The Assistant Speech and Debate Coach is an integral member of The Potomac School’s speech and debate program. This part-time position requires assisting the Director of Forensics and K-12 Public Speaking Coordinator to support a highly robust program in Northern Virginia/District of Columbia. The role requires traveling with the team members several times a month on weekends. The person should be available to attend tournaments or competitions and chaperone students.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist Upper School speech and debate coaches to manage all the day-to-day operations of the program.
• When asked, communicate with parents and students, information pertaining to the program (in consultation with other faculty members involved).
• When asked, work directly with the Transportation Manager to arrange all bus transportation for all tournaments or competitions (if needed).
• Chaperone tournaments and competitions; providing supervision of students at all times.
• Partner with other coaches and all students to help them seek solutions in a positive collaborative manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Willingness to put in the hours needed to help maintain a nationally competitive program.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree with experience in competitive Speech and/or Debate.
• Several years of coaching experience at the national circuit level and know argumentation well. The program is focused, but not limited to public address events such as Public Forum Debate, Worlds Schools Debate, Congressional Debate, Extemp Speaking and Oratory.
• Ability to communicate, motivate, and understand the students’ educational and emotional needs.
• Must be flexible, collaborative, a creative problem-solver, calm, empathetic, and have the ability to multitask.
• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with other teachers, support staff, parents and members of the community.
• Ability to recognize and respond to individual and cultural differences in students and use different teaching methods that inspire high student achievement.
• Enthusiasm and joy for working with students.
• Knowledge of tournament competition preferred
• Knowledge and prior use of NSDA’s website, NSDA campus, Tabroom, Speechwire and other technology used in the high school debate community.
• Knowledge of Slack or other corporate communications programs
• Must be a solid on-line researcher capable of finding evidence and arguments for debate use