Debate Coach

Job DetailsJob Location

• San
• Mateo
• Campus -
• San
• Mateo,
• CA 94403Position
• Type:
• Part
• TimeEducation
• Level:
• High
• SchoolSalary
• Range: $30.00 - $52.00
• HourlyTravel
• Percentage:
• NegligibleJob
• Category: Education Debate Assistant Coach Upper School 26-27 Aug 1, 2026

Position Summary

The Debate Assistant Coach supports Nueva’s nationally recognized speech and debate program by coaching and mentoring students in research, public speaking, critical thinking, and competitive debate. The coach leads and supports practices, provides individualized feedback, attends tournaments, and helps foster an inclusive, intellectually rigorous learning environment. The ideal candidate has experience competing in and/or coaching debate and is passionate about student growth, leadership development, and ethical discourse. Successful candidates demonstrate strong communication skills, flexibility, and a commitment to Nueva’s mission and values. A Day in the Life We seek assistant coaches for our award-winning debate program, which prioritizes student agency and exploration in debate. A successful candidate will have experience competing in and/or coaching in Parliamentary, Public Forum, World Schools, Lincoln-Douglas, or Policy Debate. Key skills and attributes include flexibility, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to navigate an environment in which students are treated as intellectual peers while maintaining appropriate social and emotional boundaries. 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. Primary Responsibilities Coaching and Practice Support: Attend after-school debate practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays and lead teaching breakouts or judge practice rounds. Assist the event director with practice planning and/or lead curriculum planning for event subgroups Student Support and Collaboration: Schedule office hours with students before key tournaments. Review and edit research and case materials produced by students. Work with the event director or director of forensics to identify students for leadership positions or supplemental support. Tournament Coaching and Supervision: Attend virtual and in-person debate tournaments and provide judging and coaching support, including scouting opponents and giving round feedback. Act as a supporting chaperone during travel events by helping to organize food options, transporting students between sites, and supervising evening preparation activities as needed. Personal and Professional Development: Complete job-appropriate training as assigned by HR or supervisor. Attend and contribute to team-wide trainings and discussions on equity and inclusion. Culture and Equity Leadership: Model the highest standards of ethical decision-making and inclusion in teaching, coaching, and judging. Support Nueva’s Mission II by engaging in collaboration with coaches at other institutions to broaden access to speech and debate. Other duties as assigned. Required Qualifications Meets at least one of the following: Two or more years of competitive experience in high school and/or college, Parliamentary, Public Forum, World Schools, Lincoln Douglas, or Policy Debate One or more years of coaching experience in middle, high school, and/or college Parliamentary, Public Forum, World Schools, Lincoln Douglas, or Policy Debate Virtual or in-person availability on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons Demonstrable record of appropriate interactions with minors in extracurricular settings

Preferred Qualifications

High school competitive success (major invitational wins; TOC, State, or National qualification) in Parliamentary, Public Forum, World Schools, Lincoln Douglas, or Policy Debate Ability to be physically on site at the upper and/or middle school during debate practice times Prior experience working with students in tournament settings, especially lengthy local invitationals or travel events. Encouragement to Apply Nueva encourages anyone to apply even if they do not meet all the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about supporting gifted students, committed to equity and inclusion, and eager to grow your skill within a collaborative community, we would welcome your application. We are seeking applicants who represent the full diversity of our community in the Bay Area. Our ideal candidate will possess a deep appreciation for the diverse socioeconomic, racial, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, academic, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. In joining our team at Nueva, you will become a part of an inclusive, iterative and equity-minded community that recognizes that equity and social justice is a lens with which we examine all aspects of our school community in order to ensure an educational experience where all students and colleagues can thrive. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Nueva, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with Nueva’s Mission, Vision, and Values. Compensation and Benefits The hourly rate range for this position is $30.00- $52.00 per hour, depending on experience. The starting hourly rate is based on, but not limited to, several factors, including type and years of experience, education level, and expertise. We offer a compensation and benefits package that includes fully paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance for employees, employer contribution toward dependent insurance premiums, a generous match on our retirement plan, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account, and free lunch. Eligibility rules must be met. To Apply Please submit your application information - cover letter describing your interest and preparedness for the position, a resume documenting your relevant experience and expertise, and contact information for three professional references, including an explanation of your relationship - to the Nueva Employment Website. To address specific questions, please email Julie Herman at jherman@nuevaschool.org or Liza Raynal at lraynal@nuevaschool.org The Nueva School is an Equal Opportunity Employer – we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability or sex. We welcome applications from people of color and those with experience outside the education field. About The Nueva School The Nueva School, an internationally recognized, nonprofit, independent day school, has served gifted and talented students since 1967. Today, Nueva serves nearly 1000 students PK-12. Nueva is located in the neighboring towns of Hillsborough and San Mateo, equidistant between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and serves six counties throughout the Bay Area of Northern California. A constructivist school, Nueva is known for its distinctive inquiry-based interdisciplinary studies, project-based learning, and pioneering work in social-emotional learning and design thinking. The Nueva community instills a passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the imaginative mind. Our school has received the US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award, the US Department of Education National Green Ribbon Award, and the American Institute of Architects Award for School Design and Sustainability; has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program and appointed an Ashoka Changemaker School; co-founded the Common Ground Speaker Series; hosts the biennial Innovative Learning Conference, and was highlighted by the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times best-selling author Thomas Friedman in his book That Used to Be Us in the chapter “Average Is Over.” For more information about The Nueva School, visit our website: www.nuevaschool.org