Leadership

Meet the members of your 2025-2027 FGCCFL Executive Board.

President Doug Evans

devans@farragut.org

Doug Evans is the coach for Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg.  While he comes from debate and theater, he loves all forms of speech and debate, and wants as many students to grow and learn in this wonderful activity.  He is always saying to his students, “Patience is not something you have, it is something you practice.”
 

Co-Treasurer Dr. St John

tessspeak@aol.com

Terri St. John coached Speech and Debate in West Palm Beach, Ocala (plus International Thespian Society), and Orlando from 1983-1997. She has been the head coach at Sarasota High School since 1997- present. She served the Forida Forensic League for many years as Region III Director and served as FFL Vice-President. Terri was a member of the FFL committee to develop the original Constitution and By-Laws. She has served as Florida Sunshine District committee member since the early 2000s and continues to serve on that committee. FGCCFL leadership positions since 2000-2018 have included Secretary and Vice-President. After the 2018 passing of our President, Bill Gibron, she took over as President until 2023. In June of 2023 she chose not to run for office again and was appointed to the FGCCFL Board of Directors as President Emerita and remains on the Board. Terri has had two passions since she was in high school: becoming a teacher and coaching speech and debate. These passions continue to be of utmost importance in her ongoing efforts to maintain fair-minded By-Laws and Board of Directors, as well as impartial tournaments for all schools and students. Her teams have always been and remain to be the highlight of her days. While she has many favorite quotes, she shares the following:
                “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” 14th Dalai Lama,
                 2016
                 SHS Team Motto: Stronger Together
 

Vice President Thomas Keith

tkeith@jesuittampa.org

Coach Keith is a theology teacher and volunteer debate coach for Jesuit High School in Tampa. He has competed and coached both at the collegiate and high school level, and is delighted to work to help foster a debate community that has given him so much.

Secretary Hunter Sexton

Hunter.Sexton@sydneygrp.com

Coach Hunter is a volunteer debate coach for Robinson High School in Tampa. He has judged over 100 rounds of technical debate at all levels, from novice tournaments to out-rounds at the NCFL and NSDA Finals. His motto is: “If you can’t say something nice, say something clever and devastating.”

Co-Treasurer Jym Froelich

james.froelich@sarasotacountyschools.net

Jym Froelich has been the head coach for Pine View School for the Gifted in Osprey FL since 2018. In previous terms, he has served the FGCCFL as Vice President and President; as Florida Forensics League’s Region 3 Director; and is currently the NSDA Florida Sunshine District’s Committee Chair. He [concurrently] devotes his free time to the speech & debate activity, losing at Bingo, and doting on his goldendoodles at home! Jym is a proud U.S. Army veteran, Dad to three fabulous kids (Go Bulls & Knights!), and knows just how great it is to be married to a Florida Gator…

Webmaster Meredith Jones

meredith.jones@hcps.net

Meredith Jones currently teaches math and speech & debate at Paul R. Wharton High School in Tampa, Florida. She had a wonderful time competing in speech and debate in both high school and college (at THE Ohio State University!), and so she was excited to take on the role of speech and debate coach at Wharton in 2025. When she is not teaching or doing something speech and debate related, you will find her spending time with her 3 children and lovable tuxedo cat, Penguin. She is an avid Harry Potter fan and loves college sports (Go Buckeyes!). Please contact her with any website issues. “It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – A. Dumbledore (J.K.Rowling)