Last Updated 4-28-2026

The Nueva School seeks an accomplished and intellectually engaged Debate Faculty member (Public Forum) to lead and further develop its Upper School debate program. This role sits at the intersection of academic instruction and competitive forensics and is ideal for an educator committed to cultivating students’ analytical reasoning, rhetorical precision, and intellectual independence.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience in Public Forum debate, along with familiarity in at least one additional format (Parliamentary, Worlds, or Speech). In collaboration with the Director of Forensics and assistant coaches, this faculty member will guide a program serving students across a wide spectrum, from first-time debaters to nationally competitive participants.

At Nueva, debate is both a discipline and a developmental practice. We seek a candidate who values rigorous inquiry, evidence-based argumentation, and the ethical dimensions of discourse, and who is equally invested in student growth, mentorship, and building an inclusive intellectual community.

Core Responsibilities

• Coaching & Practice Leadership: Lead a high-functioning Public Forum program, including designing and facilitating engaging after-school practices (typically twice weekly). Support foundational skill development for newer students while advancing strategy and performance for experienced competitors. Guide and coordinate assistant coaches in executing drills and exercises.

• Tournament Coaching & Student Supervision: Coach and chaperone students at approximately 10–12 tournaments annually (local, travel, and virtual). Ensure student safety, adherence to school guidelines, and competitive readiness. Contribute to Nueva-hosted tournaments.

• Teaching & Academic Instruction: Teach a year-long Upper School debate course within the academic day, including curriculum design, lesson planning, and assessment. Integrate debate pedagogy with academic rigor to foster critical thinking, research, and communication skills.

• Curriculum Design & Program Development: Plan and implement monthly progressions of lessons and drills across class and practice settings. Align instructional approaches across coaching staff to ensure consistency and coherence.

• Student Support & Collaboration: Partner with the Parliamentary Head Coach, assistant coaches, and administration to support student needs and navigate challenges. Maintain a student-centered, relational approach to mentorship.

• Coaching Staff Leadership & Development: Train, mentor, and support junior coaches. Foster a collaborative coaching culture aligned with program goals.

• Program Alignment & Cross-Divisional Collaboration: Collaborate across divisions to build a unified, developmentally aligned program. Partner with the Middle School debate to ensure continuity and progression.

• Program Operations & Communication: Manage tournament planning, logistics, and communication with students and families. Identify challenges proactively and collaborate with the Director of Forensics on solutions.

• Culture & Equity Leadership: Cultivate a team culture that is inclusive, dynamic, and equitable. Actively address bias within competitive debate spaces to ensure all students can participate and thrive.

• Recruitment & Program Growth: Support student recruitment and clearly communicate program expectations. Assist in identifying and onboarding junior coaches.

• Summer Program Leadership: Contribute to Nueva’s summer debate program, including staffing, curriculum development, teaching/coaching, and daily operations.

Apply Here

Last Updated 4-28-2026

‍ The Altamont School seeks an exceptional Debate Teacher, Coach, and Director who will advance the school’s proud tradition of excellence in academics, student life, and community. The ideal candidate is an experienced educator and coach with a passion for competitive debate, public speaking, and critical thinking. The ideal candidate is also a motivated, student-centered professional who can continue a thriving debate program at the middle and upper school levels. Our teachers engage in ongoing professional development, foster an inclusive and intellectually rigorous environment, and actively support our school’s strategic initiatives of community and inclusion.

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Essential Functions

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•       Teaches debate-related courses and electives (e.g. Rhetoric, Public Speaking, Argumentation, Forensics) to middle and/or upper school students, developing age-appropriate curriculum aligned with school-wide academic standards.

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•       Directs and coaches the school’s competitive debate team, preparing students for local, regional, and national tournaments across formats such as Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Speech, and/or Policy debate.

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•       Recruits and mentors student debaters, fostering a welcoming and competitive team culture that emphasizes intellectual growth, sportsmanship, and public speaking confidence.

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•       Designs and implements a structured practice schedule, coordinates logistics for competitions, and manages travel arrangements for tournaments in collaboration with administration.

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•       Plans and maintains tournament schedule that aligns with the school and team’s goals for the season, maintaining an outward facing promotion of the program to broadcast to school and community about success

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•       Identifies clear learning objectives and develops engaging, rigorous lessons that build argumentation, research, critical thinking, and oral communication skills.

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•       Sets high expectations for student performance, provides timely and substantive feedback on speeches, cases, and tournament preparation, and tracks student progress across the season.

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•       Manages classroom and team settings effectively, always modeling professional, ethical, and respectful behavior

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•       Maintains the debate program’s budget, equipment, and resources, and submits required reports and documentation in a timely manner.

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•       Establishes and maintains open communication with students, parents, colleagues, and tournament officials; serves as the school’s primary liaison to local and national debate leagues and organizations.

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•       Attends and participates in faculty meetings, serves on committees as required, and fulfills other duties as assigned by the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, or Academic Director, such as Fall Project Week travel and Advisory.

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•       Pursues ongoing professional development in pedagogy, coaching strategies, and. competitive formats to continuously improve program quality

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Preferred Education and Experience

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•       Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; a background in Communication, English, Political Science, Philosophy, or a related field is preferred.

