I taught seventh grade social studies at Breakthrough! It was an incredibly amazing and meaningful experience!
I’m a Breakthrough/Summerbridge alum and I am a 3rd time returning teaching fellow.
My experiences as both allow me to say that with complete confidence, this program is effective in its goal to provide equitable support and resources to students and families like my own and so many more.
When I think about Summerbridge, I think family. The experience and support that my mom and I have received for 7+ years and continue to receive is a privilege and as cheesy as this sounds, had it not been for Summerbridge, I would not have had the opportunities to attend a rigorous high school and college. Had it not been for Summerbridge, I would not have learned that my passions are with working in education with youth, especially students of color. Had it not been for Summerbridge, I wouldn’t have the friends and mentors that I call family today.
I taught with Breakthrough in Philadelphia a few summers ago. What an experience, and what an incredible organization. The students I met have so much promise and I can't wait to see where they end up. The teachers and staff I worked with were all so passionate about Breakthrough's mission and made deep personal investments to make Breakthrough the best program they could for the students. These days I'm pursuing a career outside of education, but my time with Breakthrough will always stick with me as one of the most significant experiences I've had.
This program is one of the best things that I have done with my summer. As someone who is very passionate about education and seeing students grow this program does this in spectacular fashion. It aims to close the opportunity gap between those students who come from lower resourced communities and those who may already have opportunities that others do not. This gives the students a head start on their next school year as the majority of the curriculum is directly related to state's standards. I would not trade that summer in for anything and only wish the best for this program, its students, its admin, and those behind the scenes that make it function in the extraordinary fashion that it does.
Breakthrough was the best part of my summer! This organization has changed my life, and the lives of others!
I had a fantastic time working for Breakthrough Santa Fe. This program is deeply inspiring for students and fantastic at preparing future teachers.The professional staff holds everyone to a high standard, yet the programming and support make each activity and class so fun. It is the quintessential summer job for anyone interested in education and any student who dreams of graduating college when the odds are stacked against them.
The first day I stepped into a Breakthrough classroom, I had no idea what to expect from the summer. Once I jumped in all at once, I realized my deep love for teaching, collaborating with co-teachers, and most importantly, my kids. Despite long hours and tons of preparation, it was never something I dreaded doing because I loved my kids so dearly and would do anything to ensure their quality education. Because of Breakthrough, my professional goals and the things that are important to me personally have changed. Rather than pursing a MD or PhD right out of college, I am moving to DC to work for Urban Teachers with one of my co-teachers from Houston, Courtney (pictured right).
This past summer I had the extreme pleasure of working as a teaching fellow for Breakthrough Houston (KIPP Connect location). I can honestly say this program has and will continue to change lives. Over a period of 8 weeks I have seen myself grow tremendously! I came in believing I was going to change the lives of my students, but in actuality this program gave me an even better gift. It helped me develop life long skills, and those skills gave me the ability to always give my best efforts. When I first heard about this program's mission, to prepare high academic students, who may not have the necessary resources, for college admission, I knew immediately I had to be a part of this program. Where I am from we do not have many programs that strive on the pureness of wanting to better students in their community, and assist them in making their dreams become reality. That along demonstrates how much Breakthrough truly cares about their people. Becoming a part of the breakthrough family was one of the best decisions I have every made, and I will forever be grateful for it.
Waking up at 6 a.m. every morning was a tough task, but it quickly became not only a habit but a joyful experience. Greeting my students with high-energy chants, high-fives, and inspirational words empowered me as much as it empowered them. In class, we became a small community dedicated to learning. During the remainder of each day, I grew closer to a vast majority of students inside and out of my classroom simply by being goofy and listening to whatever they had to say. I'll always look back warmly at how much those students inspired and brightened my life as much as I did the same for them.
My whole life, I’ve been “good” at school. I was never afraid to raise my hand in class, I always participated, and attempted the assignments, even if I didn’t like them. I never really understood students who didn’t do this. Obviously, it was what the teachers wanted, and it was easy enough to give them. My biggest fear was disappointing an authority figure so I always did what was expected of me. I’ll admit that I thought students who didn’t participate in class were less intelligent, so I tried to distance myself from them. Obviously, this implicit bias needed to be challenged. This is why I am eternally grateful for a student I taught at Breakthrough this summer. For the sake of anonymity, I’ll call him “N.” This is the story of how N changed my mind, impacted my life, and challenged my views on the world of education.
N is a very quiet student. He is always hesitant to participate, and he only engages when he is specifically called on. He’s also very soft spoken and mumbles through his answers. However quiet or jumbled his answers are, his intelligence shines through. He finds a way for every person in the room to hang on to every word he says. N was in my Block C class, which is one of the rowdier groups I’ve ever lead. I constantly felt like I had to be their disciplinarian rather than their friend. Because of this, I thought that I was failing their class. I wanted to find a way to fix the relationship I thought I was ruining, but I couldn’t see a way to do this. I was so worried that I had done these students an injustice and would be a reminder of the failings of the system. I was heartbroken at the thought.
However, at the end of the program, every student in Block C improved their post-test score. N improved by almost 20%. Numerically, I hadn’t failed these students. I was worried about the rest of their experience until the very last day of programming. During our final gratitude activity, N came up and gave me a big hug. He said that I was the best English teacher he’s ever had.
