Lead Speech and Debate Coach
Description
Menlo School seeks a Varsity Parliamentary Debate Coach to lead our high school debate team. This coach will work with experienced student debaters, plan and run weekly practices, prepare students for competition, and travel to tournaments throughout the season. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in parliamentary debate, a passion for mentoring students, and the ability to foster both competitive excellence and personal growth.
The coach will meet with the teams twice a week for practice (90 minutes each practice) and spend additional time with the teams for tournaments. Tournaments are typically on the weekends at other host schools and occasionally hosted by Menlo.
Key Responsibilities
- Design & lead regular varsity practices emphasizing advanced argumentation, refutation, case strategy, flowing, speaker roles, time management, and partner collaboration.
- Coach students individually and in teams during and after practices and tournaments, offering tailored feedback to foster growth.
- Prepare students for local and regional parliamentary debate tournaments across the season.
- Chaperone and accompany the team to weekend tournaments (typically 1–2/month during active season).
- Ensure debaters stay current on political, social, and philosophical topics relevant to debates.
- Cultivate team culture emphasizing respect, sportsmanship, academic integrity, and collaborative development.
- Serve as the main liaison with students and families: handle communication, scheduling, and tournament logistics.
- Manage tournament registration, coordinating with fellow coaches to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Additional Coaching Duties
- Lead two weekly 90-minute sessions:
- Middle School Club session
- Team Novice Practice
- Develop instructional curricula and support middle or high school students in public advocacy, research, and critical thinking.
- Engage with parents as the primary point of contact regarding participation, schedules, and logistics.
- Collaborate closely with a co‑coach on practice planning, chaperoning, and tournament logistics.
Qualifications
- High school diploma minimum; four-year degree preferred.
- Proven experience in competitive parliamentary debate, as either a debater or coach, preferably at high school (NPDL) or collegiate level (APDA).
- Experience coaching or competing in technical and competitive debate styles with parliamentary format emphasis.
- Experience working with high school students, ideally with coaching or teaching background.
- Strong organizational and communication skills, including the ability to plan, adapt, and interact effectively with students, families, and staff.
- Prior experience coaching is strongly desired
- Available to work occasional nights and weekends
To be considered for this position please submit your resume and cover letter through our portal.
We look forward to hearing from you!
About us:
Menlo School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for students in grades six through twelve. Located in Atherton, California, and established in 1915, the School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National and California Associations of Independent Schools.
Menlo is dedicated to providing a challenging academic curriculum complemented by outstanding creative arts and athletic programs. The School helps students develop positive values and nurtures character development in a supportive environment that upholds the highest moral and ethical standards. Our program encourages students to reach their fullest potential and to develop the skills necessary to respond intelligently and humanely to the complexities of a diverse and increasingly interconnected world.
At Menlo School, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are at the core of our organizational identity. Through our daily efforts, the School demonstrates a shared commitment to the development of all stakeholders by supporting a campus ethos where equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging reflect the major cornerstones of our community.
Our equal opportunity employment policy:
Menlo School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants. We administer all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or domestic partnership status, disability, protected veteran status or military status, genetic information, or any other category protected under applicable law.
Pay range:
In the spirit of pay transparency we share the base salary range for this position for the 2025-2026 academic year. The full pay range, which encompasses all experience levels is $38.00 - $50.00 per hour. Within this broad range, we pay in accordance with what could be reasonably expected based on an individual's experience level. Base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, retirement plan employer contributions or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at Menlo are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at Menlo School, your final base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status and number of months of work per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the generous range mentioned above is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical for Menlo School in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.
Job ID: 341