DIRECTOR OF CIVIC FORMATION & DEBATE

Requisition No: 885669 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: DIRECTOR OF CIVIC FORMATION & DEBATE

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 48003738 

Salary:  $80,000 - $90,000 

Posting Closing Date: 11/04/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Office of the Commissioner

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Position Title: Director of Civic Formation & Debate (SES)

Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000

SALARY IS BASED ON CANDIDATE’S EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

OFFICE CONTACT:

Cheyenne Silva; 850-245-9491

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Florida Education Foundation seeks a visionary Director to lead a statewide initiative for civic formation grounded in the Western tradition, the Great Books, and the American founding. The role combines operational leadership of Florida’s flagship speech-and-debate program, the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FDCI), with a broader mandate: restore serious engagement with the texts, ideas, and virtues that formed constitutional self-government and Western Civilization.

This is not a conventional program-management job. It is a strategy, partnership, and intellectual-leadership position charged with making Florida the national model for K-20 civic education that produces knowledgeable, articulate, and self-governing citizens.

This position is designed for someone who believes Florida’s civics and debate work should not stop at tournaments and end-of-course exams. It should recover the deeper tradition those activities were meant to serve: the formation of free citizens through the best that has been thought and said in the West.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has an open position that is responsible for executing the following functions:

Florida Civics and Debate Initiative

• Direct statewide expansion and quality of FCDI speech, debate, and civics programming across all 67 districts.
• Oversee tournaments, The Great Debate / National Civics and Debate Championship, FCDI Day at the Capitol, coach training, teacher professional development, and student leadership pipelines.
• Strengthen alignment between competitive debate and Florida’s civics, U.S. history, and civic-literacy standards.
• Grow participation, especially in underserved and rural schools, while raising the intellectual rigor of topics and judging.

Western Civilization and Great Books Mandate

• Design and scale complementary initiatives that introduce students and teachers to the Great Books and core texts of the Western tradition (Greek and Roman sources, biblical and medieval inheritance, English constitutionalism, the American founding documents, and subsequent debates that shaped the republic).
• Partner with the Florida Department of Education, Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education (UF), New College of Florida, and other classical/civic centers to build coherent K–12 to postsecondary pathways.
• Develop teacher institutes, reading groups, curriculum modules, and summer intensives that treat debate as a living practice of the Western rhetorical and civic tradition rather than a standalone activity.
• Advise on alignment with state priorities including civic-literacy requirements, Western-canon general-education expectations, FACT U.S. History, and character/citizenship formation.

STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIPS, AND STEWARDSHIP

• Serve as the Foundation’s primary civic-education strategist and public voice on these issues, working closely with the Commissioner of Education, State Board, legislative partners, and philanthropic supporters.
• Cultivate major gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, and public-private collaborations that sustain and grow the work.
• Measure impact not only by participation numbers but by civic knowledge, quality of discourse, teacher capacity, and pipeline into rigorous postsecondary civic and classical programs.
• Represent the Foundation at state and national convenings on civics, classical education, and the restoration of serious humanistic study.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Licensure/Registration/Certification/Experience or Education:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (history, political philosophy, classics, education, law, or related discipline) or equivalent demonstrated scholarly and professional achievement.
• Deep, demonstrated knowledge of the Western canon, American founding, and civic education—not merely programmatic experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder education initiatives at scale.
• Strong writing, speaking, and convening skills.
• Commitment to the Foundation’s and the state’s mission of forming citizens capable of preserving constitutional self-government.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferences will be given to:

• Experience with speech and debate, classical education, Great Books programs, or civic centers (Hamilton School, similar institutes, or K–12 classical networks).
• Track record in fundraising and philanthropic partnership.
• Familiarity with Florida’s K–20 system, standards, and policy environment.
• Classroom or faculty experience is a plus.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MISSION STATEMENT:

Every day the Department of Education works hand in hand with parents, teachers, educators, and community members to improve Florida's education system for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Our site reflects this cooperative relationship and the role that so many Floridians play in ensuring student success.

The FDOE’s mission for Florida’s Early Learning-20 education system is to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities.

Serving approximately 3 million students, 4,400 public schools, 28 colleges, 200,000 instructional staff, 46,000 college professors and administrators, and 340,000 full-time staff throughout the state, FDOE enhances programs and services for Florida’s students from early learning through college and career development. In addition, FDOE manages programs that assist individuals who are blind, visually-impaired, or disabled succeed either in school settings or careers - encouraging independence and self-sufficiency.

FDOE’s goal is to hire individuals to provide:

1. Higher Student Achievement
2. Seamless Articulation and Maximum Access
3. Skilled Workforce and Economic Development
4. Quality Services

Florida Department of Education

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

LEAVE INFORMATION: SMS/SES

• Annual Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.

• • Sick Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions shall be credited with 104 hours of sick leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of initial appointment.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. 

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

LOCATION AND REPORTING:

Tallahassee-based with regular presence in the capital and at statewide events. Reports to the Executive Director of the Florida Education Foundation and works in close coordination with Florida Department of Education leadership.

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

• • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.  

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

Equal Opportunity

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority in advance. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with section 112.0455, F.S. Successful applicants will be screened in accordance with Chapter 435, F.S., as applicable.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.