09/10/2026
Izayah Christopher spent four years as part of the Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Speech and Debate program. His time was incredibly rewarding, and earlier this summer, Christopher was named the William Woods Tate, Jr., National Student of the Year by the National Speech and Debate Association.
Christopher said he was thankful for the relationships he built throughout his time in the program, but one relationship had an especially meaningful impact on his life. Danielle Johnson, head coach of the CPS Speech and Debate team, showed him how vital it is to have engaging instructors.
“She showed me what teaching really is and how transformative it can be for both the student and the educator,” said Christopher, who is from Columbia, Missouri, and graduated from Battle High School. “It’s really beautiful how teachers connect those dots for students and foster that growth. My interest in becoming a teacher definitely sprouted from my time with Dr. Johnson.”
Now, Christopher is pursuing that interest at the University of Missouri as a secondary education major focused on language arts. He is also one of eight Stamps Scholars beginning their college journeys at Mizzou this fall.
Outside the classroom, Christopher is taking his cheerleading experience to the next level. He is part of the Mizzou Cheerleading team and is excited to cheer on the Tigers from the sidelines.
Learn more about Christopher: https://honors.missouri.edu/news/2026/09/inspired-to-make-an-impact/
Mizzou: College of Education & Human Development