The whole summer, I tried to meet these students where they’re at. I knew that I couldn’t counteract every aspect of the system that has failed them, but I could at least provide a constant source of unconditional positive regard in their lives. This, I learned, is not something that the world of education values. The world of education often fails these students by penalizing them, or writing them off as lesser students. N taught me that a student may be quiet and learning. He reminded me why I love working with students, and that everyone needs a source of positivity. Because of this student, I now know that teaching is the career for me, and that the best way to revolutionize the world of education is within. I hope to do N justice by carrying these lessons forward into my future classrooms and showing every student that I care for them as individuals, regardless of their volume level.
The Breakthrough Collaborative gave me one of the best summers of my life. As a teaching fellow, I spent my summer teaching science to a deserving group of seventh graders. I could tell that my students improved not only academically, but also in terms of personal development. It was so rewarding to see them develop the confidence and leadership abilities they will need to succeed in high school and beyond. Breakthrough creates a positive, collaborative learning environment that all schools should seek to emulate.
I was a teaching fellow at Breakthrough Greater Boston this past summer and was blown away by the organization! I have worked at a few non-profits with kids, and Breakthrough has given me the best training and classroom experience I have ever received. The leadership was incredible and always set an example of kindness and excellence, which trickled down to the teaching fellows and students. With everyone putting forth their best in a welcoming space, the students were able to learn so much and feel truly accepted.
Had an amazing experience over the summer as a teaching fellow! I grew as a person and knew for sure that I wanted to be a teacher in the future
Working with Breakthrough was absolutely life-changing! Being able to impact so many lives and have fun was very fulfilling. Breakthrough has given me so much and given so much to all the scholars, nationwide. I had the opportunity to instruct 6th grade English this past summer and I had an absolute blast! The scholars were great, my coworkers were wonderful and my supervisors were incredible! Summer 2019 is a summer I’ll never forget!
Breakthrough provided me with an unforgettable experience. I was able to teach chemistry to rising eighth grade students in the San Jose district. I went in thinking that the impact I have on them as a teacher will be tremendous and nothing could compare to it. Little did I know that the impact they would have on me would be much more. This nonprofit connects future teachers and students early on with a wholesome experience.
I taught 7th Grade Writing at Breakthrough New Orleans and it was a truly life-changing experience for me. I had the opportunity to build relationships with so many incredible people (students and teachers alike), and appreciate both the rewards and challenges of teaching. However, the most important benefit of Breakthrough is not to its teachers, but rather the students we served every day. I look back at my summer as a Breakthrough teacher knowing we made differences in the lives of many amazing children.
I taught 7th-grade math at Breakthrough Miami and it was a life-changing summer. Breakthrough does amazing work. Breakthrough serves kids that, through no fault of their own, are not being adequately served by their schools. It provides them with the support they need to excel. It also provides future educators, like me, with the opportunity to develop as educators while using our unique position as college students to connect with students. Breakthrough is doing invaluable work.
Teaching with Breakthrough Miami this summer was a profoundly transformative experience for me. I am so thankful to have spent eight weeks learning and growing in an environment that pushed me out of my comfort zone, surrounded by a community of other hardworking and dedicated individuals, of all backgrounds and interests, but brought together by our shared commitment to and passion for equal access to educational opportunities. I want for everyone my age, regardless of whether or not they plan to pursue a career in the field of education, to have the opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of teaching and mentoring middle schoolers--students who are in a critical stage of development that many of us often try to forget we ever went through.
As a teaching fellow at Breakthrough Collaborative at the Cincinnati site this past year, I can say first-hand that this program exceeded my expectations in every sense. I had the opportunity to work as a full-time history and German teacher to seventh graders and the knowledge it gave me is unparalleled to any other opportunity I've had. As a future educator this program gave me a true glimpse into the planning and carrying-out of classroom teaching. Beyond the sheer experience, the relationships I built were incredible. From the dean team, to my fellow teachers, to the students and their families, Breakthrough is truly a family.
I taught 9th grade literature this past summer at Breakthrough Boston. It was the happiest summer of my life, and also the most tiring. The happiness came largely from the people I was around: my fellow teachers, the professional staff, and my students. Every individual in each of those groups made me laugh, pushed me, and supported me, and each one of them demonstrated incredible drive. Days at Breakthrough are long, but my time at Breakthrough was too short. Working as part of such an industrious and committed team just felt great. Our commitment was to our students' academic and personal growth, to our own professional and personal growth, and to the pursuit of educational equity and wider social justice. Each of those areas supported all of the others. Every moment at Breakthrough, even difficult or unpredictable situations, was handled with warmth and positivity. I feel proud and lucky to be a part of Breakthrough, but mostly I feel committed to fighting for its goals . This organization mobilizes those inside it--students and teachers--to bring more of their good into the world, in a way that I can only imagine is unparalleled.
