Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Saratoga High School speech and debate teacher Veva Bissonnette recently received a speech teacher's highest honor.

Saratoga speech teacher wins 'Hall of Fame' honor

By Tim Persyn

Veva Bissonnette just took a step toward legendary status.

This Saratoga High School speech instructor was recently inducted into the California High School Speech Association's Hall of Fame. To understand this honor, imagine being inducted into the California high school speech community's equivalent of the NFL Hall of Fame.

"I felt humble," Bissonnette said of being inducted.

She said some of the people in the hall are "legends" of speech and debate whom she has greatly admired since her own days competing in speech in high school.

Yet despite the accolades, she has retained her humility. "I hardly qualify as a legend," she said. "I'd like to think I'm not old enough to be a legend."

Only about 30 people have been inducted, she said.

Bissonnette has been coaching and teaching speech and debate at Saratoga High since 1983. She has a master's degree in special education from Santa Clara University.

Bissonnette thought someone was playing a gag on her when she first learned of the honor. "When I got the letter I thought it was a joke," she said.

To be inducted takes longevity and considerable skill. First of all, an inductee must have coached speech for 15 years. Bissonnette has coached since 1980, just long enough to qualify.

Bissonnette has seen her students rack up some impressive awards. She has coached five Utah state champions, three California state champions and four national finalists.

One of her claims to fame was her selection by the San Jose Mercury News as one of three debate coaches to evaluate the Presidential debates between Reagan and Mondale. Despite her political disagreements with the man, Bissonnette judged one of the debates in favor of Reagan.

"I got a lot of razzing," she said.

Bissonnette said her priorities do not lie with awards or other such forms of recognition. She said she considers it a far greater reward to be able to watch her speech students grow as people.

"It's important to be a good winner and loser," she said. "I tell kids that I don't care what the judges say as long as you can tell me you gave your best effort. Winning is not the most important thing to get out of speech and debate."

Tod Likins, superintendent of the Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District, has worked with Bissonnette for many years. "She's extremely high-energy and enthusiastic about teaching," he said. "She wants to help kids be as successful as they can."