challenging students through civil discourse
2026-27 Executive Board
Rick Pecka
executive Director robert E. Fitch High School
Rick Pecka has coached debate in the CDA since 2017, first at Oxford High School from 2017-2021, and now at Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton since 2022. He has taught English language arts since 2014 and has also taught journalism at Fitch, Oxford, and Crosby High School in Waterbury, serving as adviser to each school’s newspaper.
Michael Krupnikoff
Associate Executive Director Bethel High School
Michael Krupnikoff got his start with APDA debate at Bucknell University. He started in CDA as a parent judge and then served as assistant coach for Joel Barlow before starting his own team at Bethel High School in 2018. He joined the Executive Board in 2023 ears ago and has been heavily involved in the league since joining.
Barbara Blossom
Greenwich Country Day School
Barbara Blossom began her CDA tenure as an Assistant Coach for Bethel High School before starting the debate program at Greenwich Country Day School during the 2025-26 season. In 2026, she was elected to the Executive Board.
John Harrison
King School
John Harrison has been coaching in the CDA since 2023, representing King School in Stamford, Connecticut. Prior to coaching at King, John coached debate at Scarsdale High School. Along with coaching debate, John teaches history, economics and American government at the King School.
Tim Lewis
Blind Brook High School
Tim Lewis has been coaching in the CDA since 2019, representing Blind Brook High School. Prior to coaching at Blind Brook, he coached for the Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School for the New York City Urban Debate League, and for the National High School Debate League of China. He also coaches the middle school debate team, and teaches a variety of classes in the social studies department.
Claude Morest
Academy of Information Technology & Engineering
Claude Morest started the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering’s (AITE) Debate Team in 2006 and has been its only coach since then.
Randy Smith
Joel Barlow High School
Randy Smith has coached debate at Joel Barlow High School, serving Easton and Redding, since 2003 and has served on the CDA executive board since 2009. A former CDA competitor from 1989 to 1993, he was the state champion policy debate speaker in 1991. He also serves as Barlow’s Director of Independent Learning and director of the school rock band.
Active Roster
Amity Regional High School
Woodbridge, CTBethel High School
Bethel, CTBlind Brook High School
Rye Brook, NYCenter for Global Studies
Norwalk, CTDaniel Hand High School
Madison, CTDarien High School
Darien, CTFairfield College Preparatory School
Fairfield, CT
Fairfield Warde High School
Fairfield, CT
Farmington High School
Farmington, CTGreenwich Country Day School
Greenwich, CTGreenwich High School
Greenwich, CT
Hall High School
West Hartford, CT
Joel Barlow High School
Redding, CT
King School
Stamford, CTLauralton Hall
Milford, CTThe Loomis Chaffee School
Windsor, CTManchester High School
Manchester, CTNaugatuck High School
Naugatuck, CTNew Canaan High School
New Canaan, CTNewtown High School
Newtown, CTPomperaug High School
Southbury, CTRidgefield High School
Ridgefield, CT
Robert E. Fitch High School
Groton, CT
Seymour High School
Seymour, CTSimsbury High School
Simsbury, CTSouth Windsor High School
South Windsor, CTSt. Joseph High School
Trumbull, CTSt. Paul Catholic High School
Bristol, CTStaples High School
Westport, CTWarren Harding High School
Bridgeport, CTWaterford High School
Waterford, CTWestfield/Watkinson
Hartford, CTWeston High School
Weston, CTWesthill High School
Stamford, CTAcademy of Information Technology & Engineering
Stamford, CTAcademy of Aerospace and Engineering
Windsor, CTWindsor High School
Windsor, CTWilton High School
Wilton, CTInterested in joining the CDA? Need more information? Contact us below to learn more.
“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.”
― Joseph Joubert
The CDA is an approved activity organized under the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS). CAS provides CDA with a variety of support services, including collecting dues, supervising finances and giving guidance on policy matters.