Debate Faculty Member & Head Debate Coach(Public Forum), Upper School

The Nueva School•San Mateo, CA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Significant experience in secondary and/or collegiate debate
Minimum of five years of post-collegiate coaching or teaching experience
Deep expertise in Public Forum debate

Nice To Haves

Experience in additional formats (Parliamentary, Worlds, Speech)
Experience teaching in academically rigorous secondary school environments
Familiarity with independent school culture

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Train, mentor, and support junior coaches.
Foster a collaborative coaching culture aligned with program goals.
Collaborate across divisions to build a unified, developmentally aligned program.
Partner with the Middle School debate to ensure continuity and progression.
Manage tournament planning, logistics, and communication with students and families.
Identify challenges proactively and collaborate with the Director of Forensics on solutions.
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.
Support student recruitment and clearly communicate program expectations.
Assist in identifying and onboarding junior coaches.
Contribute to Nueva’s summer debate program, including staffing, curriculum development, teaching/coaching, and daily operations.