Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility
Nonprofit leadership and management
Speech communication and debate education
Theatre education
Pedagogy of teaching
Secondary education
Educational standards
Parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order
Social media and web presence
Implemented equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility approaches to foster belonging among program participants
Facilitated strategic planning in 2021, culminating with an impending name change in 2022
Formalized practices for transparency, accountability, insurance/risk, and IRS standing
Developed online approaches to sustain programming during the COVID-19 pandemic
Expanded interscholastic middle/high school programming in theatre, speech, and debate
Designed and launched a new program in interscholastic film
Incorporated EdTA Thespian programming in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Theatre Festival
Expanded revenue streams from sponsors and grants; operated budgetary surplus each year to build reserve fund
Built partnerships with likeminded organizations to support advocacy efforts
Automated/streamlined operational processes for efficiency and cost savings
Facilitated strategic planning process to strengthen position of organization
Incepted summer institute curriculum, infused with leadership seminars and interactive digital resources, including student practice videos and journals
Direct largest and most innovative Congressional Debate Tournament of the school year
Taught Public Speaking in the Department of Communication
Coached forensic public speaking, limited preparation, literary interpretation, and parliamentary debate
Taught middle and high school speech and debate courses in international programs as well as traditional People’s Republic of China schools in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province
Consulted with the head office in Shanghai to further develop marketing and programming
Developed resources, professional development programming, and coordinated strategic partnerships
Developed/wrote curriculum, led training workshops in China (May 2012)
Built/expanded middle school programming; directed National Middle School Tournament
* Left full-time employment in Aug. 2013 to teach in China; consultant, Feb.-Jun. 2014
Taught International Baccalaureate theatre, acting and speech/communication
Served on Learning Team and Educational Plan Committees
Guided students to state/national debate and speech honors, including the only three national titles in Wisconsin since 1985, and National Debate School of Excellence in 2005
Directed several invitational speech/debate tournaments, including corporate/community outreach
Taught freshman English, Shakespeare, and theatre; volunteered for other school functions
Constituent relations and aldermanic liaison to committees and community organizations
Worked in Common Council’s Public Relations & Communications office, 1999-2000, 2003
Enrolled in the Doctorate of Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) program (2025-)
Enrolled in the Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management (MNLM) program (2023-2025)
This program offers quarterly day-long webinars with such featured speakers as Dr. Bettina Love, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Dr. Robin DiAngelo, and others (2023-present)
July 2019, Colorado College: participated in a seminar facilitated by Glenn E. Singleton, sponsored by the National Speech & Debate Association
Ripon, Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce symposium
International Baccalaureate Theatre Diploma Program training workshop, Summer 2007, St. Pete Beach, Florida.
Teaching for Understanding, online professional development certificate (non-credit), Fall 2005
Teaching certificate, July 2004; Graduate courses, Communication and Education
Wisconsin teaching license (expired 7/2010): grades 9-12, speech (320) and theatre/drama (325)
Bachelor of Science in Communication, Public Campaigns, August 1999
Completed significant coursework in theatre; involved in several performance roles and production positions with the Carroll Players, as well as completing a significant centennial archival project and commemorative booklet for the Carroll Players Centennial
Communication Senior Project Award: Public Relations Internship, Milwaukee City Hall, 1999
Cultural exchange theatrical tour in 1997 to the former Soviet Union, Czech Republic, and Ireland
2018-present, Board of Directors – Competition & Rules Committee Co-Chair (2020-2022), External Affairs Committee (2020-present), Nominations Committee (2024); Teaching Standards Committee; Pedagogy Ad Hoc Committee; Equity Working Group; National Tournament Rules Referee.
Ex Officio Board Member, 2014-present; Website Administrator
Congressional Debate Tournament co-administrator, 2011-2012; 2018-present
Congressional Debate Advisory Committee, 2005-present; Congressional Debate Tournament Administrator, 2008-2014 and 2024-present
Speech, Debate, and Theatre Advisory Committee, 2018-2022
Theatre Standards Writing Committee, 2017-2018
2009-2016; Board of Directors; Public Relations/Website Administrator, 2010-2016
Governance Committee – 2010-2016
NCA Elementary and Secondary Education Section – co-authored resolution urging speech communication as high school graduation requirement, taught by instructors trained in communication
Secretary/Website Administrator, 2010-2012
Board of Directors, 2003-2012 (founding member)
Executive Committee, 2000-2011; Website Administrator; Congressional Debate Tournament Director
Board of Directors, 2007-2009; Chair, Education Committee
President, 2005-2008
Consulting Educator, National Speech & Debate Association and U.S. Department of State, 2004
Helped design curriculum, materials for students/teachers from eight international student delegations
National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Hall of Fame (2024)
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS): National Citation for Outstanding Speech, Debate, and Theatre Educator (2021; awarded 2022)
NSDA Distinguished Service Plaque, Third Honors (2022)
NFHS: Outstanding Speech, Debate, and Theatre Educator, Section IV-Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin (2020).