I've had two summers working with Breakthrough Collaborative (New York 2016 and San Francisco 2017) and I am thoroughly convinced that Breakthrough is one of the leading, if not THE leading, undergraduate teaching programs that exist. The program is structured to not only support college students in gaining hands-on, authentic teaching experience, but also to equip amazingly ambitious elementary, middle, and high school students for their upcoming educational endeavors. As teaching fellows we have the opportunity to write lesson plans and execute them each day, just as a full-time teacher would. One of the aspects of Breakthrough that helped me grow the most was its use of instructional coaches. Our coach would observe our classes multiple times a week and meet one-on-one with us to discuss how we could improve in the classroom. Their feedback was very constructive and I could see myself growing incredibly as a teacher through their close work with us. My favorite part about Breakthrough, however, are the students we work with. These bright, young individuals are high-achieving students from underserved backgrounds. Their joy and motivation to learn and the dedication they have to the program is unparalleled to anything I've seen before. They definitely make the whole experience worth the hard work we put into the program. Lastly, we are supported tirelessly by our wonderful administration team and fellow teachers. The admin take special care to hire individuals who are encouraging and enthusiastic about teaching and social change. Working alongside individuals who are passionate about the same issues I am helped further my love for education.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to join Breakthrough Greater Boston as a Teaching Fellow. Although I had worked with young students before in volunteer organizations, this was my first experience leading my own classroom. It was a very satisfying summer and it showed me two things: 1) I want to be an Educator after I graduate, and 2) I want to empower young students in urban settings. I went into Breakthrough believing that I would set my students on the path to success and “save” them, but I was completely wrong. The students that I connected with were already bright, ambitious, and hard-working; Breakthrough was only a means to give them Opportunity to improve themselves. They taught me so much about what it means to be a leader, and I miss them everyday.
My summer as a teaching fellow has been a rewarding experience. I built bonds within this inclusive and diverse Breakthrough community that I will cherish forever. I helped students grow while growing alongside them. Your time management, communication and leadership skills are enhanced within this program. The skills one acquires are easily transferable to another organization, activity or internship. I will continue advocating for educational equity and I have Breakthrough to be grateful to for giving me the opportunity firsthand to advance this lifelong goal.
I absolutely loved my summer with Breakthrough Central Texas! I spent the summer building life-changing relationships with other teachers, employees of Breakthrough, and students. It was evident that Breakthrough cared for every student that walked through their doors and that they would do everything possible to make their dream of attending college a reality.
My summer at Breakthrough Cincinnati changed my life. I was a teaching fellow at my site. I met so many wonderful people dedicated to the advancement of our students and staff. I grew both personally and professionally during my time at Breakthrough. Before the summer I was looking forward to gaining professional development, learning how to lesson plan and getting experience teaching. During my time in the program I received everything I was looking for and more. It was a lot of work but it was the most rewarding things I have done yet. The program offered the kids, my coworkers and me an invaluable experience and I'm sure every site in the collaborative offers the same thing.
While I was never a Breakthrough student myself, I started as a Teaching Fellow at Breakthrough Miami when I was 15 years old, and returned 4 years later to Breakthrough New York. Now that I am 20, I have begun to try and extricate Breakthrough from who I am. I don't think it's possible. Breakthrough is home. I grew up clapping the spirit check and internalizing the BREAKY values. I returned both in high school and college to that community having applied the Breakthrough lessons of empathy, excitement, and excellence, ready to soak in more and give back my own version of what I had already taken. I have built some of my most valuable relationships within the Breakthrough collaborative and I have always felt supported by the organization as a whole.
My two summers teaching and leading at Breakthrough Boston have been the absolute best summers of my existence. I have grown to know and understand the magical and transformative work of an educator, the complexity of professionalism and leadership and the power and impact of a single interaction. Because of my summer at Breakthrough, I now feel more equipped to enter a classroom knowing I have gained the tools that are needed to promote a environment that ensures the success of all students.
Breakthrough is such a powerful and impactful organization. The teaching fellowship program was a phenomenal experience, connecting me with my students, fellow teaching fellows and instructional coaches. It really reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in education. I would recommend Breakthrough to anyone who has any interest not only in education, but any political or public policy student as well.
I was a teaching fellow at Breakthrough Collaborative in Austin this past summer. It was an valuable summer experience for personal growth, but also for relationship building and on-the-job training as an educator. Now that the summer is over, I feel confident in my abilities as a leader, an advocator, and a lifelong learner, and I encourage others to join this loving community.
Breakthrough is a life-changing experience that brings you closer to your students, colleagues, and supervisors. I have grown exponentially through Breakthrough as a teacher and as a person. My experience with Breakthrough reminded me of my goals and helped me follow through with them.
I have worked with Breakthrough for two summers already and I have had a blast! Breakthrough is amazing! The community is so supportive and helpful, the learning experience is wonderful. i would recommend to anyone!
I worked at Breakthrough at Norfolk Academy this summer and loved it! Each Breakthrough site has something special to offer, which is great. The organization is very professional, yet every aspect is also so fun. Breakthrough Collaborative really makes an impact on kids' lives, and ensures that they will be prepared for the the rest of their educational careers.
My summer teaching experience at Breakthrough of San Francisco (BTSF) was life-changing, exceeding all of my expectations coming into the program. Initially, I only expected to be challenged as a growing teacher; I envisioned myself studying and applying best teaching practices in a classroom on a daily basis. This expectation was obviously met through excellent teacher training, pre-summer and throughout the program, from BTSF's directors and my instructional coach. However, the teaching fellowship pushed me in ways that I had never been pushed before: in addition to academic planning, I contributed to event planning, collaborative grade-level meetings, student advising, elective planning, and most of all, community building. The greatest lesson that I learned from Breakthrough is the importance of community. Through all of the rigor and stress, I always felt supported by the entire BTSF community. The various kinds of support that flowed from the admins and my fellow teachers--from individual check-ins to random acts of kindness--were as relentless as my academic and extracurricular responsibilities. Breakthrough has given me the tools to succeed as a beginning educator, while also allowing me to build life-changing relationships with a diverse cohort of passionate and gifted individuals. Breakthrough has empowered me to fight for educational equity alongside other social justice educators, within and beyond the classroom. I will always cherish my Breakthrough experience, and above all, I look forward to spreading the word about Breakthrough as a 2017-2018 campus ambassador and life-long alumnus.
