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Coaches & Mentors

Policy debate is an exciting activity that brings young people together to discuss politics, economics, and philosophy. It enriches students' academic development and empowers them to speak up about important issues.

We are seeking teachers who might be interested in leading a debate team to meet with PUDL. No prior debate experience is required! PUDL will work with you to make debate work for your students. Coaches will expand their professional, employable skill set, while getting to watch their students succeed at a new, fun, and enriching activity.

PUDL partnerships support debate classes and tournaments to secondary school in the greater Portland area. For the first time, many Portland schools will have access to the same benefits seen by 19 other Urban Debate Leagues across the country: improved grades and graduation rates, college admission and readiness, and leadership/emotional intelligence skills.

Long term National Association for Urban Debate Leagues' (NAUDL) program evaluation has demonstrated because they debate,

• 90% of students that participate in urban debate programs graduate from high school on time,

• 85% enroll in college, and

• every semester that a student debates, his/her grades improve.

We are confident in the power of debate to change student’s lives. But we can't do it alone. If you are teacher interested in a PUDL debate team, please fill out this interest form or contact us.