Speech and Debate Coordinator

Speech and Debate Coordinator

(Pending availability of funds and Board of Education approval)

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.

• 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 examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

• Program Leadership & Strategy
  • Oversee the vision, structure, and annual goals for district speech and debate programming, grades 5-12.
  • Partner with the Newark Debate Academy to align program outcomes with district goals.
  • Support the integration of speech and debate pedagogy into classroom instruction across content areas.
  • Collect and analyze participation and performance data to inform program improvement and public reporting.
  • Develop and present annual strategic goals and key performance indicators to measure growth in participation, coach development, and competitive achievement.
• Coach Coordination & Professional Development
  • Recruit, train, and mentor school-based speech and debate coaches.
  • Organize district-wide professional development, workshops, and institutes.
  • Ensure coaches conduct regular practices, meet contract expectations, and implement student recruitment strategies.
  • Conduct periodic site visits and collaborate with NDA staff to assess program quality.
• Tournament Operations & Logistics
  • Develop the annual tournament calendar and secure District Advisory Board approval by August.
  • Coordinate tournament registration, travel, lodging, and supervision logistics for local, state, and…