Speech
Announcements
Head Coach
Krista Hulderman
Krista Hulderman began teaching at Sheyenne High in 2010, when it was still a ninth-grade center, as the school’s only English Language Learner teacher. After Sheyenne transitioned into a full high school, she made the switch to mainstream English. She taught Senior Comp and Lit as well as STEM Freshmen English before settling into her current role with freshmen English and reading intervention courses.
Hulderman took on the role of Assistant Speech Coach in 2015 when Head Coach Kelsey Johnson took over the program. The team was just getting on its feet with only a few students involved. During the 2015 season the team grew tremendously, and that trend has continued from year to year. The tight-knit family atmosphere keeps students coming back, often with a new friend, each season. After two successful years in Speech, the opportunity arose for Johnson and Hulderman to take over the already flourishing Student Congress team as well. Hulderman was the Assistant Speech Coach from 2017-2024, when she assumed the role of Head Coach.
Hulderman is one of only a handful of coaches in the state to hold a Speech and Debate Educator Endorsement. She has held positions on the Sheyenne High School Building Leadership Team, the Sheyenne MTSS Leadership Team, and the AVID Site Team. She is also an active member of the West Fargo Education Association, serving as High School Rep for the Executive Board and a long-time member of the collaborative bargaining team.
Hulderman has been involved in the arts since attending high school at Central Cass in Casselton, ND. There she was involved in Speech and Theatre as well as a member of both the band and choir. She continued her involvement through college by judging whenever the speech tournaments took place at VCSU. She firmly believes that there is something for everyone in forensics and does her best to make all students feel like they belong to something great.
Email: khulderman@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
Qualifications: MS Curriculum and Instruction, NDSU BS English Education, VCSU NSDA Speech and Debate Educator Endorsement North Dakota Teacher Mentor Trauma Sensitive Schools Trainer
Assistant Coaches
Nathan Kurtti
Mr. Kurtti is the head debate coach and assistant speech coach at West Fargo Sheyenne High School. Mr. Kurtti graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in English Education and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Jamestown. Mr. Kurtti currently teaches English II and AP Literature and Composition at West Fargo Sheyenne High School. In 2019, Mr. Kurtti was named the 2019-20 CSTAND ND Debate Coach of the Year.
Email: nkurtti@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
Rebecca Duncan
Rebecca is a former Sheyenne Mustang and recent graduate of Concordia. She competed in speech in both high school and college for a total of 8 years. While at Sheyenne, Rebecca was a state champion in Poetry two times and was a consistent placer at tournaments, including EDC, State, and NSDA Qualifier tournaments. In 2019, Rebecca was a National Speech and Debate Association national tournament qualifier in Program Oral Interp.
Schedule
What is Speech?
Speech is a co-curricular activity sanctioned by the NDHSAA. Varsity competition is open to all 7th through 12th graders. There are 14 different events categorized into three main types: interp (acting) events, limited prep events, and public address events. Speech activities promote essential 21st century skills including communication, research, listening, and writing. Competition runs January through mid-April, and Sheyenne usually attends 10-12 tournaments each year.
The Sheyenne Speech team is a charter member of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). The NSDA is the world’s largest honor society devoted to speech and debate activities, and bestows numerous awards and recognition to students, coaches, and schools. In 2023, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, and 2016, Sheyenne earned membership into the prestigious 100 Club by earning over 100 merit degrees. In 2022 and 2019, Sheyenne earned membership into the prestigious 200 Club by earning over 200 merit degrees.