After experiencing virtual learning for almost an entire school year, fifth graders got to argue the pros and cons of online learning in the Dallas ISD Virtual Elementary Debate Tournament recently. Participating in teams, 129 students from 19 schools debated the resolution: Online learning is better than in-person learning.
Sudie L. Williams Talented & Gifted Academy and William B. Travis Academy for the Academically Talented & Gifted tied for first place overall in the debate tournament.
Rounding off the top six elementary schools were Withers, Weiss, Gill, and Sanger placing second, third, fourth, and fifth respectively.
Each team had to debate one round affirmative and one round negative. Participating schools could have registered up to four teams in the competition.
Sponsored by Dallas ISD Student Activities Department, the elementary debate program is restricted to fifth graders and is in its third year. During the school year, coaches and students virtually attended afterschool practices, workshops, and scrimmages from September to May. Using the Debate|able curriculum, the program is designed to enhance students’ critical thinking, organizational, teamwork, and public speaking skills.
Here are the complete results of the 2021 Dallas ISD Elementary Debate Tournament.
Overall Top Schools
| Rank | Campus Name |
| 1 | Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy |
| 1 | William B. Travis Academy for the Academically Talented and Gifted |
| 2 | Harry C. Withers Elementary |
| 3 | Martin Weiss Elementary |
| 4 | Charles A. Gill Elementary |
| 5 | Alex Sanger Preparatory |
Top Teams | MVP Gavel Award Winners (Won Both Rounds)
| School | Team Members |
| Travis | Santosa, Livngston, Kisner & Patel |
| Sudie TAG | McAnear, Bowers & Ingerto |
| Weiss | Castillo, Valiente & Palacios |
| Withers | Dahlander, Hull & Whisenant |
| Gill | Raza, Garcia & Gonzalez |
| Sanger | Perez, Singleton & Lander |
| Sudie TAG | Herrera, Schmidt & Galvin |
| Withers | Dierksheide, Brisner, Patermo & Segura |
| Travis | Parras, Patrick, Ritschel & Martinez |
| Brashear | Abdu-Jami, Bahena & Jackson |
| Weiss | Castillo & Peralta |
| Sudie TAG | Davis, Shirk & Stout |
Gold Medalist Winning Teams
| Schools | Team Members |
| DeGoyler | Curran, Evans, Bandel & Alzoubi |
| Johnson | Sanchez, Garcia & Minas |
| Moreno | Saavedra, Landeros & Huerta |
| Lisbon | Jackson, Montes & Moncada |
| Chavez | Castro, Resendiz & Gutierrez |
| Lowe | Velazquez, Valle & Khadka |
| Withers | Jain, Hodges & Martinez |
| DeGoyler | Gonzales, Vance & Bennett & Espinosa |
| Brashear | Gonzalez, Dewberry & Nino |
| Lisbon | Tevino, Hernandez & Ortega |
| Moreno | Ayala, Martinez & Hinson |
Silver Medalist Winning Teams
| School | Team Members |
| Kleberg | Castillo, Retiz, Nuno & Frayer |
| Gill | Arriaga, Montero, Edwards & Atonal |
| Cuellar | Valle, Alonzo, Hernandez & Bonner |
| Trinity Height | Contreras, Curtis-Chambers & Morris |
| Johnson | Valdez, Garcia & Perez |
| Kiest | Escobar, Calera & Garcia |
| Blair | Bocanegra, Webster |
| Moreno | Orta, Garcia & Moreno |
| Sanger | Clark, Bakos & Johnson |
| Cuellar | De La Pena, Zavala & Vaca & Castillo |
| Brashear | Osae & Fleming |
| Kleberg | Villa, Colmenero & Guerrero |
| Kiest | Calderon, Cumplido & Gonzalez |
| Central | Nunn, Romero & Morfin |
