LEADERS

Meet our Debate Camp community of leaders!

DEBATE CAMP LEADERSHIP

FOUNDING DIRECTOR - NICK SZYMANIS, Hon BA, B Ed, MA, OCT

Nick Szymanis is the founder and lead director of Debate Camp since 2002. He has been a career educator for 18 years, inclusive of academic leadership positions, most recently as Director of Academics at the Sterling Hall School in Toronto (2010 - 2015). He has coached debating and hosted annual tournaments for the past 18 years and is the current Vice President of the International Independent Schools Public Speaking League. Nick, his wife Oona, and 2 sons, Noah and Aaron, live in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nick regularly directs our camps in Greenwich Connecticut.

CAMP DIRECTOR - OONA CRAIG, BA, MA, OCT

Oona Craig has been a career educator for over 15 years; inclusive of Latin teaching positions with Collingwood School in Vancouver and Branksome Hall School in Toronto. Oona holds an MA in Classics from Dalhousie University, BA from McGill and is an Ontario Certified Teacher, with her B Ed from The University of Toronto. Oona is highly experienced in camp life and has been in the company of Debate Camp since our founding in 2002. She has experience directing camps in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - CANADA - OLIVIA INTEGLIA, BA, MA

Olivia Integlia has served as staff, program coordinator, and camp director at Debate Camp since 2020. A former president of both the Dawson Debate Union and the Concordia Debate Society, she has competed extensively in English and French university-level debate. She helped develop Debate Camp’s French debate programming. Olivia has directed camps in Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary, and oversees key operational areas including staffing, program development and social media.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - UNITED STATES - KELSEY SCHOTT, BA, MA, JD

Kelsey Schott has been with Debate Camp since the Spring of 2020, working as the U.S. Director, facilitating U.S. staff hiring, team training, serving as the camp director for U.S. locations, and completing the ACA Accreditation process and state licensing requirements. Currently, she works as an attorney in Des Moines, IA. Kelsey assisted with opening the U.S. Resource Hub in Brunswick, ME in 2022 and in 2026 she returned to be one of our Camp Directors in Greenwich, CT

DEBATE CAMP CANADA

SITE DIRECTOR - ELISE CRESSATI

Elise Cressati began his Debate Camp journey as a camper in 2013 - 2015 and has served in all roles en route to becoming a Camp Director. A graduate of University of Toronto and having recently completed her MSt in Oxford, this is Elise's 9th year with us. In 2026 / 27 Elise will serve as our Camp Director across several of our Toronto Debate Camp locations

SITE DIRECTOR - LEVI TEPNER, BA, BA

Levi Tepner began his Debate Camp journey as a camper in 2011–2012 and has since served in roles from staff to director. He holds a double major in Criminology & Sociolegal Studies and Psychology from the University of Toronto, with a minor in English, and is currently completing a Master of Teaching at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. In his ninth year of coaching, Levi has guided students to national, international, and world-level competitions while helping new speakers find their voice. Levis is our Camp Director for Toronto and Ottawa.

SITE DIRECTOR - CHARLES FROST

Charles Frost For years a Debate Mate coach and trainer, Charles was the Program Director in Jamaica where he brought together 40 or more coaches to run leagues, workshops and competitions for an 800+ student body. He has been Chief Adjudicator at the National Secondary Schools Debate Competition in Jamaica as well, working with judges and students from some 60 high schools. Then there is his own record as a top World Universities Debate Competition public speaker and a Grand Finalist in Public Speaking. Charles is our Vancouver Island Camp Director.

DEBATE CAMP UNITED STATES

SITE DIRECTOR - DANIEL CAPLIN, BA, MA

Daniel Caplin teaches History and Humanities at his alma mater, Portsmouth Abbey School, where he also leads the Debate Team and Model UN program. A Providence College graduate, he holds a BA in History and Theatre, as well as an MA in History. He is the recipient of the school’s 2023 Dom Peter Sidler Award for Excellence in Teaching. Daniel lives with his wife, Catherine, their three sons, Westley, Walker, and Wolfe, and their cat, Duck. He has directed camps in Greenwich, Ottawa, Maine and Rhode Island.

SITE DIRECTOR - LEANA YOUNG

Leana Young teaches English Language Arts at Evanston Township High School right outside of the city of Chicago, where she also leads Creative Writing club and Student Council. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, has a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Trauma and Resilience, and is an endorsed Reading Teacher from Northeastern Illinois University. Leana is our 2026 Chicago Camp Director

SITE DIRECTOR - ZACHARY STUART

Zachary Stuart is a lifelong learner and educator, having worked in Camps and Schools all over the Boston area for the past two decades. With a degree from Harvard University in Visual Studies and Documentary Film, he has developed interdisciplinary curriculum for numerous theater, photography and public speaking programs including The Freelance Players, Creative Arts at Park and the LEAP for education programs. For the past 8 years he has focused on speech coaching, working in the Harvard Undergraduate speaking program and the Boston University public Health consulting course. With a focus on persuasion, debate and dynamic speech coaching, Zachary is excited to join the team as our Boston Camp Director