GOVERANCE
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP: Reasons to Serve (and Vote!)
T
his April, the National Speech & Debate Association will hold its biennial election for district leadership. The election process and resulting committees are crucial to the function and mission of the NSDA. The participation of our members is extremely important—both in the desire to serve on the District Committee and also to voice your opinion by voting for those who are best qualified and motivated to lead. With our renewed focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, we hope voters will consider how well your committee reflects the student population your district serves. Our activity naturally lends itself to civic action and engagement. Thus,
understanding that voting matters might seem redundant. However, it is still an important reminder to be aware of the election process and make it a priority among your other speech and debate tasks. We understand that serving is not without its challenges. Much is expected of a District Committee in a “normal” year, let alone in the age of COVID-19. That’s why we offer a number of resources to help set district leaders up for success.
Online Training and Support Ongoing mentoring and professional development remains a top priority for the national office. We are committed to helping members and leaders
have lasting careers as educators and coaches. If you are elected to serve the upcoming twoyear term, you will receive online training that walks new and experienced leaders alike through the various duties of the District Committee along with potential roles that various members can fill. Many of these resources can be found online at www.speechanddebate.org/ district-leader-toolkit.
Giving Back to Students Coaches may be reluctant to serve on the District Committee because it can feel like taking away time you could be spending with your team. However, helping your district as a whole can help your own students, too! Growing your district, providing judge training, working on media releases, helping to run an effective
Get Involved! All active coaches are eligible to serve on their District Committee. Starting in early April, one advisor per school may log in to www.speechanddebate.org/ account and select “NSDA Voting” from the left side menu. Complete results of the bienniel election will be announced in early May.
district tournament—all of these benefit your team as well as the teams in your area. We encourage you to let your voice be heard on these critical issues and take on a portion of the workload. Facilitating speech and debate at the district level is not a one-person job—it shouldn’t be! With such talented and motivated educators in all of our districts, each coach can play a small role to help carry the burden. We hope our dedication to equipping district leaders to serve and recognizing their immense role in our collective success can motivate you to accept a leadership role in empowering students in your district.
Additional resources for district leaders are available at www.speechanddebate.org/district-leader-toolkit.
Questions or feedback about the district election process? Contact info@speechanddebate.org. 10
ROSTRUM | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021