In this episode award winning Debate Coach and Little Rock Central High School educator, Rosie Valdez Block, talks about what it was like growing up in a family of educators, why she values the process more than the outcome, offers advice on how teachers can "tap in" to join the  conversations, and shares why it's necessary to sometimes "buckle up and buck up to advocate for what you know is right". 

Rosie Valdez Block is a lifelong Little Rocker. She has been a public school educator for 11 years, and is currently the Director of Debate at Little Rock Central High School. Rosie comes from a family of teachers, and feels very lucky to share her my love of communication education with her mother. Before the pandemic, she spent nearly every weekend of her life traveling the country to tournaments with her nationally-ranked debate team. Though our competitions are all virtual now, you can still find her coaching and judging debate every weekend. Mrs. Block is very proud of the resiliency her debaters have shown as the activity they love has had to fundamentally change the last two years.   Rosie is a passionate advocate for public education. She was raised in the Little Rock School District, and is a proud alum of Booker Arts Magnet, Horace Mann Middle, and Parkview Arts/Science Magnet. Rosie Valdez Block has served on the executive council of the Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association for five years, and is currently on the executive board of the National Debate Coaches' Association. She was also named National Coach of the Year in 2020 by the NDCA. (FYI - Rosie firmly believes all teachers should watch Ted Lasso AppleTV.) 

For questions about the podcast or the host, contact Stacey McAdoo at www.stillstacey.com, [email protected] or @2019atoy on most social media platforms.

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