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•       Demonstrated experience coaching competitive debate at the secondary school level, with a record of student development and competitive success.

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•       Familiarity with major competitive debate formats (Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Speech, and/or Policy) and experience preparing students for NSDA-affiliated or equivalent tournaments.

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•       Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to model the persuasive speaking and argumentation skills expected of students.

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•       Excellent organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage a competitive season calendar, coordinate travel, and meet administrative deadlines.

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•       Flexibility, sound judgment, and strong interpersonal skills; ability to motivate and support students of varied skill levels and backgrounds.

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•       Experience with classroom or team management strategies in a secondary school setting.

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•       Commitment to student well-being, academic integrity, and inclusive participation in the debate program

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•       Dedication to our school’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Balance, Curiosity, and Leadership

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For additional information, please contact For additional information, please contact JP Hemingway, Assistant Head of School (jhemingway@altamontschool.org), or Larry McCain, Director of English and World Languages (lmccain@altamontschool.org).

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Applications may be submitted through the Employment Opportunities page of the

‍The Altamont School is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The school complies with all applicable laws regarding non-discrimination.

Last Updated 4-15-2026

Debate Coach/Instructor

Are you passionate about developing students’ voices, critical thinking, and confidence through the lens of competitive debate? The Meadows School is seeking an engaging, knowledgeable, and student-centered Debate Coach to join our community. The Meadows offers a nationally competitive full service debate program with a focus on Lincoln Douglas and Policy debate.

At The Meadows School, we believe that research, communication and critical thinking skills are essential to student success. Our Debate Coach plays a key role in helping students develop these abilities while contributing to a vibrant, intellectually curious school culture. Located on our beautiful 40-acre campus in Summerlin, Nevada, The Meadows School serves approximately 1,000 students from PreK through 12th grade and is known for its commitment to academic excellence, character development, and a supportive community. As part of our extracurricular and academic programs, you will help create an environment where students feel empowered to express ideas, engage in civil discourse, and challenge themselves intellectually. A successful candidate will possess success coaching experience at the national level in either policy of Lincoln Douglas debate. The Meadows School’s debate program holds a curricular space within the school day and is supported with two full time faculty members and a part time coaching assistant. The team travels a regional and national schedule. Pay will be based on successful experience.

What You'll Do:

As the Debate Coach, you will lead and support students in developing debate skills while collaborating with faculty and administrators:

Coach and Develop Students: Teach the fundamentals of debate, including argument construction, research methods, refutation, and public speaking skills

Lead Practices and Competitions: Organize and lead regular team practices, prepare students for tournaments, and coach students during competitions

Foster Critical Thinking: Help students analyze complex topics, evaluate evidence, and engage in thoughtful, respectful discourse

Build a Strong Program: Recruit and mentor students, help grow the debate program, and create a culture of commitment, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity including a commitment to national competition success

Collaborate with the School Community: Communicate with students, families, and school personnel to support student participation and success

What We’re Looking For:

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable educator or coach who is passionate about debate and student development. This person values building relationships, fostering confidence, and helping students develop their voice in a supportive and challenging environment:

● Master’s degree required; degree in Communications, English, Political Science, or related field preferred

● Experience in debate (e.g., policy, Lincoln-Douglas, policy debate) and/or coaching debate students

● Strong understanding of argumentation, research, and public speaking techniques

● Ability to mentor students with varying levels of experience

● Excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills

● Ability to foster a positive, inclusive, and intellectually engaging team culture

● Commitment to collaboration and student-centered practice

● Willingness to travel and supervise students for competition.

Why Join The Meadows School?

At The Meadows School, we believe that activities like debate help students develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. Our Debate Coach plays a vital role in shaping students’ ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them. In this role, you will join a collaborative, mission-driven community that values intellectual curiosity, excellence, and student growth. How to Apply: If this opportunity excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your cover letter and resume to Rachel Cardinal, Director of Human Resources, at rcardinal@themeadowsschool.org.

Last Updated 4-7-2026

Trinity Prep, seeks an assistant director of speech and debate to encourage continued growth and excellence within our already well-established program. Our students compete in all events except policy debate and work diligently towards their goals of state and national level qualifications. The team currently travels the national forensics circuit and within the state of Florida. Our program cultivates speech and debate throughout our entire school. We have participants in both middle and upper school. This position will remain open until filled.

Interested candidates should complete an application through the link below:

APPLY NOW 

Last Updated 3-2-2026

Relevant information:

Westwood High School in Austin TX is looking for a second coach.  The position is likely a split between some debate or speech classes and a core subject area.   The Westwood team travels extensively and have had a solid levels of success in Policy, Speech, PF and LD.  The team was just above 150 strong this year with the next cohort replacing a smaller one graduating.  The booster is strong and Austin is a wonderful city to live in – great food and culture.  If you have any questions please contact – dominic_henderson@roundrockisd.org.

When applying, complete the generic teacher application for the district in your core area and then let me know so I can inform the administration to pull you from the pile.

https://ess.roundrockisd.org/ess/employmentopportunities/default.aspx