Speech and Debate Coordinator

Speech and Debate Coordinator

Position Type:

Instructional - Other Titles/Debate Coordinator

Date Posted:

11/13/2025

Location:

Office of Teaching & Learning - 401

Additional Information:
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NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION

HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES

765 BROAD STREET, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102

ROGER LEÓN, SUPERINTENDENT

Speech and Debate Coordinator

(Pending availability of funds and Board of Education approval)

The Superintendent invites qualified and interested persons to apply for the position of Speech and Debate Coordinator.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Speech & Debate Coordinator provides district-wide leadership and operational oversight for all competitive speech and debate programs across middle and high schools. The Coordinator partners with school-based coaches, the Newark Debate Academy, and district offices to ensure compliance with all regulations, cultivate academic excellence, and expand student participation and success in local, state, and national tournaments. The ideal candidate is passionate about the mission of expanding and excelling the District speech and debate program and able to find creative solutions in a large and complex organization.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a balance of instructional leadership, operational excellence, and passion for student voice through competitive speech and debate.

* Master's degree from an accredited college or university. An equivalent combination of education and demonstrable competitive speech/debate leadership may be considered.

* New Jersey Department of Education Standard Certificate, Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS), or Valid NJ DOE Substitute Teacher's Certificate

* Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in competitive speech and debate, including program management, tournament operations, or coaching at the state/national level.

* Demonstrated experience leading large-scale academic programs, coordinating multiple school sites, and managing cross-organizational partnerships.

* Comprehensive knowledge of middle school, high school, and collegiate competitive academic speech and debate programs on a local, state, and national level.

* Familiarity with local, state, and national speech and debate organizations.

* Proficiency with tournament management software (e.g., Tabroom, Speechwire, Joy of Tournaments) and data-tracking platforms for performance analytics.

* Commitment to equitable access and culturally responsive coaching practices that empower diverse student voices.

* Knowledge of highly effective speech and debate strategies, practices, and routines

* Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite & Google Workspace applications.

* Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to maintain detailed records and files.

* Proven ability to plan, organize, and direct speech and debate programs, tournaments, professional development, and coaching schedules.

* Ability to foster cooperative working relationships with personnel across departments and external stakeholders involved in speech and debate programming.

* Experience in program evaluation and assessment for speech and debate activities spanning grades 5 through 12.

* Adept at maintaining central communication between coaches, outside organizations, and staff to ensure accuracy of all information regarding Speech & Debate.

* Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal, sufficient to perform all job responsibilities.

* Proven ability to develop and manage annual budgets for multi-site programs, ensuring fiscal compliance, efficient resource allocation, and effective communication with school treasurers and central office staff.

* Demonstrated ability to communicate diplomatically, build consensus, and maintain positive relationships with coaches, students, staff, and partners.

* Possession of a valid New Jersey driver's license is required if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

* Willingness and ability to travel between schools within the district as needed.

* Performs duties and tasks as assigned by a supervisor.

NOTE:

The…