A BIT ABOUT US

LD Coach: Colonel (ret) Chris Lisanti, MD has been coaching Lincoln Douglas debate
for 15 years at his local club in New Braunfels, TX (now Ascend Texas Speech &
Debate). All four of his now adult children competed in STOA throughout their home
school years. Dr. Lisanti has published several articles on philosophical anthropology
along with its application to the practice of healthcare and biomedical ethical
implications. He is the senior faculty advisor for the Hippocratic Society at Brooke Army
Medical Center, advocating for virtue in both personal and bioethical considerations.
Lastly, he has released a series of thirty lectures on human flourishing through his
podcast “Roots of Flourishing.”

Heather Simbro is a homeschool mom and small business owner. She is also a debate mom who enjoys discussing current topics and debate strategies with our Ascend policy team students. She is a graduate of Biola University, where she earned her elementary teaching credential, and Talbot School of Theology, where she earned a master's degree in Christian Education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going for walks with Randy and Wyatt, playing board games, and spending time with her small group.

Austin Kelly is a homeschool dad of 4 and also manages his wife’s Family Medicine practice. He has a music education degree from Texas Tech University and taught music in public schools for 9 years. He enjoys working with high school students to find their passion and hone their skills. 

My name is Victoria Zinkgraf, and I'm a homeschooling mother of four. This is our fourth year participating in STOA, and my second year teaching the Junior Speech class.
One of the things I value most about STOA is its emphasis on helping students develop the lifelong ability to articulate their thoughts clearly and communicate with confidence. It is incredibly rewarding to watch junior students grow from their first, often nervous speeches to confidently walking into and out of tournament rounds with poise and excitement.
My goal is to create a fun, encouraging environment where young students can build a strong foundation in public speaking, develop confidence in their abilities, and discover the joy of sharing their ideas with others. It is a privilege to be a small part of each student's journey as they grow both as speakers and as individuals.

Naomi Flores is a homeschool graduate and art teacher. She competed in various speech events with Stoa for 6 years, reaching the national level 3 times. In 2021, she graduated from Northeast Lakeview College with her Associate's degree in Art. Since graduating, she has taught various speech classes and stepped into the official role of speech coaching in 2024. She is a creative and dedicated educator who enjoys facilitating engaging and fun learning environments for students across multiple age groups. In her free time, she enjoys doing needlecrafts, playing the piano, and listening to film soundtracks.

I live my life for an audience of One—God. As a homeschool mom, wife to my husband, Sid, and mom to our two sons, Josiah and Wyatt, I am passionate about raising the next generation to live with purpose, character, and faith.

With a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, I love teaching young people the principles of entrepreneurship and equipping them with the skills and confidence to pursue their God-given potential. When I'm not mentoring or teaching, you'll find me traveling with my family and making memories together.

My name is Mrs. Myko Mayer. I am a Christian, a housewife, a mother of two, and a homeschooler. These days, that means high school. One of my greatest joys has been seeing my girls grow into confident communicators. Thank you, Speech & Debate.  I serve on the Schertz Library Foundation Board. Previously, I was a Parent Mentor for new homeschoolers for the Texas Homeschool Coalition. I love being a resource and encouraging families in their homeschooling journeys.