This summer at Breakthrough has been one of the most rewarding and memorable summers of my life. I developed such positive relationships with coworkers and staff members because everyone was so dedicated to teaching Breakthrough students and working to overcome the education gap. All of my coworkers were approachable, encouraging, and willing to help me with my teaching in any way. As a teacher, I was so glad to see students grow academically throughout the summer. The students at Breakthrough were intelligent and dedicated, and it was so inspiring to witness their hard work and drive to succeed. Breakthrough has convinced me to pursue a future career in either education, and I plan on either teaching at or staying in touch with the program well into my future.
This last summer, I worked at Breakthrough New York as a Teaching Fellow. I was completely transformed by the program and was just constantly amazed. It's already such a difficult task to find a place that are willing to let undergraduates teach. But on top of that, the community you create there is just mind blowing. We are all such different and diverse people, yet a passion for education is all we need to bond and create close friendships. The students we serve are also extremely motivated to work hard and try. So if teaching seems a bit daunting to you, do not fear, because half the work is already done! If you have any remote chance of wanting to teach, come here! It taught me many useful technical and professional skills and confirmed my teaching career path.
I worked as a teaching fellow with Breakthrough Collaborative this past summer. This organization, from the directors to the students, had a tremendous impact on my personal and professional growth. It gave me the opportunity to try, first-hand, teaching in a classroom as well as opened my eyes as to what the field of education encompasses. At Breakthrough I worked on my organization skills, communication techniques, and really learned the value of patience and hard work. This experience is one that I would recommend to all undergrads, both those interested in teaching and not, as Breakthrough has something to offer everyone.
I had the honor of working at the Fort Worth site. I was a seventh grade literature teacher.
The relationships that I made outweighed the lessons I learned. Not to discredit the lessons that I learned, or the lessons that I taught, but the people I met and worked alongside made my entire summer worth it. From supportive administration to able fellows, from enthusiastic students to experienced instructional coaches, every person I interacted with helped me this summer in one way or another.
This summer taught me the importance of expectations and classroom culture, and reminded me the value in having fun too. When thinking about my summer it's hard to pick one great day because they all compete for that top spot.
An amazing experience! The program, support, and community are all wonderful! I volunteered at Breakthrough Miami for 4 years and was a teaching fellow there in 2016. As an aspiring teacher, this was an invaluable experience. I highly recommend Breakthrough Collaborative for anyone interested in teaching or supporting educational equity!
I was a Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough Collaborative, in their Greater Boston region this summer. Working for Breakthrough was by far one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. I had the honor of teaching rising eighth graders both how to write Document Based Question essays (DBQs) as well as how to engage in writing memoirs. However, in working with my students, I learned more about myself than expected. The work was challenging, but Breakthrough provided me with the tools and resources I needed to succeed. We had instructional coaches helping us throughout the way, and the professional staff was diligent, hardworking, caring, and fun. The Breakthrough team made it a joy to come into work every morning at 7AM, and that is saying a lot given that I love my sleep. Breakthrough Collaborative is a wonderful nonprofit with an incredible mission, and I am so grateful to have been a part of their story.
This past summer I worked as a teaching fellow for Breakthrough Houston. It absolutely changed my life. I have never grown so much so quickly. The leaders of the program are brilliant role models who truly value educational equality and truly want this program and everyone in it to succeed. Everyone was dedicated to the work and dedicated to the community. The students and teachers truly love being there and this makes every moment of every day an opportunity to grow. When it comes to helping students succeed, this program is doing some of the best work possible. Breakthrough will close the opportunity gap in education, and every student will prosper!
Being a teaching fellow with breakthrough this summer has helped me in more was than one. I can honestly say that the program has helped me grow as a person and future educator. The I chose to work with breakthrough this summer because I wanted experience in the classroom. I had no idea I would be making life long bonds with the students and other teaching fellows. There were many good times that I will cherish forever. I never knew that two months teaching and working with complete strangers would have such an impact on my life, but I promise with Breakthrough all things are possible!
-A.K.M
Breakthrough showed me what a well run organization could be. The sense of the community at my site as well as within the national organization is unlike anything I have ever experienced. As a teaching fellow I was able to get critical teaching practice with the support and challenging environment of Breakthrough. I also had deeper and more vulnerable relationships with my coworkers thanks to the strong Breakthrough culture.
Breakthrough introduced me to a family and a community that I could not be more grateful for. Working in Breakthrough Austin opened me up to new experiences and taught me lessons that I will never forgot. It taught me how to truly care, how to be a leader and a mentor in and out of the classroom, and the importance of having a community and people to turn to. It has made me think differently about a plethora of topics, and I am so thankful that I was giving this opportunity.
Not only does Breakthrough Collaborative provide excellent logistical and relational skills to aspiring teachers, but it does so while putting amazing underserved children on the path to college. This organization is a glowing gem in the education world.
This past summer I served as a Breakthrough Teaching Fellow in Austin, TX. It was the summer of a lifetime. As a first-generation student myself, it was empowering to assist other first generation students make college a reality. The program went above and beyond to make sure children felt welcomed into the Breakthrough family. The curriculum remained fun and adaptive, which helped the children not feel like they were in school.
I taught at Breakthrough Silicon Valley this summer and it was fantastic! The staff is smart and hard working and the students are upbeat and fun. My favorite part was leading the summer camp activities that make up a large part of a Breakthrough day. I learned some really valuable skills that I will be able to apply outside of the classroom including leadership, risk taking, and time management.
