• Shannon R. Rote,  Director of Forensics- Head Coach

     

    I have been coaching Speech and Debate since 1998, with one year away when I taught in North Carolina.  I have been the head coach since 2007 when I took over for retired teacher and head coach, Alice Rote.  I am a 1994 graduate of Chippewa High School.  I earned my Bachelors degree in Communications and my Master's degree in Instructional Technology from The University of Akron.  I am an Academic Enrichment and Credit Recovery teacher at the high school. When I am not coaching or teaching at the middle school, I am a commercial pilot of hot-air balloons. 
     
    I will practice with any student that wants to come in.

     

    For questions regarding the team please email me at Shannon.Rote@Copley-Fairlawn.org.
     
     
    Chris Delozier, Debate Coach  
    I have been coaching Lincoln Douglass and Public Forum debate since 2008 at Highland High School, Firestone High School, and now Copley High school with a several year break while working in Colorado. I have been the Debate coach at Copley High School since 2021. My coaching strategy is grounded in helping students develop lifelong communication, research, and critical thinking skills through competitive debate. When I’m not coaching I work as an IT Consultant in Cleveland. I can be contacted at christopher.delozier@copley-fairlawn.org
     
    Alice Rote, Emeritus Coach
    I am the former Head Coach of the Speech and Debate team.  I was an English teacher at Copley High School for thirty-five years.  I started coaching at Copley in 1979-80.  I competed in Speech in high school and was a national champion in college.  In 1999, I was inducted into the Ohio High School Speech League's Coaches Hall of Fame.  I am the extemp coach and will help any student who might need my assistance.  When I am not coaching, I am an advisor for student teachers at Kent State.  I enjoy reading and playing with my grandson, Zach.