Summer 2016 Teaching Residency, Breakthrough Collaborative

Posted February 12, 2016

As a pioneer in education reform, Breakthrough is more than an organization. We are a nation-wide movement, tackling the achievement gap with a groundbreaking approach. We increase academic opportunity for highly motivated middleschool and high-school students on the path to college; provide outstanding pre-professional training for undergraduate teaching fellows; and offer leadership opportunities for professional educators, who serve as instructional coaches. We do this work across a collaborative network of 25 affiliates throughout the US and in Hong Kong. Since our founding in 1978, we have served more than 40,000 students and teachers.

IS BREAKTHROUGH FOR ME?
Breakthrough is looking for hard-working undergraduates to join our classrooms this summer. We seek undergraduates from all academic backgrounds – both those planning careers in education and those who are considering it for the first time. Breakthrough teaching fellows have a deep commitment to social justice and passion for working with our inspiring middle-school students.

You’ll join a supportive community where you’ll receive extensive training, continuous support, and the opportunity to lead a classroom. Throughout the summer, you will assume leadership roles and practice persistence, creativity, flexibility, and problem-solving. Under the guidance of experienced educators, you will work alongside other exceptional college students to plan and teach classes, manage a classroom, advise students, lead field trips, and develop as a teacher and leader.

As a teaching fellow, you will do the following:
• Participate in a 9-week summer residency with a living stipend
• Receive 100+ hours of teaching and leadership training
• Teach at one of our 25 affiliates throughout the U.S. and in Hong Kong
• Learn lesson planning, classroom management, instructional strategies, feedback techniques, and other essential teaching tools
• Teach core academic classes (math, science, writing, literature) and design enrichment classes (e.g., foreign language, dance, art)
• Lead family conferences and participate in meetings
• Receive coaching from professional educators
• Collaborate with other exceptional undergraduate teaching fellows in a challenging but fun and supportive environment
• Work with a diverse group of highly motivated students from under-resourced communities

WHAT DOES BREAKTHROUGH DO?
Breakthrough students dream of college but attend under-resourced schools. Our students dedicate their entire summers to learning in a rigorous, engaging, and supportive community. Research shows that students from lower income backgrounds can lose up to two months of math and literacy skills over the summer, which, over time, negatively impacts their chances of attending college. At Breakthrough, our students make summer gains, leading to intellectual growth and contributing to their academic success. Nationally, 92% of Breakthrough students are of color; 82% are low-income; and 69% will be the first in their families to graduate from four-year colleges.

WHAT IS THE TEACHING FELLOW COMMITMENT AND COMPENSATION?
As a teaching fellow, you will teach at one of 25 affiliates, which are located in cities across the country and in Hong Kong. Your summer will include the following:
• A nine-week teaching residency that includes two weeks of training, six weeks of classroom instruction, and one week of wrap-up and reflection.
• An intensive daily schedule, which often runs beyond normal business hours, five days a week and sometimes on weekends.

Teaching with Breakthrough is an unpaid opportunity. However, Breakthrough provides a living stipend during the residency. Stipend amounts and limited housing vary by affiliate and individual qualifications.

For a list of affiliates, including dates for each program, stipend amounts, and housing availability, please visit our site
directory.

HOW DO I APPLY?
Breakthrough is designed to accommodate a diversity of teaching-fellow backgrounds and experiences. Interest in pursuing a career in education is not required, nor is education coursework or experience. We are looking for applicants who want to engage the Breakthrough students in rigorous academics, work collaboratively with colleagues, and grow in a fast-paced, nurturing environment. To be eligible to apply, you must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply if they are authorized to work in the U.S.

Complete and submit the application by one of our application deadlines below. The application includes the following:

 Personal and contact information
 A resume including your extracurricular and work experiences
 Contact information for a recommender (whom we will contact)
 An unofficial copy of your transcript
 Three short-answer questions
 Site and teaching-subject preferences

If you advance in the selection process, you may also be asked to submit a mock teaching video and participate in an interview.

For additional information about our sites, frequently asked questions, teaching-fellow application and instructions, please visit our website.

Early Action Deadline: January 12, 2016
Regular Decision Deadline: February 23, 2016