The 2008-2009 school year will be the fourth year JHS Speech & Debate has been under the guidance of Coach Travis.

Before joining the Joplin staff, Coach T was a speech and drama teacher at Antioch Middle School in the North Kansas City, MO.

Mr. Travis is an alum from the University of Central Missouri where he took beginning and advanced studies in communications, acting, oral interpretation, staging, debate and psychology. He was also involved in several campus activities including theater, forensics, intramural sports and Greek life as a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.

The art of performing first developed in middle school for Coach T. His reputation as a class clown landed him a role in the school talent show. The excitement of the show and the attention of the audience had a huge impact on him. Performance was both addicting and rewarding at the same time. With some persuasion from his high school drama teacher, his father and his sister (also a teacher), Coach T decided to pursue a teaching degree in the performance fields.

Teaching speech & debate is a challenge. It takes patience, consistent passion for the subject and the ability to make a difference in students' lives.  Coach Travis has accepted these challenges and plans on being a part of this program for a long while!