[Hiring] Academy Class Coach @National Debate Club

Role Description

Class Coaches at Civic Debate Academy (CDA) bring debate to life for students at every stage of their journey. Coaches lead weekly, 60 or 90-minute-long classes, provide written homework feedback, and complete student evaluations. Each class is capped at 10 students and runs for 10- or 14-week terms. We primarily coach Public Forum debate.

• Developing curriculum and lesson materials
• Supporting coach training and mentorship
• Substituting for other coaches when needed

Qualifications

• Passionate educator who genuinely cares about student growth
• Enjoy mentoring students of all ages
• Clear communication skills
• Energy and enthusiasm in the classroom
• Patient with beginners and supportive of advanced debaters

Requirements

• Coaching, teaching, or mentoring experience in an educational setting
• Experience with a debate format (Policy, Parliamentary, Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, etc.)
• Consistent availability during after-school hours

Preferred (Not Required)

• Undergraduate degree in a related field, such as education
• Consistent weekend availability
• Comfort working with beginner students
• Competitive success in Public Forum Debate

Benefits

• $50 per class hour
• Additional opportunities: $30–50/hr

Company Description

Civic Debate Academy is the number one-ranked program in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, CDA has taught hundreds of students how to think critically, problem solve, and use their voice. CDA's members attend schools like the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and more. Competitively, CDA has finaled or won state tournaments in four states, and in the 2025–2026 season, has accumulated over 250 team awards, making it the highest-ranked debate academy in the country.

As an organization, Civic Debate Academy is dedicated to making debate accessible to all. We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need and have provided over $90,000 of aid in the past 12 months.

Location

• Virtual
• Opportunity for hybrid work in Chicago, Texas, and the DMV.