Part-Time Speech & Debate Teacher

Davidson Academy Online, a fully online independent school, is seeking a debate coach to lead our Speech & Debate team for the 2025-2026 academic year. As the debate coach, you will be responsible for mentoring and training our team members in the art of debate, helping them develop their analytical and critical thinking skills, and guiding them to become confident and effective communicators. Davidson Academy Online instructional staff can work from anywhere in the United States. Candidates must be flexible, collaborative, dynamic, dedicated to rigor and continual growth, and interested in supporting enthusiastic students in an online setting. Instructional staff at Davidson Academy Online provide a challenging and appropriate education for profoundly gifted young people in accordance with Davidson Academy Online’s mission and goals. Instructional staff are responsible for knowing and implementing the curriculum for their subject(s). The curriculum must fit the needs of current students, and instructional staff must update the curriculum as necessary to reach that goal. You can learn more about Davidson Academy Online below and at www.davidsononline.org.

Davidson Academy Online is the first fully online school for profoundly gifted middle and high school students residing in the United States and Canada. Profoundly gifted students are three standard deviations above the mean on the bell curve of the IQ continuum. To attend Davidson Academy Online, students should score in the 99.9th percentile on accepted intelligence and/or achievement tests; perform at a required academic level; exhibit intellectual and academic achievement; and demonstrate motivation, social and emotional maturity, and an overall readiness for a fast-paced educational environment. Unlike traditional school settings, Davidson Academy Online classes group students by ability rather than age. With an overall enrollment of 100 students and a faculty of 25 members, class sizes are small, and students receive personalized attention.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement a comprehensive speech and debate training program.
• Deliver ongoing asynchronous instruction via the Canvas learning management system and synchronous instruction once per week via Zoom videoconferencing software.
• Work with students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and tailor the training program accordingly.
• Differentiate instruction for both veteran debaters who have been to Nationals and new debaters who are unfamiliar with debate practices.
• Organize and conduct competition practice, providing feedback and coaching to team members to help them improve their performance.
• Manage the team’s schedule via Tabroom and serve as the point of contact for tournament officials.
• Attend virtual tournaments and provide coaching and support to team members during competitions. Option to travel to some in-person tournaments subject to Director approval. • Coordinate a team of parent volunteers to support the team and serve as judges during the tournaments.
• Record NSDA points and develop honor society protocols.
• Teach from Academy-designed curriculum as required by the Curriculum Coordinator and/or Dean of Faculty, including preparing a syllabus and lesson plans for each class in an approved format.
• Provide feedback and grades on student work and record those grades in the gradebook software all in a timely manner as prescribed by the Curriculum Coordinator and/or Dean of Faculty.

Additional Responsibilities

• Professional presentation, including using all work hours productively, being prepared and on time for each class, and interacting professionally with colleagues and students.
• Adhering to the school’s need for regular attendance and punctuality.
• Communicating promptly and professionally with colleagues, parents, and students.
• Preparing and adhering to a budget for assigned classes each year.
• Promoting the general progress and well-being of individual students in classes, focusing on the Academy’s core values. This includes reaching out to counselors, the student advising team, and the curriculum team when concerned about a student’s emotional or academic well-being.
• Properly implementing accessibility support and academic plans.
• Mandated reporting of suspected child abuse and/or neglect and making related reports within 24 hours of suspected abuse/neglect.
• Participating in faculty, student, and parent meetings as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., education, communication, political science, law).
• Previous experience coaching middle and high school debate teams, particularly in Public Forum Debate.
• Familiarity with Tabroom.

Preferences

• Experience working with gifted students.
• Experience teaching online, preferably in a synchronous environment.
• Familiarity with, or ability to learn quickly, various software, including but not limited to Microsoft Office applications, Infinite Campus, Zoom, and Canvas.

Work Requirements

• Hear and understand speech at normal sound levels.
• Speak clearly and articulately.
• Have reliable internet access for classroom live sessions, meetings, and events conducted on Zoom videoconferencing software.
• Expect to spend a considerable amount of teaching and competition time standing and/or sitting at a computer and using a keyboard.
• Become familiar with the Academy’s computers (hardware and software).
• Have the ability to travel out of area for professional development and student activities when appropriate.
• Walk, squat, and lift up to ten pounds.

Salary Range

Compensation between $25 and $28 per hour commensurate with education and experience. Anticipated average of 10 hours per week, but hours will vary from week to week depending on competition schedules.

How to Apply

This is a part-time, fully remote position with flexible hours. If you are passionate about debate and have a proven track record of coaching successful middle and high school debate teams, we encourage you to apply for this position. Please submit your resume, cover letter, and professional references to Mrs. Ashley Zahn, Director, at azahn@davidsononline.org for consideration.