Tony Gerrettie Earns Speech and Debate Diamond Award

Tony Gerrettie is an English teacher at Salpointe, as well as the Speech and Debate Head Coach. He earned his 1500 Point with the National Speech and Debate Association. The 1500 Point is called the Diamond Coaches Award. Students are given 6 points for winning a debate and 3 points for losing a debate. Coaches receive 1/10 of each student point. Although previous Speech and Debate coaches at Salpointe have reached this level, Gerrettie is the first to earn 1500 points at Salpointe.

 

Gerrettie will be presented the award with all others who earned their Diamond Award this summer at a ceremony on June 21 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as part of the National Championship.

 

"I just wanted to say thank you for the support along the way," Gerrettie said. "The Diamond Award is the highest level a Speech and Debate coach can reach in our world. There is no further. I couldn't have done it without the support of the school and the way they celebrate our team."

Diamond coach awards reflect excellence and longevity in the activity. Coaches receive one point for every ten merit points earned by their students. Coaches then earn Association membership and advanced standing at the same milestones as students, until they earn 1,000 points and the Donus D. Roberts Quad Ruby Coach Award.

A coach’s next award is the First Diamond, earned when s/he receives 1,500 points and has been coaching in the Association for at least five years since achieving the degree of merit (25 points). Five years must pass between each new diamond award, and a certain number of points must be earned during each interval. (National Speech and Debate Association)

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