Emory University, Barkley Forum for High Schools: Gold Key Society (2019)
NSDA Third Diamond Award (2015)
NSDA Distinguished Service Plaque, Second Honors (2015)
NSDA Accreditation: Advanced Professional Speech & Debate Educator (2012)
NSDA Accreditation: Advanced Professional Speech & Debate Coach (2012)
National Speech & Debate Association Circle of Champion Coach (2006)
Wisconsin Forensic Coaches’ Association Coach of the Year (2006)
Milwaukee Public Schools Educator Citation (2006)
Milwaukee Common Council Resolution (2000, 2006)
Jacobi, A. J. (2024, September 13). Keynote: Putting the pieces of the puzzle together [Conference presentation]. Communication, Speech, and Theatre Association of North Dakota. Mandan, ND, United States. https://sites.google.com/view/cstand/
Jacobi, A. J. (2024, March 17). Power of social studies & speech: Beyond the school day [Conference presentation]. Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies Convention. Madison, WI, United States. https://wcss24.sched.com/event/1Xmcv/power-of-social-studies-speech-beyond-the-school-day
Jacobi, A. J., Peterson-Longmore, A., & Neenah High School students. (2024, January 19). Interscholastic debate: Balancing perspectives and boosting achievement [Conference presentation]. Wisconsin Association of School Boards: Wisconsin State Education Convention. Milwaukee, WI, United States. https://wasb.org/meeting-and-events/convention/
Ronald, A. & Jacobi, A. J. (2023, September 18). Providing and promoting state association resources [Conference presentation]. National Federation of State High School Associations: Performing Arts Conference. Denver, CO, United States. https://nfhs.org/resources/conferences-meetings/performing-arts-conference/
Jacobi, A. J. (2023, September 9). Keynote: Dream it, be it, speak it, teach it [Conference presentation]. Speech Professional Education Alliance of Kentucky. Danville, KY, United States. https://kyspeak.org/
Jacobi, A. J. (2023, March 12). Engage society’s problems and solutions through debate [Conference presentation]. Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies Convention. Madison, WI, United States. https://wcss23.sched.com/event/1FVE2/diverse-perspectives-through-debate
Riggins, J. & Jacobi, A. J. (2022, September 19). Styles of debate and what policies make it work for your state [Conference presentation]. National Federation of State High School Associations: Performing Arts Conference. Denver, CO, United States. https://nfhs.org/resources/conferences-meetings/performing-arts-conference/
Jacobi, A. J. (2021, September 16). Keynote: A glance in the rearview mirror before zooming to our destination [Conference presentation]. Communication, Speech, and Theatre Association of North Dakota. Mandan, ND, United States. https://sites.google.com/view/cstand/
Jacobi, A. J. (2020, September 12). Keynote: Framing speech and debate amidst two plagues, racism and COVID-19 [Conference presentation]. Kansas Speech Communication Association, Online Conference. https://www.ksspeech.org/conference/
Jacobi, A. J. (2018, July 30). Reflective journaling empowers radiant voices [Conference presentation]. National Speech & Debate Association Education Conference. Phoenix, AZ, United States. https://www.speechanddebate.org/national-conference-2018/
Jacobi, A. J. (2018, July 29). Judging and assessing voices radiantly: Pedagogical evaluation [Conference presentation]. National Speech & Debate Association Education Conference. Phoenix, AZ, United States. https://www.speechanddebate.org/national-conference-2018/
Jacobi, A. J. (2017, October 4). Keynote: Information literacy [Conference presentation]. Information Literacy Professional Development Conference held by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech & Dramatic Arts Association, and Wisconsin Humanities Council. La Crosse, WI, United States. https://infoliteracy.whsfa.org/home
Jacobi, A. J. (2017, September 18). Effective ballot writing [Conference presentation]. National Federation of State High School Associations: Performing Arts Conference. Chicago, IL, United States. https://nfhs.org/resources/conferences-meetings/performing-arts-conference/
Jacobi, A. J. (2017, August 26). Elevating achievement: Maximizing your squad for both in-state and NSDA competition [Conference presentation]. National Speech & Debate Association Education Conference. Phoenix, AZ, United States. https://www.speechanddebate.org/national-conference-2018/
Baker, J. S. & Jacobi A. J. (2015, January). “Applying the code of honor to coaching: Teaching to the trophy.” Rostrum, 89(3), 26-29. https://www.speechanddebate.org/rostrum-archive/
Bauschard, S., Jacobi, A. J., Pape, D., Luong, M. A., Galloway, R., Opsata, B., & Perkins, D. J. (2013). Introduction to debate: A public forum debate handbook. Beijing World Publishing Corporation.
Jacobi, A. J. (2013, July 1). Debating, speaking, and performing: Spark cross-curricular critical thinking to meet the Common Core. [Poster presentation]. National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference. https://publiccharters.org/conference/
Jacobi, A. J. (2013, February). Speech, literature, social studies, and the Common Core. Rostrum, 87(6), 22-25. https://www.speechanddebate.org/rostrum-archive/
Jacobi, A. J. (2012, May). Speech and debate in the high school classroom [Conference presentation].” Dipont Education, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Jacobi, A. J. & Page, M. (2012, April 23). How co-curricular speech and debate programs can bolster standardized test scores, literacy, critical thinking, and 21st century skills [Conference presentation]. National School Boards Association National Conference, Boston, MA, United States. https://www.nsba.org/Events
Jacobi, A. J. (2010, August). Advocating high school speech communication education: Sowing stronger seeds for the future. In D. Cronn-Mills & L. Schnoor (Eds.), Conference Proceedings: National Developmental Conference on Individual Events, 5(1), 121-122. Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/ndcieproceedings/vol5/iss1/27/
Wunn, J. S., Billman, J., & Jacobi, A. J. (2009, November 12). Communication education in the information age [Conference presentation]. National Communication Association, Chicago, IL, United States. https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/nca/nca09/index.php?cmd=Online+Program+View+Session&selected_session_id=89606&PHPSESSID=rujrlclsa5ng72tujurogmuq9h
Jacobi, A. J. (2009). Coaching guide: Directing debate & speech activities. National Speech & Debate Association. https://www.speechanddebate.org/
Jacobi, A. J. (2007) Student congress debate. Rosen Publishing. https://rosenpublishing.com/product/student-congress-debate