Spartanburg Day School is a nationally recognized, nonsectarian independent school enrolling approximately 600 students from 2k through grade 12. Founded in 1957 as the first independent school in Upstate South Carolina, Spartanburg Day School has provided an unparalleled educational experience for 69 years. Our unique community offers a vast array of academic and co-curricular options, all set within a charming and rapidly growing college town in the heart of the South Carolina Upstate.

Spartanburg Day School is currently seeking a Speech & Debate Faculty member for the 2026-2027 school year. Our mission is to provide a superior educational experience, within a community of trust, that prepares students for a life well lived.

This mission is upheld by five core values that inform every facet of our School:

• Excellence: Challenging every student to achieve their finest level of academic and personal success.
• Individuality: Empowering students to be their true selves in a community that promotes trust, accountability, and independence of thought.
• Leadership: Motivating students to be meaningful contributors to society who exemplify responsibility, compassion, and service.
• Curiosity: Cultivating the true desire to learn through thoughtful discovery in an environment safe for both failure and success.
• Passion: Inspiring students and faculty alike to find joy in educational exploration and embody an enthusiasm for lifelong learning.

The Day School seeks dedicated professionals whose character and instruction naturally reflect and advance these essential values within our community.

POSITION SUMMARY 

This position calls for a dedicated educator to lead and develop a comprehensive speech and debate program for middle school students. The Program Head will be responsible for teaching, coaching, and administering all aspects of the program, fostering a positive environment for student growth in public speaking, critical thinking, and argumentation. This position will also include a class teaching research methods and presentations skills. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Oversee the vision, curriculum and recruitment for the middle school speech & debate program, with a focus on programmatic continuity and student retention as they matriculate into the Upper School.
• Develop and implement a curriculum that teaches students the fundamentals of speech and debate, including research, argumentation, refutation, and public speaking.
• Have working knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and knowledge of how to help students find credible sources of information. 
• Coach students on their arguments, cases, and speech delivery, helping them develop their skills for various competitive formats.
• Empower students to have the ability to have civil discourse when discussing challenging topics with people who may hold different points of view.  
• Strategically recruit and retain middle school students, ensuring the program is inclusive and accessible to all interested learners.
• Act as a mentor, guiding students in ethical conduct, sportsmanship, and academic rigor.
• Help students build confidence and competence in complex tasks like cross-examination, and collaborative teamwork.
• Connect with other schools' debate programs for scrimmages or competitions, and potentially work with external organizations. 

KEY STRENGTHS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in Education, Communications, English, or a related field.
• Deep knowledge of competitive speech and debate formats (e.g., NSDA, middle school leagues).
• Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with middle school students, understanding their developmental needs and learning styles.
• Prior experience teaching or coaching speech and debate, preferably at the middle or high school level.
• Proven track record of successfully managing a co-curricular program.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to careers@sdsgriffin.org  

*Salary will commensurate with education and experience  

Spartanburg Day School is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or veteran status. 

About Spartanburg Day School

Spartanburg Day School is a nationally recognized, nonsectarian independent school enrolling approximately 600 students from 2k through grade 12. Founded in 1957 as the first independent school in Upstate South Carolina, Spartanburg Day School has provided an unparalleled educational experience for 69 years. Our unique community offers a vast array of academic and co-curricular options, all set within a charming and rapidly growing college town in the heart of the South Carolina Upstate. As a newcomer to the Spartanburg area, especially if you are moving from bigger cosmopolitan cities, the small-town feel may surprise you, but it is the ‘small town feel’ that attracts many people to relocate to the area. Spartanburg is laid back, friendly, walkable, community-oriented, and infused with nature. It is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Downtown Spartanburg has seen a revitalization in the past decade. There is a flurry of activity happening in downtown Spartanburg in the past couple of years. This includes new businesses, new residential projects, public infrastructure developments, special events, and future development plans. With these redevelopments, Spartanb...urg has blossomed into an amazing city filled with community events and exciting things to do. Schools, business sectors, healthcare, shopping, a new baseball stadium with their own team, and dining –Spartanburg has it all.

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Connections working at Spartanburg Day School