MLK Oratory finalists shine with their sponsors’ support

Eight talented young orators will showcase their talents in the 34th Annual MLK Oratory competition, co-sponsored by Foley & Laudner LLP and Dallas ISD. And their sponsors will be there with them, supporting their performance as they have all year. 

The competition was established in 1993 and is hosted each year in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day to encourage the community to remember the legacy of the civil rights leader. The competition will start at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. For those who can't attend in person, it will be livestreamed at this link.

To prepare for the competition, fourth- and fifth-grade students are coached by Dallas ISD teachers or sponsors. They work alongside the student, engaging them in the history of King to prepare an original speech that answers the question: “As a student of Dr. King’s Life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?”

Meet the eight sponsors who coached their young orators to reach the finals: 

Betty Glover, Clara Oliver Elementary School

Betty Glover is making history with the MLK Oratory Competition as the longest-standing sponsor. She has been involved since the competition’s first year. Throughout her 58-year career in Dallas ISD, she has spent most of her time as a talented and gifted teacher at Clara Oliverand was named district teacher of the year in 1999.

Each year, Glover works closely with her students, letting them share what they want to say in their speeches. She teaches how to write an essay and guides them in understanding persuasive writing, showing them that it is something they use every day in their conversations and interactions.  

“I love motivating students to read,” she said. “I love history, and I want to make sure they love it too. As the years go on, students can become further removed from things they’ve learned. Competitions like this help them to remember those things and also learn what they didn’t know before.”

Rochelle Hailey, Solar Preparatory School for Girls

Rosalind Reece, music teacher at Wilmer Hutchins Elementary School, is an oratory competition sponsor this year and is committed to sharing King’s legacy with the next generation. She has been a part of Dallas ISD for 21 years.

Reece partnered with her student’s mother, who helped prepare at home, while she worked with her student at school, always remembering to encourage her student of the progress he has made.

“My favorite part of this competition is seeing the students push hard to give their best,” she said. “From the preliminary level to the final level, the drive they have to accomplish their goal to win is thrilling. Seeing them persevere despite the nerves that naturally accompany competing is motivating.”

Angela Walker, Charles Rice Learning Center

Janice Wilson, a 30-year veteran of Dallas ISD, is a Functional Living Skills teacher at Preston Hollow Elementary, where she has taught for two years.

Wilson was a child during the years while King was building his legacy of justice, equality, courage, and nonviolence across the nation. Through this opportunity as an oratory sponsor, she is carrying on the impact that she witnessed in her childhood to the next generation.

Throughout the preparation process, Wilsonencouraged her students by celebrating progress, reinforcing strengths, normalizing nerves, and creating a supportive environment that helped the students step onto the stage feeling prepared and proud.

“There’s something powerful about seeing them become proud of their accomplishment—standing tall, delivering their words with strength, and realizing they’ve earned that moment,” she said. “I love seeing the cheers from the audience, the proud smiles from family members, and the pats on the back from classmates and teachers who recognize how hard they’ve worked. It becomes more than a competition. It turns into a celebration of their voice, their courage, and the community that lifts them up.