RAPHAEL SCOTT WALDROP (Director of Forensics)

Scott Waldrop is the Forensics Coach at Hattiesburg High School. A veteran of the stage, he has played numerous roles on stage across the Southeastern United States. Locally, he is best remembered for his work in Death of a Salesman at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Dream girls with the Hattiesburg Coalition for Community Arts. A high school and collegiate debate champion, he has been awarded the Margaret Walker Alexander Distinction for the Fine Arts. Recognized nationally for his work with the “NO-AIDS” task force in Atlanta, Georgia, he has served on the Health Information Network of the National Education Association. For Hattiesburg High School, Scott served as Producer for the nationally acclaimed THE LARAMIE PROJECT, and as producer for ANNIE, CINDERELLA, CHILDREN OF EDEN, THE GUYS and CHICAGO. He directed HHS’s production of PURLIE VICTORIOUS and is a National Forensic League Diamond Coach. Waldrop serves as the Moderator of the Biloxi Cathloic Forensic League and member of the Mississippi Forensic League District Committee.  He recently finished his second term on the National Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Committee.

Scott Waldrop

The Hattiesburg High School Youth Congress Delegation salutes our Coach!
Hattiesburg High School Debate Coach Raphael Scott Waldrop has been named the new executive director of The Mississippi Youth Congress, a mock legislature sponsored by the Mississippi High School Activities Association.

Retiring director, Betty Whitlock of Clinton High School is excited about the potential for state program growth. "This activity involves high school students from all across our state who meet annually to debate and deliberate contemporary issues. Coach Waldrop is poised to take Youth Congress to the next level."

Waldrop's preparation for the state post includes serving as debate coach at HHS for the last four years, moderator for the Biloxi Catholic Forensics League, and a current term on the Mississippi District Committee of the National Forensic League.
Hattiesburg educator Michael Marks has seen Waldrop come full circle. ""As a student, he anchored my congress delegation at Perry Central High School and represented our state in the House of Representatives in the National Student Congress in Eau Claire, Wisc."
An oratorical state champion at both the high school and collegiate levels, Waldrop promises to expand speech opportunities for public and private secondary school students. "I am so humbled by this chance to give back to my state. Youth Congress is key in providing training for tomorrow's leaders. It's all about service."

Waldrop is only the third director of the 57-year-old state congress. He follows Whitlock and former Delta State University professor Andy Jones.

EMILY BROWN SEAL (Director of Theatre)

Hattiesburg High School proudly announces the addition of Ms. Emily Brown Seal to the Forensics faculty.  Ms. Brown is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where she received her Master's of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance.  A skilled studio dancer, she specializes in dialects and actor training.  Certified as an Actor/Combatant in Quarter-staff, Ms. Seal has studied Acting for Camera with Nate Bynum.  A professional actress, Ms. Seal has also participated in Foreniscs activities.

"She comes to the department highly qualified as a teacher and will make an immediate impact on the students", explains Director of Forensics Scott Waldrop.  "Emily will also serve speech and debate students well because of her forensics experiences but her focus will be with Tiger Thespians."

"The opportunity to work with such an established program with such a rich history in theatre is exciting" explains Seal. 

A native of Cowan, Tennessee, Ms. Seal is the daughter of a music teacher who also studied Theology at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. 

Faculty.

Outstanding teachers with innovative approaches to learning make for outstanding schools. Forming a framework for success, the HHS Forensics Faculty and administration continually set themselves apart through study, leadership, and recognition. To further improve their impact on the classroom, teachers pursue workshops, seminars, and regional and national conventions to enhance their teachings. Many have been selected for state, national, and international study. Stipends, grants, and fellowships recognizing their excellence have provided further opportunity for professional growth.
As a result of this continuous search for innovation and excellence, HHS teachers are often called upon to share their expertise within the school district and in the state region. HHS faculty members hold state offices and board membership in professional organizations serving as model teachers, adjudicators, conference facilitators, presenters, and featured speakers. With this visibility comes recognition. The State of Mississippi and the nation have repeatedly turned to HHS Forensics for their choices for statewide honors.

NFL Diamond Coaches, Mississippi Teacher of the Year, Founder and Moderator of Biloxi Catholic Forensics League, American’s Outstanding Teacher of The Performing Arts, SETC Officer, National Endowment for the Arts Grants Evaluator, State Secondary and Community Best Directors, President MS Speech Association, National Officer Speech Communications Association, Officer of National Education Association, Treasure of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, MFL and Deep South NFL District Committee Members, Mississippi College Alumnus of The Year. The list goes on.

Computer networking with students, teachers, and educational authorities through the United States offers HHS the opportunity to impact national issues and curricula. The HHS Forensics faculty also benefits from the school district’s nationally award winning staff development program, which provides additional training for classroom success. Many educators across the state inquire about the hands-on, teacher-directed process that Hattiesburg uses for staff development.

Margaret Mead one said, “If we are able to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.” Backed by a tradition rooted in excellence, a legacy for quality public education, and enriched by a diverse culture that transcends narrow thinking with a wealth of human experience and condition, HHS Forensics Faculty is poised for success, that likes which have not yet been realized.