I worked for Breakthrough as a teaching fellow in the summer of 2017. It was a life-changing summer experience for me. Beyond learning about lesson-planning techniques, classroom management, and many other aspects of the teaching profession, I grew enormously as a person. My patience with myself and others increased. I became more personally responsible and took responsibility for everything in and out of my classroom. My communication skills and confidence grew as well. Breakthrough provided me, as well as other teaching fellows, with the support and resources for our own growth, and as a result, the growth of our students. As an organization, they were incredibly student oriented and all of their actions were driven through the lens of students.
The Breakthrough Collaborative is an incredible organization that genuinely strives to produce positive change in America. As a college student, I worked this summer as a Teaching Fellow at Breakthrough Cincinnati. My experience taught me teaching skills, leadership skills, conflict-management skills, and much more, and I received a stipend for my work. This summer was a wonderful experience, and I hope to continue my involvement with Breakthrough in the future.
This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to be a teaching fellow at the silicon valley location! It was such a great hands on experience for any one whose interested in education! I am an education major and this program just reaffirmed my love for teaching! It was great planning lessons and getting feedback from mentor teachers. I learned so much from how to create great relationship with students to what to do if your lesson is not going well during class. Breakthrough really supported me in any way they could by making sure I had all the tools necessary to teach a class before the program even began. Highly recommend this program to anyone who has any interest at all in education. It will change your life and make you a great teacher in six short weeks.
I served as a teaching fellow for Breakthrough and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. It allowed me to touch base with the local community and really understand what education is about.
I taught at the Summerbridge San Francisco site this summer and can say, without a doubt, that this was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Breakthrough allows college students to get as close to a real teaching experience as possible at this age, while also maintaining all the fun aspects of a summer program. The skills I learned, as an educator and as an individual, will stick with me for the rest of my life, no matter what path I take!
I worked two summers as a Summer Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough Collaborative. My first placement was at Breakthrough Miami, and the following year I worked at Learning Works at Blake in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I can confidently state that Breakthrough Collaborative had an immense impact on both my career and personal development. I am an aspiring teacher, and truly believe that Breakthrough provided me with an experience that I would not have received through my college education alone. It allowed me to apply my summer classroom experience to my learning during the school year in a meaningful and valuable way. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to live, work, and help students in an environment very different from my home community. This opportunity was valuable to me as a teacher and as a person beyond measure. I am so inspired by my time with Breakthrough Collaborative and I recommend it to others whenever I have the opportunity. It gives hardworking students an opportunity to receive the education they deserve from staff who are dedicated to the success of their scholars. It reaches out to students who may otherwise never have access to such resources. In the future, I hope to have the chance to be involved with Breakthrough whether it be through career, volunteer, or donation. If you are looking to contribute to a community of aspiring leaders and learners, Breakthrough Collaborative is a great organization to support.
My summer working as a Biology teacher at Breakthrough Austin prepared me in real-world ways that I couldn't have imagined. Two years later, I'm gainfully employed at Google, and whenever I'm speaking with clients I use the skills learned from teaching at Breakthrough!
I served as a Teaching Fellow, both learning how to teach, and teaching some 7th grade science over a summer. I learned so much about how to teach, but also about the communities my kids came from, and the challenges they face. Breakthrough does a great job with its dual mission, squeezing as much impact as possible out of every dollar!
I had a wonderful time working for Breakthrough Birmingham! Not only did I learn how to teach, but I realized that teachers are superheroes!! They have so many different responsibilities, but their number one priority is their students! Breakthrough gave me the chance to get me out of my comfort zone and lead three classes of students in subjects that I absolutely love! If anyone has a chance to do this program, I would definitely recommend it! Thank you Breakthrough for this memorable experience!
Teaching at Breakthrough was without a doubt the most worthwhile -- and the most challenging -- work I've ever done: I learned so much about why great teaching and great learning matters so much, and was incredibly humbled to work alongside some outstanding middle school students who already knew this to be true. Breakthrough offers a meaningful, time- and skill-appropriate role for college students hoping to do something of value with their summer, and they provide tons of training and support, both before school begins and while it is in session, to ensure a successful summer. Breakthrough has really honed in on their students-teaching-students model, making Breakthrough an incredibly positive, productive, and uplifting community to be in, both for students and for teaching fellows.
I applied to Breakthrough Fort Worth last summer not knowing what to expect. I thought of it as an opportunity to explore a career in education and as something to be more productive during the summer. Not only did Breakthrough solidify my desire to be a teacher, but it helped me learn more about myself, the students, and the educational inequity our nation faces. The work was hard, but seeing the students grow and learn really made me feel like a direct part of the students' lives. I have absolutely no regrets in working with Breakthrough, and I wouldn't want anything else. If there is anyone with a remote interest in directly impacting student lives, Breakthrough is the place to be!
I worked at Breakthrough Houston in the summer of 2016. I absolutely loved the experience and can say that Breakthrough significantly impacted my life. It was a challenge and I was pushed harder than ever before, but it was definitely worthwhile. I was a 7th-grade writing teacher, a creative writing teacher, and a dance teacher and my students meant the world to me. I would recommend the program to anyone even minorly interested in working with children.
I've been involved with the Breakthrough program since I was a Breakthrough student. I truly believe that Breakthrough made the difference that it states in it's mission. It helped set me on a college trajectory, invested in me, and enriched my life through education. It was because of Breakthrough that I discovered my passion for education and knew that I wanted to be an educator!
