The Speech Professional Education Alliance of Kentucky (SPEAK), made up of four speech and debate education groups from around the Commonwealth, hosts an annual day of training, seminars, roundtable discussions and classes for speech and debate teachers and coaches. The 2026 conference will be held at the University of Kentucky on Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Participants can receive six hours of professional development training.

National Federation of State High School Associations Speech and Debate Coach of the Year Neomia Hagans Flores of the University of Kentucky will give the keynote address and serve as the lead teacher for the conference sessions. 

If you’re new to speech and debate, a NewSPEAK event will be held in two three-hour sessions, one in Louisville July 14 and one in Lexington Oct. 10. 

Full info is available on the SPEAK website.