Meet our Teachers

“When I was growing up, I was a Latino kid in a majority Latino school in a majority Latino neighborhood.  I know that there are many kids from backgrounds like mine who are capable and have a lot of potential; but they don’t necessarily believe that they can succeed.  Breakthrough helps them see that they can be successful.  Before teaching at Breakthrough I hadn’t considered a career as a professional educator.  By the end of my first summer, I had fallen in love with teaching.”
Irene, Brown University Graduate and teacher at Downtown College Prep High School

“BSV confirmed my desire to be a teacher. Through Breakthrough, I got to see the impact that a caring, motivated teacher can have on a student. I got to run my own classroom, develop my curriculum, and write my own lesson plans. I was an independent teacher, but with all the great support that a new teacher could hope for.”
Jasmine, UCBerkeley Graduate and teacher at Match High School

“Breakthrough students have shown me the true meaning of determination. Teaching seventh and eighth graders who dream of going to top universities like Columbia and Stanford make me want to do the same. I feel like my job is to help them on their journey to these top universities.”
Jesse, Junior at Archbishop Mitty High School

“Looking back over my last four summers with Breakthrough, I have to admit that my students have taught me just as much as I taught them. This program really is “Students teaching students,” and I don’t think the bonding, the relationships, the learning, the growing, the love could happen any other way.”
Doug, Senior at UCBerkeley

“BSV has taught me how teachers should teach, and has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the world of teaching. This has convinced me to pursue teaching as a career.”
Lydia, Junior at Wellesley