled in speech and fell in love with debate! I qualified for State twice, went to numerous traveling invitationals, and went to Nationals my senior year.
Hi, I'm Aubrey! Some of you might recognize me from the front office where I work as an attendance clerk. I have been coaching Speech and Debate for 3 years and before that I was a student here at UHS. During my 4 years of high school I dabbled in speech and fell in love with debate! I qualified for State twice, went to numerous traveling invitationals, and went to Nationals my senior year.
When I'm not calling your parents about your absences or watching your debate rounds, I am usually in a recording studio making music or at home watching American Horror Story with my cat named Salem.
When I'm not calling your parents about your absences or watching your debate rounds, I am usually in a recording studio making music or at home watching American Horror Story with my cat named Salem.
I loving teaching students about Speech and Debate because I still notice ways that this program has helped shape the way I view the world around me. I'm excited to work with all of you this year, even though it will look a lot different than past seasons. I know we're going to have a lot of fun this year!
I loving teaching students about Speech and Debate because I still notice ways that this program has helped shape the way I view the world around me. I'm excited to work with all of you this year, even though it will look a lot different than past seasons. I know we're going to have a lot of fun this year!
