June 15, 2006

Her turn for a bow

Leland’s speech and debate teacher Gay Brasher receives city commendation

Coincides with induction into National Forensic Hall of Fame

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Gay Brasher has been turning out winners for years at Leland High School and the school has the awards and trophies to prove it. But now the woman behind the motivation of all the articulate young adults has received a commendation of her own from the City of San Jose.

Gay Brasher’s speech and debate ceremony at Leland’s packed auditorium was filled with graduates and current students who excitedly showered their beloved teacher, coach and friend with accolades and standing ovations. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

The ceremony took place recently in Leland’s packed auditorium full of past and present students, grateful parents and city officials.

“Gay Brasher has been an institution for a long time,” read District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle from the City’s commendation. “Gay Brasher, teacher and director of the speech and debate at Leland High School of San Jose Unified School District has tirelessly and compassionately taught and coached 1,000’s of students in the Almaden Valley since 1980 … serving in speech and debate in all six high schools … building the school’s speech and debate program into the award winning and nationally known program it is today.”

The city’s commendation coincides with Brasher’s induction into the National Forensic League’s [NFL} Hall of Fame. The NFL is a non-partisan not for profit educational honor society founded in 1925 by Bruno E. Jacob at Ripon College. Its purpose is to encourage and motivate high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation.

The league consists of over 93,000 high school students and 3,500 teachers. Brasher joins 134 other Hall of Fame members since the NFL’s beginning in 1931.The formal induction in front of 3,000 of Brasher’s peers is on June 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Grapevine, Texas.

Accolades
Brasher’s speech and debate ceremony at Leland’s packed auditorium was filled with graduates and current students who excitedly showered their beloved teacher, coach and friend with accolades and standing ovations.

“It’s awesome and long overdue,” said Leland Senior Al Qian. “When you come in as a freshman you hear about the greatness of Mrs. Brasher and then going through four years with her you experience the greatness. She’s been teaching this for 26 years and deserved it years ago. She puts so much dedication into the students, it’s amazing.”

An enthusiastic Gay Brasher displays the certificate with Meri Maben, from Congressman Mike Honda’s office.

But Brasher doesn’t just teach speech and debate. There are the life lessons as well as the wonderful high school memories she creates for her students.

“Speech has helped me so much,” said Leland graduate Yue Tu. “I’m more comfortable in front of a podium or large crowds. And she taught me life lessons. Always say your thinking notes early, never be late and always have energy and enthusiasm. Be proud when you’re out in the world and when they ask you what you did in high school say ‘I was taught by the hall of famer, Mrs. Brasher.”

“Mrs. Brasher is a person nearest and dearest to my heart,” said 2005 graduate Melita Khoshabe. “She’s more than a coach, more than a mentor. She’s a second mother.”

“Mrs. Brasher is one of my favorite people in the world,” said 2001 graduate Verna Bhargava. “Even after all these years she has so much enthusiasm, love and passion. She is an untapped resource of enthusiasm—she’s probably why the gas prices are going up.”

“She gave us a lot of inspiration that whatever your obstacle was you can achieve it,” said 2005 Leland graduates and masters of ceremonies Wahid and Shadid Syed. “No matter what it is if you put in the time and effort you can achieve it. She has given all of us the gift of overcoming the number one fear in America which we will take with us the rest of our lives. Mrs. Brasher is an integral part of our lives.”

And it wasn’t just the city giving awards. Graduate and District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle’s communications aid Eric Crane presented a 1998 video tribute to Brasher. Student Crystal Adams awarded Brasher with a shield and scrapbook created by undergraduates.

“When I was in high school, I’d watch the Academy Awards and see them award Oscars and that’s what I wanted—to be a famous movie star,” said Brasher as she accepted the scrapbook full of memories of her students. “But that cannot live up to something like this.”

Public speaking
Mari Maben from the office of Congressman Mike Honda shared a story about the elected official.

“Congressman Honda went to San Jose High School when there was no speech and debate program,” said Maben before the presentation of Brasher’s certificate.” He signed up for one when he went to college and failed that class because he was so nervous about getting up in front of other people and being judged.”

“For many of you it’s about winning or tournaments but more than anything it’s about a life skill. Something happened to you in the years that you were here that you won’t notice until you go for that first interview or do a power point presentation or make a speech. That is confidence that you’ve gained and the skills you’ve acquired that give you a leg up on anybody else. That’s what Congressman Honda missed out in his life,” added Maben.

Maben is also a parent whose three sons attended Leland. She also was a parent coach for Brasher’s speech and debate program the past two years.

In her own words
“A lot of people should be in the hall of fame,” said Brasher in her acceptance speech. “For all the teachers who try to start speech programs who didn’t have the education opportunities I had. Or the teachers who don’t have parental support and have to do it alone. You guys make it easy for me—you’re enthusiastic, you’re talented and your parents are supportive. I just go along for the ride. All your energy, enthusiasm, the laughter, the positive outlook—I reap the harvest from you. When I’m around you I don’t think I’m at the end of my career—I’m at the beginning.”

And at the end of the ceremony Brasher presented one more life lesson before she awarded speech and debate honor certificates to her students.

“When I hear that I’m a second mom, it is what is so awesome about being here at a school,” said Brasher. “So many people working together, so hopeful, there’s always tomorrow. So when you go out in the world you need to ask other people for help—don’t do things alone. I’m the first one to call parents and students or write a note. You never ever have to do anything alone.”