Embedded Files
Immediate Past President
Immediate Past President
Jessica Sanchez
Jessica Sanchez
jessica_sanchez@ccpsnet.net
Biography
Jessie Sanchez is a teacher and coach at James River High School in Midlothian,Va. After competing in Forensics and participating in theatre at Monacan High School and Longwood University, Jessie knew she wanted to help students find their voices and confidence through the art of performance and speech. In addition to serving on the VAFTDC board for many years, Jessie also served as the NSDA District Chair for Virginia and remains on the committee. She has coached quite a few speakers to National and State Champion rankings- two of whom are her own children Sanchez (23) and Joey (20). The JRHS Speech team won the VHSL State Tournament (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), Runner up (2022), and Virginia District Qualifiers (2023). She is humbled to have been recognized as Teacher of the Year (2017), VAFTDC Coach of the Year (2018, 2024), GMU Mason Mentor (2022), NSDA Virginia District Coach of the Year (2023), and NFHS Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator (2026).
Vice President
Vice President
Shannon Castelo
Shannon Castelo
shannon_castelo@collegiate-va.org
Biography
Shannon Castelo is a 29 year veteran teacher of history and geography. A competitive "speech kid" at heart, she has spent the past 10 years in the world of debate where she has coached students at both James River High School in Midlothian and Collegiate School in Henrico to local, state, and national circuit success. Her debaters have made their way to VHSL state titles, the National tournament with NSDA, the outrounds at the NCFL Grand National Tournament, and the National finals for the Reagan Debate Series. From Oratory, to Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas to World Schools Debate -- her skills cut across many categories of forensics. Shannon is excited to be a part of the VAFTDC family where, in a world of AI bots, we continue to support the pursuit of beautiful rhetoric and (human) civil discourse.
Historian
Historian
Nic Barker
Nic Barker
nic_barker@ccpsnet.net
Biography
Chalie Haigh
Treasurer
VaftdcTreasurer@gmail.com
Biography
Charles Haigh teaches English at Cumberland County High School, and coaches Speech, Theatre, Scholastic Bowl, and Film Festival during his tenure at the school. He and his wife, Rebecca, have self published ten one-act and full length plays that were performed with their students at Cumberland.
Secretary
Secretary
Luis Velasco
Luis Velasco
lavelasco@henrico.k12.va.us
Biography
Luis Velasco teaches English at Glen Allen High School. He previously taught Middle School English in Florida. At both schools, he has co-coached the Speech and Debate team. The process of helping students find their voice is a reward of its on, having helped first time middle schoolers from an inner city school to NSDA Nationals and high school students to States multiple years in a row.
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