The #1 Ranked Staff In the United States

Every CDA coach is a national champion or master educator with a combined century of experience—fully background-checked, insured, and trusted by 2,000+ families. They've competed and won at TOC, NSDA Nationals, and beyond. Now they teach your student to build research-backed arguments that withstand cross-examination and deliver them with the confidence of someone who's won on the biggest stages.

2000+

Students Coached

600+

Bids

1000+

Rounds

A+

Staff Scorecard

150+

Championships

#1 Ranked. Proven. Elite.

2026 Travel Team Staff

Katheryne Dwyer
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Katheryne Dwyer

Director of Debate | University of Chicago

Malcolm Davis
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Malcolm Davis

Lead Travel Team Coach | Coach at the Nueva School

Ishan Dubey
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Ishan Dubey

Lead Travel Team Coach | Coach at Strake Jesuit

Henry Anastasi Scott
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Henry Anastasi Scott

Lead Travel Team Coach | University of Pittsburgh

Anika Gupta
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Anika Gupta

Lead Travel Team Coach | Harvard University

Bryce Piotrowski
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Bryce Piotrowski

Lead Travel Team Coach | Director of Debate at St. Luke's School

Do you want to work at CDA?

We put our coaches first. Always!

Shape Future Leaders

Guide students in developing critical thinking, persuasion, and public speaking skills that will serve them for life.

Freedom in Your Approach

Bring your unique coaching style to the classroom. Design lessons, run drills, and mentor students in ways that feel authentic to you.

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Your Voice Matters

We actively seek input from our coaches on curriculum, tournaments, and program direction — you're a true partner at CDA.

Grow Your Career

Access professional development, attend national competitions, and gain recognition in the debate community as part of our team.

Excited to work with our students?

Join a passionate team of educators shaping the next generation of critical thinkers and communicators. At Civic Debate Academy, we value collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to student success. Whether you're an experienced debate coach or new to teaching, you'll find a supportive environment where your expertise makes a real impact on young minds.

Three Pathways to Start

This is an opportunity to diversify your coaching toolbox

01

Travel Team (NDC)

  • The #1 ranked travel team in the country comes with the best compensation and opportunity in debate
  • Small lab sizes allow you to tailor your teaching and build a great relationship with your student debaters
  • Coach online, always on your schedule
  • Enjoy optional in-person travel opportunities to TOC tournaments across the country
02

Academy Classes

  • Teach students from beginner to varsity level in a structured, classroom-style environment
  • Focus on fundamentals like research, argumentation, and speech delivery through our proven curriculum
  • Smaller class sizes mean more meaningful connections and personalized instruction
  • Flexible online scheduling makes it easy to coach from anywhere on your own schedule
03

Camps

  • Teach students from beginner to varsity level in a structured, classroom-style environment
  • Focus on fundamentals like research, argumentation, and speech delivery through our proven curriculum
  • Smaller class sizes mean more meaningful connections and personalized instruction
  • These camps are located in person in Chicago
Perks & Benefits

Built for Our People

Flexible Schedule

Work as many, or as few hours as you want. We understand your position and your priorities–build your own schedule

Industry Leading Compensation

We only hire 10% of coaches that apply to CDA. You'll be paid like top talent–seriously, just ask our staff

Supportive Team Culture

We're a team of your peers working towards one goal! You'll have an unparralled network of coaches to learn from.

Career Growth Opportunities

We offer full-time positions with six figures in total annual compensation to work towards. Marketing, sales, engineering–we have it all

Structured Training Program

We know being a first-time coach can be daunting. Our 5 day structured training program gives you a crash course on how to transition from a great debater to a great coach

Meaningful Impact

The best part of working at CDA is your immediate impact on our students. Coaches are not shunned behind meaningless prep work, all coaches have the oppurunity to teach to live students