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Teacher Profile

René Schiltz

email: rene.schiltz@prepclasses.org
René Schiltz has been teaching liberal arts courses since 1999 and joined PREP Classes as a teacher in 2023.
 
With a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts in theater focusing on acting and directing, René produced and directed various theater productions for Northern Oklahoma College and Community Theaters in Oklahoma and Missouri.  She also taught many of NOC's theatre, music, and communication courses.  When she and her husband made the decision to move to Houston and homeschool their three children in 2005, René began a new journey in education focusing on an in-depth study of classical education and pedagogy.  Homeschooling, teaching in coops, and helping out in homeschool organizations became a joy and she has never looked back!
 
In 2012, the Schiltz family became involved in Speech and Debate and the NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communication Association).  René hosted and taught speech camps and began teaching and coaching students to compete in speech events such as Informative and Persuasive speaking, Duo and Open Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking and Apologetics.  With her passion and encouragement to help students set a standard for excellence, many students she coached have advanced to compete at the NCFCA National Championship.  Several have placed in finals including her eldest daughter Makenna in the categories of Biblical Presentation and Illustrated Oratory, and her son Brennan who placed 5th in Team Policy Debate.  Makenna is now at Anderson University, graduating in May of 2023 and Brennan is currently attending Dallas Baptist University and is on the debate team there.  Her youngest, Maggie, is still actively practicing speech and debate as a high school junior.  René is highly involved in speech and debate and currently helps to lead a local club.  
 
René is an advocate for students to use their voice and talent to become a witness for the truth as they write and speak on various topics.  As God calls each of us to be a defender of our faith, René teaches speech communication as a skill that stems from our knowledge of God’s word, our willingness to learn and understand important topics, and to communicate ideas with integrity and grace.  Overcoming the fear of public speaking can also open doors for great conversations and provide opportunities for leadership.  It is her prayer that she will be able to share her love for public speaking with students who will become ambassadors of truth and messengers of hope.

Teacher's Classes

This course is designed for high school students in 9th-12th grades.

Speech Communication is a practical course designed to offer students numerous opportunities to prepare and practice public speaking assignments. Students will develop the confidence to present various kinds of speeches designed for the workplace, community events, and formal occasions. Emphasis is on organization, research, delivery, and presentation of informative, persuasive, and narrative public speeches. The meaningful use of presentation technology will also be included. These skills are highly desired by employers in all fields of study or work.

Prerequisite: Students must be able to use and operate a laptop computer including Google Docs and Google Slides, or Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. Students must be able to communicate fluently in writing and verbal speech delivery in the English language at the high school level (9-12th grade).

Assignments will focus on the process: From Idea to Presentation

  • The writing process
  • Research skills
  • Vocal & physical presentation skills
  • Preparing notecards & memorization

Styles of speeches will include:

  • Limited preparation speeches - draw a topic, brainstorm, speak (includes apologetics)
  • Prepared speeches - pre-written speeches 6-7 minutes in length
    • One speech must utilize a slide show to accompany the speech
    • One speech will utilize a demonstration/teaching segment
  • Oratory - a memorized speech 8 minutes in length designed for a specific occasion

Class Project

  • Students will work in groups on an assigned real-world project related to research and development, marketing, and sales
  • Students will present their project to a panel of guest evaluators

Assignments & Homework

  • Homework: 35 -45 min/day
  • Students will be expected to type on a laptop they can bring to class occasionally
  • Students will write two drafts of each speech
  • Parents partner with Mrs. Schiltz for their student's success by overseeing their student's computer settings for safe research online

Presentation Days: In order to prevent delays in teaching new material and to stay on schedule, it is highly recommended that students look ahead to know when or if conflicts in his or her schedule require swapping his or her assigned presentation day with someone else in the class.

Supply fee: $50 Tuition: $600/year or 10 monthly payments of $60.

Textbooks: provided

Class time: 1.5 hours, once weekly

PLEASE NOTE: *Withdrawal fee after 9/30 of that school year is 3 months of tuition. *Drop Fee after December 15 will be the remaining year’s tuition. *The Supply Fee and Mrs. Schiltz’s class forms are due upon registration. *If the Supply fee and forms are not received within 2 weeks of registration, the student may be unenrolled from class. *The Supply Fee is non-refundable after August 1st.


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