Ron Bratt
CEO and Capitol Debate in San Diego, California
Ron Bratt has seen how debating skills enhance the intellectual growth in children. That is why he had dedicated his life to developing debate skills in children. He has been heavily involved in creating high school debate and college debate programs to help students learn practical skills that will benefit and enrich their lives.
He started the Catholic University Debate program in 1998. Ron Bratt has also achieved outstanding success on the competitive debate circuit. In its first year it advanced to the finals of the American Debate Association. By 2001, the program had 30 members and was ranked number one in the National Debate Tournament rankings.
Catholic University Debate, under Ron’s direction, achieved many other accolades. In 2001, the team won two national titles including the American Debate Association Varsity Championship and the Cross Examination Debate Association Novice National Championship. Two years later the program won two more national titles and proved that its teaching program was of the highest caliber.
Ron also started Capitol Classic Debate, America’s leading high school debate institute at Catholic University. The Institute drew over 200 students, from nearly 30 states. Its success is evident from the numerous national debate champions that have graduated from its halls.
In the fall of 2002, Ron Bratt helped form the Urban Debate League in Washington, DC. As one of the founding directors of the League, Ron established a solid infrastructure, recruited students, and trained both students and teachers. Today, he is proud that the League remains strong and vibrant.
Ron expanded internationally with these national successes under his belt. In 2003, he worked closely with the International Debate Educational Association to bring more than 50 European students to the United States to learn leadership and debate.
The following year, Ron Bratt brought over 30 students from seven countries, including Russia, China, Haiti, Argentina, and South Africa to train and compete at the National Forensics League’s National Tournament.
In 2006, Ron decided to make an even bigger impact by founding Capitol Debate, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting debate across the country. The program’s first mission was Howard County and it started with one debater. Ron has grown this program to include over 100 students, drawn from the 13 high schools and 19 middle schools in the county.