WHS Assistant Speech and Debate Coach

Assistant Speech And Debate Coach

The Assistant Speech and Debate Coach complements the activities of the Head Speech and Debate Coach and carries out directives to assist in directing the speech and debate program. The Assistant Coach provides instruction in fundamental skills, strategy, and training while putting the safety, health, and well-being of students at the forefront of all actions and decisions. Beyond competition success, the coach must foster moral values, pride of accomplishment, and self-discipline in student participants. All duties must be performed within the policies of the Montana High School Association (MHSA), Western A Conference By-laws, the Montana Forensics Educators Association (MFEA) handbook, the School Board, District Administration, and the District's Strategic Plan.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Current certified First Aid and CPR card with AED training. Ability to obtain membership in the MFEA.
• Must meet all MHSA requirements and complete NFHS Coaches Education Training and MHSA Sport/Activity Specific Rules Clinics on time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Valid Montana teacher certification and employment within the Whitefish School District.
• Previous successful coaching or competition experience in speech and debate.
• Ability to handle stressful situations and maintain confidentiality regarding student and employment matters.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating manuals, and procedure manuals, as well as write routine reports and correspondence.
• Knowledge of Title IX regulations and compliance.

Job Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Instruction & Coaching: Coaches participants in fundamental speech and debate skills, strategies, and competitive techniques as directed by the Head Coach. Teaches the importance of teamwork and maintains competency in current MFEA/MHSA rules.
• Operations & Program Support: Assists the Head Coach in carrying out the overall program, including coordinating practice schedules, training drills, research, piece selection, and student preparation. Assists with home tournaments and program logistics as needed.
• Supervision & Leadership: Assumes the duties of the Head Coach in their absence. Provides guidance and safeguards by supervising students at practices, contests, during travel, on buses, and in designated facilities or staging areas. Ensures proper discipline and that a coach or designee is the last to leave the facility.
• Student Welfare & Conduct: Monitors student-athletes' grades and conduct. Completes reports for injuries and communicates immediately with the athletic trainer. Enforces training rules and District policies uniformly.
• Accountability & Administration: Assists in maintaining equipment, materials, and squad inventory. Helps ensure student compliance documentation (physicals, insurance, activity fees) is complete prior to participation.
• Public Relations & Professionalism: Serves as a positive role model, demonstrates the ability to accept constructive criticism, and maintains professional, positive relationships with students, parents, school staff, and the community.

Physical and Mental Demands:

Work Environment: The employee constantly works around others, works with the public, and works inside and outside. The noise level in the work environment varies, but is frequently loud. The employee must be able to meet deadlines with severe time constraints.

Physical Demands: The employee is frequently required to walk and continuously required to stand. The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and waist while performing the duties of this position. The employee will occasionally be required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp tools. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision.

Mental/Motor Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee rarely performs routine work. The employee exercises flexibility (ability to shift from one task to another). Guidance and reinforcement are infrequently available. The employee frequently works within time constraints and must maintain attentiveness intensity. The employee is frequently involved in social interactions which require oral and written communication. Reasoning and exercising judgment are constantly used/required on the job.

The physical demands, work-environment characteristics, and mental/motor demands described within this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations shall be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Terms of Employment and Evaluation:

• Terms: Salary, benefits, and working conditions are determined by District Policy, Federal and State Law, and available funding.
• Evaluation: Performance is evaluated per the Master Agreement and/or the coaching/athletic handbook.

For those classified employees employed under a written contract for a specified term, nothing contained in this job description shall create a property right beyond the specified duration of the employment contract.