“I have dedicated my entire existence to this program.” says Kristin Blake and her hard work pays off. The Speech Team, which Mrs. Blake coaches, is heading to Regionals on Feb. 3 with a victory streak of 8 tournaments. Her love for Speech originates all the way back to high school, when she was on her school’s Speech Team in the event Original Comedy. She’s been coaching Joliet West’s Speech Team for about 10 years and this has been a record-breaking season so far. 

Her coaching priorities, she expresses, are having fun and “building meaningful relationships with my kids.” The students on the team can tell how much she cares, and this drives them to work almost as hard as she does. Mrs. Blake, nicknamed Krick by the team, is a beacon of light and inspiration to most people in Speech. One member of the team, Freshman Isabella Veinne, says “Krik has genuinely been a great influence on me…She’s kind, caring, loving, and has her arms open wide.”

Mrs. Blake also coaches the school’s GI, which she explains is, “a 30-minute, competitive, interpretive play where students tell a story without the use of props or costumes.” This year’s GI is The Hunchback of Notre Dame and it’ll be Mrs. Blake’s 14th show. When asked if it’ll go to state, Mrs. Blake had a simple, yet confident response of “Duh.”  

Not only is Mrs. Blake exceptional as a coach, but also an educator. She’s been a teacher at this school for 14 years and is beloved by staff and students alike. Junior Molly Murdoch-Shey, Assistant Captain of the Speech Team, remarked, “Mrs. Blake is truly one of the best people and teachers at this school,” she goes on to say, “She cares so much about the students in her class and the kids on her team. She has not only changed my life, but also the lives of hundreds of other kids that have been on her team and in her class. She has a true gift for what she does and I am very thankful to call her my teacher, coach, and director.”

Mrs. Blake definitely has her workload full with Speech Team and GI, along with teaching Drama, Drama 2, and Theatrical Studies. With just how much time she spends at school you’d think she doesn’t enjoy this especially busy time of year, but she really does! “I am very happy. I love my work. I love what I do.” she stated. 

 Despite the lack of sleep or freetime, she’s very passionate about coaching and teaching. Her favorite memories of coaching are, she remarks, “…just the little moments, y’know, when we’re all just hanging out, laughing, and getting off task. That’s what’s fun.”