Career Center

Description 

Davidson Academy Online, a fully online independent school, is seeking a skilled and experienced debate coach to lead our relatively new, albeit successful, Speech & Debate team for the 2023-2024 academic year. Our Speech & Debate team, which focuses heavily on Public Forum, is wrapping up its third competitive season with both TOC and Nationals qualifiers. 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 norm 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.  

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 Jessica Potts, Curriculum Coordinator, at jpotts@davidsononline.org for consideration. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Implement a comprehensive debate training program that covers all aspects of Public Forum Debate, including research, case construction, refutation, and cross-examination. 
• 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 brand-new debaters who are unfamiliar with debate practices.  
• Organize and conduct practice debates, 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. 
• 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 Online Director, 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 Online Director. 

 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 Canvas, Microsoft Office, Google, Tabroom, and other online platforms.  
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills. 
• Strong organizational skills.  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members, school staff, and parents. 
• Availability to attend virtual weekend tournaments and travel where possible. 

 Preferences 

• Experience working with gifted students.  
• Experience teaching online, preferably in a synchronous environment.  

 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. 

About Davidson Academy Online

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 norm 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. Davidson Academy Online employees can work from anywhere in the United States, and full-time employees receive vacation and sick leave as well as healthcare and retirement benefits.

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