Director of Speech and Debate

Altamont School•Birmingham, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Altamont School seeks an exceptional Debate Teacher, Coach, and Director who will advance the school’s proud tradition of excellence in academics, student life, and community. The ideal candidate is an experienced educator and coach with a passion for competitive debate, public speaking, and critical thinking. The ideal candidate is also a motivated, student-centered professional who can continue a thriving debate program at the middle and upper school levels. Our teachers engage in ongoing professional development, foster an inclusive and intellectually rigorous environment, and actively support our school’s strategic initiatives of community and inclusion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; a background in Communication, English, Political Science, Philosophy, or a related field is preferred.
Demonstrated experience coaching competitive debate at the secondary school level, with a record of student development and competitive success.
Familiarity with major competitive debate formats (Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Speech, and/or Policy) and experience preparing students for NSDA-affiliated or equivalent tournaments.
Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to model the persuasive speaking and argumentation skills expected of students.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage a competitive season calendar, coordinate travel, and meet administrative deadlines.
Flexibility, sound judgment, and strong interpersonal skills; ability to motivate and support students of varied skill levels and backgrounds.
Experience with classroom or team management strategies in a secondary school setting.
Commitment to student well-being, academic integrity, and inclusive participation in the debate program
Dedication to our school’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Balance, Curiosity, and Leadership

Responsibilities

Teaches debate-related courses and electives (e.g. Rhetoric, Public Speaking, Argumentation, Forensics) to middle and/or upper school students, developing age-appropriate curriculum aligned with school-wide academic standards.
Directs and coaches the school’s competitive debate team, preparing students for local, regional, and national tournaments across formats such as Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Speech, and/or Policy debate.
Recruits and mentors student debaters, fostering a welcoming and competitive team culture that emphasizes intellectual growth, sportsmanship, and public speaking confidence.
Designs and implements a structured practice schedule, coordinates logistics for competitions, and manages travel arrangements for tournaments in collaboration with administration.
Plans and maintains tournament schedule that aligns with the school and team’s goals for the season, maintaining an outward facing promotion of the program to broadcast to school and community about success
Identifies clear learning objectives and develops engaging, rigorous lessons that build argumentation, research, critical thinking, and oral communication skills.
Sets high expectations for student performance, provides timely and substantive feedback on speeches, cases, and tournament preparation, and tracks student progress across the season.
Manages classroom and team settings effectively, always modeling professional, ethical, and respectful behavior
Maintains the debate program’s budget, equipment, and resources, and submits required reports and documentation in a timely manner.
Establishes and maintains open communication with students, parents, colleagues, and tournament officials; serves as the school’s primary liaison to local and national debate leagues and organizations.
Attends and participates in faculty meetings, serves on committees as required, and fulfills other duties as assigned by the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, or Academic Director, such as Fall Project Week travel and Advisory.
Pursues ongoing professional development in pedagogy, coaching strategies, and competitive formats to continuously improve program quality