This past summer, I worked for Breakthrough New York at the Manhattan site and found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences. Breakthrough offers a unique opportunity for college students to assume the role and responsibilities of a teacher. In addition to teaching two 7th grade math classes, I taught a dance class, and led an advisory group, allowing me to work and form relationships with students of many ages and backgrounds.
The Breakthrough community is extremely supportive, constantly seeking to help one another succeed and achieve individual goals. I feel so lucky to have met so many incredible college students who are just as dedicated to education reform and equality as I am. The relationships I formed through Breakthrough, with both students and fellow teachers, will continue to impact me as I pursue my interest and passion for education.
I loved my time with Breakthrough. Going in, I had never seriously considered working with kids and being a teacher; however, the kids I worked with were simply incredible. Even though every day felt long and it was a lot of work, I was really excited to go into class every day. Both my kids and my coworkers were some of the hardest working people I have ever met. Breakthrough made me think about education inequality, what it means to impact the lives of others, and what being a teacher truly is. I spent my summer learning how to write lesson plans, thinking of how to break down information, and finding innovative ways to speak to others and present ideas to both students and coworkers.
I wouldn't trade my summer at Breakthrough for anything, and I would love to work with Breakthrough again in the future.
Breakthrough Miami was the most transformative experience of my life. I spent every single day working harder than ever, having more fun than ever, and finding more meaning in life than ever. I taught eighth grade physical science and a meditation/mindfulness/nutrition elective, but more importantly, I was able to mentor students and encourage them to formulate dreams that they can achieve. I loved working in small classroom environments and see each student understand different concepts at their own paces. I watched girls show their true, best selves--whether through my physics course, or by their leadership on the volleyball court at PE class, or by performing at our talent show, or by supporting their friends in their endeavors. I learned so much about myself in teaching--my strengths as a leader and mentor figure and weaknesses. I also worked with an incredible staff of teaching fellows, site directors, and curriculum coordinators in which I built connections and a network that will last forever. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to work for Breakthrough. Not only does it give you hands on experience teaching in the classroom but also life skills more valuable than at any other job, internship, or volunteer work I've experienced.
My favorite part of Breakthrough Collaborative is how both the students and the teaching fellows gain so much from this unique experience. I have built lifelong relationships with my students and mentors and I have learned so much that I can carry into college and beyond into my career. This past year, I taught writing to an incredibly motivated and mature group of 9th graders in Houston and I could not imagine having spent my summer in a better way!
I worked this past summer (2016) at Breakthrough Birmingham. It was one of the best decisions of my life. Although it was challenging at times (the 6 am wake- up call was not my favorite), it was a summer of tremendous growth for me as a leader. I also got the chance to make valuable and lasting relationships with the kids I taught, some of with I still speak with today. I learned so much too from my peers- they came from all across the country, and each were incredible leaders in their own right. Perhaps most importantly, I also got a peek at the world of teaching, lesson-planning, and the hooplah that comes with it, and learned how to make a change in the lives of others, who in turn indelibly change you.
I worked as a Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough (San Francisco) last summer and can honestly say that it was the best experience I have ever had. The students, administrators, and other teachers were all amazing. I learned to much about teaching and now plan to pursue a career in education.
I worked as a teaching fellow at Breakthrough Greater Boston for two summers teaching 7th grade classes. I had so much fun I had to go back for a second time! I did not expect to love it as much as I did. The environment Breakthrough cultivates is so supportive of both the students and the teachers. Everyone spends the summer learning and growing. My leadership skills definitely improved because of Breakthrough.
I worked with Breakthrough Sacramento this past summer and it was honestly the greatest experience I have ever had. To be able to work with such amazing kids and learn from them was something I will never forget. When they say that you learn more from your students than you can ever teach them, they aren't wrong. Not only were the students amazing, the people I worked alongside were such wonderful people and they became like a second family for me. I wouldn't trade the experience I had with Breakthrough for anything in the world.
I worked down in Miami with Breakthrough Collaborative this summer. I remember there were many times folks had difficulty explaining the true impact and experience with Breakthrough and now after having completed my summer, I understand why. Breakthrough is so dynamic and has meant so much to me and my scholars. I've seen the impact both academically and personally. If you have the opportunity to apply, do so. If you believe in what Breakthrough is trying to accomplish, apply and join.
I applied to Breakthrough the summer after my senior year on a whim, not expecting it to be one of the most transformative experiences of my life thus far. The relationships I made with my students and colleagues will always stay in my heart. Education is invaluable to everyone in the Breakthrough community, and that belief manifests itself everyday. Just talking to my kids showed me an entire new perspective on life, one that made me realize how important it is to fix systematic issues of inequality. Regardless of what career you want to pursue, a summer at Breakthrough will make you a more charismatic, caring, and understanding person.
I taught at Summerbridge Pittsburgh this past summer, and it was the most rewarding summer experience I could have imagined. I don't think I've ever worked that hard before, but it was hard work that was worth doing. Coming in every day to teach science to 8th graders was sometimes a challenge, but it was always a delight. The relationships I built with the students, other teachers, and the staff are ones that I will carry with me forever.
I worked at Breakthrough Houston this past summer and it was one of the greatest summers I've ever had. I taught 7th grade Life Science. Teaching there was the icing on the cake for me, I knew I wanted to teach, but getting to teacher during the summer before clinical teaching was perfect. It showed me what it takes to be a teacher and it was a blast.
