Speech and Debate Instructor/Coach (Full-time for 2024-2025)

Overview of School:

Sonoma Academy is an independent high school located in Santa Rosa, CA on a 34-acre campus, surrounded by 1,000 acres of protected open space, at the base of Taylor Mountain. Founded in 2001, it provides an engaging, challenging, and innovative college preparatory education and a supportive community for motivated learners from Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Lake, and Mendocino counties. The school currently serves 330 students in grades 9 through 12 and is increasing its enrollment each year. Of our 330 students, over 30% self-identify as students of color, and our students come from 80+ middle schools, ensuring a broad mixture of students from all over the greater North Bay Area.

Our Mission: Sonoma Academy calls its students to be creative, ethical, and committed to learning. The school nurtures inspiring teachers and engages with the surrounding community, and its students communicate across cultures as they prepare to become leaders in a dynamic world.

Sonoma Academy’s Commitment to Diversity: We believe that learning occurs best in a connected community. Diversity, equity, and inclusivity are essential to an education in which all members of our community thrive. We are committed to cultivating a diverse community that is conscious and welcoming of difference, dedicated to investigating and advancing equity, and engages with our local and global community. If you would like to join us in our work, we would welcome your application. As we are deeply committed to having a staffulty (staff and faculty) and student body which reflects the rich diversity within the North Bay, we strongly encourage candidates from BIPOC and/or educators from communities that are historically underrepresented to apply.

For more information on programs and philosophy, please visit our website: www.sonomaacademy.org.

Speech and Debate Coach Key Responsibilities:

This Speech and Debate Instructor/Coach will lead the school’s Speech and Debate team and will teach Speech and Debate courses in the Academic program. This position will be responsible for supporting the development of skills from the beginner to advanced level and managing a program that competes locally and nationally, leading after-school practices, and coordinating competitions. Depending on experience, the successful candidate will also have responsibilities that include supporting other program areas across the school or teaching Academic courses. Faculty responsibilities typically also include leading Intersession, Advisory, and/or Clubs as well as chaperoning trips, retreats, and student events.

Required Skills and Experiences:

• BA in relevant academic field

• Minimum three years of experience leading Speech and Debate teams, including Policy Debate, or equivalent experience in a related field

• Passionate about teaching high school students

• Excited to develop and refine a program that is student-centered, highly engaging and supports development of participants of all levels

• Thinks creatively about pedagogy and exhibits commitment to continued professional growth in those areas

• Works collaboratively as a member of a connected community to deliver a range of programs, including Intersession, Advisory, Exploratory, DEI work, retreats and more.

• Committed to working in a community of diverse students and learners; actively supports adolescent growth and well-being

• Practices cultural competency in all aspects of school life

• Capable of teaching both remotely and in person

• Flexibility, resilience, good humor

Desired Skills and Experiences:

• Advanced degree (MA, PhD, or equivalent) in a relevant academic field

Compensation:

• The salary range for this position is $60,000–$90,000 (based on experience) and is competitive with independent schools throughout the Bay Area.

Perks of working at SA:

• Comprehensive benefits package, including 100% paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees with several plan options to meet individuals’ specific needs

• Generous retirement plan contribution of 7% of base salary. Please note that this does not require an employee’s matching contribution.

• Commitment to professional development, including generously- funded training opportunities and a dedicated “exploratory fund” up to $450 annually for learning opportunities unrelated to work.

• Healthy and nutritious lunch service offered at no cost to employees during the school year (when on campus and our kitchen operational)

• A professional work environment defined by teamwork, collegiality, trust, agility, and altruism.

Work Environment:

• This position operates in a professional office environment at a private, independent high school.

• This is a full-time position with planned evening and weekend work.

Sonoma Academy is an equal opportunity employer. Sonoma Academy does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.