26-27 Debate Coach

Somerville Public Schools; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

Somerville Public Schools seeks a seasonal program coordinator for Somerville High School's debate program. The role supports the Boston Debate League, coordinates practices, registrations, and tournament logistics, and collaborates with a program manager to ensure smooth operations.

Responsibilities include running weekly practices, student registration, chaperoning tournaments, budgeting, and attending year-end events, with CORI clearance required.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Help run practices once per week after school.
• Register students for the program and manage team logistics (snacks, tournament sign-ups, etc.).
• Chaperone students BDL tournaments which can be split with the co-coach.
• Meet a minimum of once a month with your program manager for planning or other support.
• Conduct pre-registration and registration for tournaments before deadline.
• Chaperone students at tournaments and other BDL events.
• Judge at tournaments as needed.
• Participate in coach community meetings and start-and end-of-year meetings with BDL and school leadership.
• Recruit new students for the debate team and build team culture to retain existing students.
• Build debate knowledge when necessary (with assistance from BDL).
• Communicate with Program Manager when questions or concerns arise.
• Read and respond to emails from BDL and Program Manager.
• Attend End-of-Year Awards Ceremony.
• Track team budget, submit receipts, and take practice attendance in Team Tools google doc.

Job description

Position Summary

Somerville High School is part of the Boston Debate League, which organizese the debate season and provides extensive support to coaches. Each school is assigned a Program Manager who can answer questions, help run practices, co-plan, and help with any other team needs. BDL also provides all of the materials that students need to debate including evidence packets, lesson plans and activities, and topic education materials.

Position Summary

Somerville High School is part of the Boston Debate League, which organizese the debate season and provides extensive support to coaches. Each school is assigned a Program Manager who can answer questions, help run practices, co-plan, and help with any other team needs. BDL also provides all of the materials that students need to debate including evidence packets, lesson plans and activities, and topic education materials.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

The responsibilities listed below reflect the primary duties of the position; the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the role. Additional responsibilities that are similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position may be assigned as needed to meet program, legal, or operational needs.

• Help run practices once per week after school,
• Register students for the program and manage team logistics (snacks, tournament sign-ups, etc.),
• Chaperone students BDL tournaments which can be split with the co-coach.
• Meet a minimum of once a month on with your program manager for planning or other support
• Conduct pre-registration and registration for tournaments before deadline
• Chaperone students at tournaments and other BDL events
• Judge at tournaments as needed
• Participate in coach community meetings and start-and end-of-year meetings with BDL and school leadership
• Recruit new students for the debate team and build team culture to retain existing students
• Build debate knowledge when necessary (with assistance from BDL)
• Communicate with Program Manager when questions or concerns arise
• Read and respond to emails from BDL and Program Manager
• Attend End-of-Year Awards Ceremony
• Track team budget, submit receipts, and take practice attendance in Team Tools google doc.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

• Physical Strength Requirements: may involve lifting or carrying items up to 10 lbs
• Posture & Movement Requirements: Frequently Sitting, Standing
• Sensory Requirements: Ability to perceive written information (near vision); Ability to hear and understand verbal instructions

Qualifications, Knowledge, Abilities, & Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, and staff
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills

Reporting Relationships

• Position Reports to: The School Principal

Terms of Employment

• Position Type: Seasonal/ Yearly Employment
• September 2026 - March 2027
• Location: SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
• FLSA Classification: Non Exempt

Pre-Employment Requirements

MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Clearance
Fingerprints

The Somerville Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, home status, marital/civil union status, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, place of birth, national origin, ancestry, cultural identity, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.