I was part of the Breakthrough program as a student for six years, and I came back this summer as a teaching fellow. I can honestly say Breakthrough is one of my happiest places to be. They really value their mission statement, and they work hard to meet the needs of their students and teachers. This program helped me so much as a student and as a teacher. As a student, they provided summer learning opportunities, a supportive environment, guidance with navigating academic challenges, preparation for the ACT, and endless support during the college application process. I would have had no idea how to apply to college without the help I received, and they did an excellent job meeting not only my needs, but the needs of all the students who went through the program with me. This summer I returned as a teaching fellow to give back to the program, and I received extensive training in my role, lots of support, and I was given a lot of responsibility. This program helped me mature and grow, and gave me new skills, experience, and self-awareness. I am endlessly grateful for how lucky I am to have been part of this program. Without Breakthrough I would not be where I am today.
I worked with Breakthrough Hong Kong for the past two summers, and it changed completely my perspective on how to approach students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and education in general. I have learned about all the ways one can impact these students, through education and life lessons, and as an education major, I feel more confident going into classrooms, thanks to Breakthrough!
This program is A M A Z I N G! Not only does it help disadvantaged students but it allows hundreds of college students from across the country to gain professional work experience.
My experience as a former Breakthrough student and teaching fellow have had a positive impact on my life. Who and where I am now would have been completely different without the help of Breakthrough.
I was a teaching fellow in Austin in 2016 and it was truly the most incredible experience. I loved getting to know my students in and out of the classroom. They are the most motivated students and I am grateful to have played a role in their journey to be college bound!
Breakthrough is dear to my heart as it has equipped me with life-long tools I use in the classroom and in the community. Breakthrough has challenged me to go the extra mile for a student, and has molded me to become a great voice and advocate of educational equity. Breakthrough has structured my life by inspiring me to become an educational leader. I thank Breakthrough for everything it has done for me; I am the person I am today because of Breakthrough.
I have worked at Breakthrough the past three summers as a teaching fellow in Santa Fe. The experience was transformative for me in many ways. Professionally, it inspired me to go into education after graduation, and showed me what a challenging and rewarding job teaching can be. Personally, I felt truly valued and supported all the time that I was working--each Breakthrough affiliate prioritizes the creation of a warm and vibrant community for its teaching fellows and students. I can honestly say I wouldn't be who I am now without my summers as a teaching fellow with Breakthrough, and I am so excited to see how the organization grows from here!
I worked at Breakthrough San Francisco in the summer of 2016, and had the most rewarding personal and professional experience. Breakthrough captured the synergy between exceptional professional training and a mission for social justice. With excellent teacher development and support, Breakthrough simultaneously encouraged student and teacher success, creating an energetic, loving, values based workspace in the process.
I worked for Breakthrough Greater Boston summer of 2016 and it was the best summer I've ever had. To work so closely with high achieving students and help them reach their short term and long term goals meant the world to me. I was so pleased at the level of training that I received when I began Breakthrough. It made me confident to enter the classroom and ready to take on everything that Breakthrough had to offer.
I taught at Breakthrough Austin in 2015 and 2016. Working with Breakthrough has been one of the most formative experiences of my life. Dedicated teachers and administrators, hardworking parents, and, above all, motivated students make Breakthrough successful. I've seen how teachers and students both can change over the course of a single summer, and I've also seen the incredible impact that Breakthrough has had on some of my high school classmates who are now attending four-year colleges.
I did Breakthrough in Hong Kong for three summers, and it was the most life-changing experience ever. One of my students said that before Breakthrough, I probably wouldn't have recognized her. She never had a smile on her face, she hated school, and she thought life was boring. However, after coming to Breakthrough, she felt that it was such a safe, fun space and gathered enough courage to sing in front of 100 students and teachers!
Before Breakthrough, I thought that I was insignificant and it wasn't possible for me to change the world. I thought changing the world was only for powerful, wealthy people like the President, CEOs, etc. However, through Breakthrough, I learned that everyone has the power to make a difference. No matter how small, small changes accumulate into large changes, which make the world a better place. And Breakthrough is indeed making the world a better place.
I feel a kind of love and happiness at Breakthrough that I have yet to find anywhere else, and I feel that I can truly be myself in the Breakthrough environment. Breakthrough will always be in my heart.
I worked with Breakthrough for two summers in Pittsburgh, and they were easily the best and most impactful summers of my life. I learned critical teaching skills and was able to build relationships with students in a fast-paced environment, and could not have been prouder to see my students master skills that truly put them on the track to college. Breakthrough made me realize my passion for education, while its supportive program structure ensured that it effectively prepared students for academic success.
I taught at Breakthrough Silicon Valley this past summer and it was by far my greatest teaching experience thus far. The amazing support that is provided for the students, family, and teaching fellows is amazing! I would highly recommend this teaching residency for those interested in pursuing a career in education and those that enjoy being challenged.
I taught at Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, and it was the most AMAZING experience! This organization has met above and beyond my expectations! Over this summer, I spent time working with like-minded people, who gave me the opportunity to seek new ideas to help the education system. I also worked with a great group of middle schools students, who I miss very much. Over the summer, I learned about what it's really like to be a teacher, and I learned skills that are not limited to helping me within the classroom but will actually help me succeed in life. I recommend everyone to look into this opportunity so that they can better themselves just like I was able to.
I taught at Breakthrough Austin this past summer, and it was one of the most important experiences I've had in my life. Never have I been around such a smart, dedicated, passionate group of individuals who are all invested in making sure kids have equal access to quality educations. The students were incredible and made coming into work early everyday worth it. I cannot see what Breakthrough helps them achieve.
