Mrs. Rachel Clapper-Davis, Director of Madison Central Speech and Debate
Mrs. Rachel Clapper-Davis is the Director of Madison Central Speech and Debate and is currently in her twelfth year of coaching.
Under Mrs. Clapper-Davis's leadership, Madison Central Speech and Debate earned a "School of Honor" recognition by the National Speech and Debate Association as well as the "Leading Chapter Award" from the National Speech and Debate Association. Furthermore, the team fielded their first national finalist in Congressional Debate as recognized by NSDA. MC Speech and Debate also had two finalists make the stage during the 2018 NSDA Tournament in the supplemental events Poetry Reading and Expository Speaking. MC Speech has also had a top 30 competitor in the main stage event Program Oral Interpretation at the National Speech and Debate Association, as well as earning semifinals in Original Spoken Word Poetry and Poetry Reading, quarterfinals in World Schools Debate, Congressional Debate, Prepared Commentary, Octofinals in Humorous Interpretation, Pro/Con Challenge, Poetry Reading and Expository Speaking, and Double-Octofinals in Expository Speaking, Pro/Con Challenge, and World Schools Debate. The team also had their first semifinalist in an interpretive event at NCFL, garnering an eighth place spot in Oral Interpretation as well as earning Octofinals in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Double-Octofinals in Policy Debate. Mrs. Clapper-Davis currently has her first Diamond Recognition from the National Speech and Debate Association. Mrs. Clapper-Davis was recognized as the Section 3 Winner for the National Federation of High Schools Speech, Debate and Theater Educator of the year, in addition to being the winner for the state of Mississippi. In 2021, Mrs. Clapper-Davis was named the Magnolia District's Coach of the Year.
Before coming to Madison Central, Mrs. Clapper-Davis was the Assistant Director of Speech and Debate at Hattiesburg High School and Director of Speech and Debate at NR Burger Middle School in the Hattiesburg Public School District. During her time at Hattiesburg Public Schools assisting HHS Forensics Director, Scott Waldrop, the HHS Speech and Debate Team won two MHSAA State Championships and was twice awarded the School of Excellence Award by the National Speech and Debate Association for being in the top 10% of Speech and Debate schools in the nation.
Mrs. Clapper-Davis also directed the largest middle school, not just in the state but in the nation, at NR Burger Middle School. The team was ranked in the top 20 middle schools nationwide annually by the National Speech and Debate Association. During her tenure, NR Burger Middle School fielded top 24 competitors at NSDA's tournament for middle schools each year they attended. Mrs. Clapper-Davis was recognized with a Superior Achievement by the National Speech and Debate Association for her work with NR Burger Middle School, as well as being recognized by the HPSD school district as an Activity of Excellence.
Mrs. Clapper-Davis likes to raise her future debater/interper, Noah, when she isn't traveling with the team.
Under Mrs. Clapper-Davis's leadership, Madison Central Speech and Debate earned a "School of Honor" recognition by the National Speech and Debate Association as well as the "Leading Chapter Award" from the National Speech and Debate Association. Furthermore, the team fielded their first national finalist in Congressional Debate as recognized by NSDA. MC Speech and Debate also had two finalists make the stage during the 2018 NSDA Tournament in the supplemental events Poetry Reading and Expository Speaking. MC Speech has also had a top 30 competitor in the main stage event Program Oral Interpretation at the National Speech and Debate Association, as well as earning semifinals in Original Spoken Word Poetry and Poetry Reading, quarterfinals in World Schools Debate, Congressional Debate, Prepared Commentary, Octofinals in Humorous Interpretation, Pro/Con Challenge, Poetry Reading and Expository Speaking, and Double-Octofinals in Expository Speaking, Pro/Con Challenge, and World Schools Debate. The team also had their first semifinalist in an interpretive event at NCFL, garnering an eighth place spot in Oral Interpretation as well as earning Octofinals in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Double-Octofinals in Policy Debate. Mrs. Clapper-Davis currently has her first Diamond Recognition from the National Speech and Debate Association. Mrs. Clapper-Davis was recognized as the Section 3 Winner for the National Federation of High Schools Speech, Debate and Theater Educator of the year, in addition to being the winner for the state of Mississippi. In 2021, Mrs. Clapper-Davis was named the Magnolia District's Coach of the Year.
Before coming to Madison Central, Mrs. Clapper-Davis was the Assistant Director of Speech and Debate at Hattiesburg High School and Director of Speech and Debate at NR Burger Middle School in the Hattiesburg Public School District. During her time at Hattiesburg Public Schools assisting HHS Forensics Director, Scott Waldrop, the HHS Speech and Debate Team won two MHSAA State Championships and was twice awarded the School of Excellence Award by the National Speech and Debate Association for being in the top 10% of Speech and Debate schools in the nation.
Mrs. Clapper-Davis also directed the largest middle school, not just in the state but in the nation, at NR Burger Middle School. The team was ranked in the top 20 middle schools nationwide annually by the National Speech and Debate Association. During her tenure, NR Burger Middle School fielded top 24 competitors at NSDA's tournament for middle schools each year they attended. Mrs. Clapper-Davis was recognized with a Superior Achievement by the National Speech and Debate Association for her work with NR Burger Middle School, as well as being recognized by the HPSD school district as an Activity of Excellence.
Mrs. Clapper-Davis likes to raise her future debater/interper, Noah, when she isn't traveling with the team.