Neomia Hagans Flores: 2024-2025 National Federation of High Schools Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator for Kentucky!

Dunbar High School’s Neomia Hagans Flores has been named the 2024-2025 National Federation of High Schools Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator for Kentucky. It was announced at the 2025 Bluegrass Regional Tournament on Saturday that she has also been named the Section 2 Award Winner—an honor given to the top educator among winners from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Neomia Hagans Flores has transformed her personal success as a high school and collegiate debater into a legacy of coaching excellence. With a career spanning more than 15 years, she has led her teams to five regional championships and numerous state and national titles. As a two-diamond coach and a member of the KHSSL Hall of Fame, Flores is widely recognized for her contributions to Kentucky’s speech and debate community. Her leadership extends to mentoring young coaches and pioneering initiatives for underrepresented students.

Flores’ fundraising efforts, including tournaments supporting flood relief and homelessness, underscore her deep commitment to the community. She balances her full-time work at the University of Kentucky with coaching speech and debate at Dunbar. Her transformative leadership—both within and beyond debate—reflects her enduring dedication to empowering students and communities alike.

Congratulations, Coach!