Breakthrough is an awesome program that aims to serve awesome students. I was a teaching fellow at Breakthrough Cincinnati this past summer and I fell in love. The rigor of this program cannot be beaten for a summer educational program. The kids give up six months of their precious summer to spend learning from the best, and they truly seem to enjoy themselves. This program fosters a sense of intelligence and leadership and it shows through the actions of the students in and out of class. I would encourage anyone who is interested to check out the national website, to apply for a teaching fellow position, or, if applicable, to enroll your student in this program. Yeah Breakthrough!
I was a Breakthrough teacher in Philly a few summers back. Breakthrough serves the highly important purpose of providing supplemental education for high achieving students in disadvantaged neighborhoods. But far more important than imparting classroom content, Breakthrough staff work to ensure students are aware of their own potential, and of the opportunities available to them. Frequently we would talk about the selective high schools students were applying to, or the colleges they might be interested in, or their goals and aspirations for the future. Breakthrough is a supportive community that actively nurtures a growth mindset. I've had the absolute privilege of teaching students who will be our next generation's doctors, lawyers, scientists, professors, leaders - if we let them.
Breakthrough was a transformative experience for me. The summer after my Junior year in college, I became a Breakthrough Collaborative instructor. I taught English that summer to students that were about to enter in high school. It was challenging because I created my lessons from scratch and had to learn how to work with individuals who were very different from me. This experience prepared me for the professional world and reinforced my passion for working with students from underserved backgrounds. Now, as the director of a college access organization in the Houston area, I have collaborated with Breakthrough to recruit Breakthrough students for our program.
I'm in my third year teaching in Detroit, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Breakthrough. I taught through Breakthrough in New York for two summers during college, which pushed me to become a teacher. In addition, I worked for them as a coach in Pittsburgh. I gained a sense of purpose in seeking educational equity and justice, and in the process supported 30 middle schoolers of color from low-income students in New York get into selective New York high schools.
This taught me all I know about what it takes to be a thoughtful, reflective, rigorous, and effective teacher. While the cause is difficult, it has a solid foundation and protocol to make sure that these students receive this instruction to achieve. Somehow this magical place also creates a community of love and respect I have yet to find elsewhere. Breakthrough deserves all acclaim it is given.
I taught for Breakthrough Collaborative in 2009 as a college student who was aiming to be a lawyer. By the end of the summer, I was committed to the education equity cause. Breakthrough Collaborative helped me realize my passion in urban education. I have been a teacher, instructional coach, and school administrator all in that realm. I have been a part of many organizations but Breakthrough Collaborative holds the dearest place in my heart and career development.
Worked as a teaching fellow at Breakthrough New York for two years during college. The experience completely changed how I viewed teaching and inspired me to work in public education after college. I'm now in year three of teaching math in Brooklyn!
Breakthrough provided me with a safe but challenging space to push myself emotionally, professionally, and intellectually. The skills gleaned from a summer teaching at Breakthrough have followed me into a number of unique but related public interest forays where I have continuously found them invaluable. Uniquely and integrally, Breakthrough becomes a similar space for the students who join. For many of them, it becomes a serious supplement for their academic and ethical investigations at school, achieving a dual-purpose mission that few national non-profits can boast of.
I applied to Breakthrough for a summer position not knowing if I had any interest in education. By the end of the summer, I was passionate about teaching and improving our nation's education system, which led me to many other jobs in the field. On top of that, I felt I had become part of a community of passionate, idealistic change-makers. Breakthrough is a supportive community of awesome people, and I feel like a better person having worked with them. After my summer as a teaching fellow, I had the chance to attend two conferences led by BT, both of which were inspiring and informational. BT is working hard to help kids succeed in middle school, high school, college, and beyond, while giving them the tools to become self-advocating, well-rounded individuals.
Breakthrough's mission, obviously, is an incredible one. Investing in students in such an impactful way--helping them over a lengthy period to get into and through a four-year college--is amazing on its own. But the lengths Breakthrough goes to as an organization are truly incredible.
I worked with this organization in 2016 as one of their summer teaching fellows, at one of the New York sites. I have worked with a great number of nonprofits, and can say with great confidence that Breakthrough is the best-run nonprofit I have ever worked with. The staff are extremely experienced and caring. They provide excellent training for everyone who works with the students and pay attention to every site need, big and small. The students themselves are treated with compassion and care and delicacy and meticulous attention; I watched many students who were struggling begin to succeed under this kind of attention. I went from knowing almost nothing about teaching to becoming obsessed with the fine points of what makes good pedagogy. I know that this is not an experience just limited to my site, because I know many other people who have worked with and love Breakthrough across the country.
What makes BTNY different from other organizations is that the students are learning a great deal together and growing while building intense community. They benefit from a caring support network in a way that can, and does, transform lives (and entire families!).
Breakthrough Collaborative has successfully increased educational opportunity for tens of thousands of students and positively impacted the teacher pipeline for the last 35 years. With over 25 sites throughout the US executing on Breakthrough's dual mission your donor dollars are supporting an established organization that has proven results. The local sites partner with schools and supporters within their communities and also are an important part of the wider Collaborative. Our Board members serve/volunteer for 6 year terms providing their time, talent and treasure and ensuring continuity for the organization. While there has been staff turn-over at the National level, the organization has continued to deepen its impact serving students and expand its reach with both students and prospective teachers. I am proud to be involved with this organization and give my time, financial support and expertise to further improve educational opportunity for both students and teachers. An investment in Breakthrough generates multiple positive returns.