Head Coach - Speech and Debate FY_

Title: Head Coach - Speech and Debate

Reports to: Activities Director

Status: Seasonal

Location: High School

Start Date: October 2026-February 2027

• Coach and judge at competitions during the academic year.
• Direct, review, and edit student research.
• Listen to and provide feedback to students by listening to video recordings of debates, practice speeches, and rebuttal reworks.
• Engage students in discussions about arguments and strategy.
• Collaborate with the Director on decision-making and planning as needed.
• Support appropriate student behavior as outlined in the student handbook.
• Minor administrative tasks.

• Knowledge to analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.
• Ability to schedule activities, meetings, and/or events, gather, collate, and/or classify data and use job-related equipment.
• Ability to be flexible to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances.
• Ability to read, write and speak English fluently
• Ability to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups and utilize specific, job-related equipment.
• Ability to problem solve to analyze issues.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, the public, and staff members.
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to manage time and responsibilities, adapt to changing work priorities, communicate with diverse groups, maintaining confidentiality, meet deadlines and schedules.
• Ability to set priorities, work as part of a team and work with and manage frequent interruptions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student matters.
• Ability to effectively communicate with students, parents, and staff.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all District requirements and Board policies.
• Skill in adhering to safety practices.

• Successful experience in high school or college policy/cross-examination style debate.
• Experience researching/cutting positions used in policy debate.
• Familiarity with a variety of contemporary policy debate arguments and styles.

• A record of competitive success as a debater and/or coach
• Experience coaching other high school speech and debate formats

• Montana Driver’s license or the ability to obtain license within three months of hire date.
• Ability to travel to local and national high school debate tournaments with the team, including those falling on evenings and weekends.

• Performs routine work.
• Regularly works inside with minimal temperature variations.
• Ability to meet deadlines with severe time constraints.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
• Frequently required to sit; occasionally walk and stand.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Required to be able to hear conversations in loud and quiet environments.
• May be required to lift or carry up to 20 pounds on an infrequent basis with or without an accommodation.
• Guidance and reinforcement are usually unavailable.
• The employee frequently works within time constraints and must maintain attentiveness intensity.
• Frequently involved in interactions which require oral and written communications.
• Exercises flexibility and the ability to shift from one task to another.
• Occasional travel/mobility between schools, or between schools and the Administration office, may be required.
• Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts.