After nearly three decades of helping students find their voices, Rossville High School’s Jason Newhouser has been recognized as Indiana’s Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator for 2025–2026 by the Indiana Schools’ Speech and Debate Association (ISSDA).
The honor places Newhouser among an elite group of educators whose names will be forwarded to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for consideration as one of just eight section award nominees nationwide.
“It’s not just about trophies or tournaments,” Newhouser said. “Speech is about building confident communicators, critical thinkers, and engaged citizens. I’m proud to represent Indiana’s incredible community of coaches and students.”
A Legacy of Leadership and Impact
Newhouser has spent 27 years coaching speech and debate in Indiana, shaping programs that emphasize both competition and character. Since 2010, he has also taught dual credit speech courses, helping high school students earn college credit and a head start in higher education.
For the past two years, he has served as a Dual Credit Speech Mentor for his region, providing guidance to fellow educators who are expanding advanced communication programs in their own schools.
A member of the Indiana High School Forensic Association Hall of Fame (Class of 2021), Newhouser is also a two-diamond coach with the National Speech and Debate Association, a distinction earned through more than 50,000 speech points accumulated over his career.
Student Success and Innovation
Under his direction, Rossville High School’s speech program has seen remarkable growth. His students have qualified for the national tournament four times, including Rossville’s first national qualifier in 30 years. Many of his students have earned state-level honors and advanced to elimination rounds in state competitions.
Newhouser is also known for keeping speech and debate instruction relevant in a changing world. At the Indiana Speech and Debate Educators Conference, he regularly presents on topics such as AI in original events, effective radio broadcasting techniques, and mentorship for new coaches.
Recognition Beyond the Classroom
In 2020, the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce named Newhouser a Teacher of Distinction, citing his leadership, mentorship, and commitment to student growth. His peers and students alike describe him as a mentor who challenges others to “speak up and think deeply.”
The NFHS Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator Award honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to speech and debate education at the state and national levels. All state winners are eligible for section and national recognition later this year.