Every summer, Teaching Fellows step into Breakthrough classrooms ready to teach, and they leave having learned just as much themselves. Across the country, this summer’s Teaching Fellows discovered new ways to lead, build relationships, adapt to challenges, and help students see their own potential.
From finding a love for teaching to watching a student find their voice, these reflections capture what makes the Teaching Fellow experience so transformative.
“I love teaching!”
William P., Breakthrough Philadelphia
“While I learned a lot about all of those things and developed my own authentic methods, the most important thing I learned is that I love teaching! I am so thankful to have the opportunity to help shape the future generation. Seeing my students grow this summer and gain more confidence in the material, as well as socially with their peers, was worth every second I spent trying to cultivate a sense of community in my classroom.”
“Teaching isn’t about passing out worksheets.”
Camryn B., Breakthrough San Francisco
“Teaching isn’t about passing out worksheets and presenting lessons. It’s about building a community in your classroom where you have relationships with every single one of your students. It’s about creating a space where students feel safe and valued. And it’s about being able to learn something from your students each day.”
“I am proud to announce…”
JeMyia S., Breakthrough Louisville
“With this opportunity being my first time alone in a classroom, there were many times that I became nervous that my efforts weren’t working as intended. Having to quickly pivot my lesson plans and adjust my timing or methods were things that weren’t exactly polished for me in the past.
With that being said, I am proud to announce that out of the seven math classes, my instructional class of rising 8th and 9th graders had the second-highest growth rate, with an average of 18.2%!”
“Education truly is a two-way street.”
Adan M.C., Breakthrough San Francisco
“I learned so much, about myself as an aspiring educator, about my scholars, and about how education truly is a two-way street where both the educator and the scholar are learning from each other…
I enjoyed every minute of this summer, so much that saying goodbye was incredibly difficult. I will miss all the ‘teacher teacher,’ the ‘wassup teach,’ the one-on-one basketball games, and the ‘thanks for showing me that I can create change at such a young age.’”
“This experience challenged me, strengthened my teaching.”
Josue P.J., Breakthrough San Francisco
“I’m incredibly grateful to the BTSF administration and staff for their support and trust throughout this experience… This experience challenged me, strengthened my teaching, and reminded me why I chose education in the first place. I’m excited to continue growing as an educator and see where this journey takes me!”
“I’m leaving this summer with so many memories.”
Angeline B., Breakthrough New York
“It was such a rewarding experience to teach, learn, and grow alongside my students. They challenged me, made me laugh every day, and reminded me why I love investing in the next generation. I’m leaving this summer with so many memories and an even greater appreciation for education and the impact teachers can have.”
“I want to attend Spelman College.”
Amari A., Breakthrough New York
“Teaching is a blessing, but growing and learning with the students you teach is one of God’s greatest gifts. Here at Breakthrough, I was given the opportunity to educate 8th-grade students on concepts like scientific notation, the Pythagorean Theorem, and exponent rules, while preparing them for their upcoming school year and SSAT exams. To play a small role in each of their journeys to becoming successful leaders of tomorrow is something I am forever grateful for.
[One of my favorite moments was] College Knowledge, where I had the opportunity to share the uniqueness of HBCUs and speak about how impactful my alma mater, Morehouse College, has been for me. After my presentation, one of my students told me, ‘I want to attend Spelman College.’ That sentence made my whole day!”
“The work is rooted in empathy.”
Samantha J., Breakthrough Houston
“Leading a classroom each day taught me to think on my feet, adapt to diverse learning styles, communicate effectively, and make decisions with confidence, all while keeping students at the center of every decision.
These experiences challenged me to become a more adaptable and intentional leader, which are skills that will continue to serve me as I pursue a career in law. Whether advocating for students in a classroom today or for clients in the future, I was reminded that effective leadership is rooted in empathy, preparation, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to serving others.”
“A classroom filled with love.”
Molly W., Breakthrough Louisville
“I adored teaching English content to my ninth graders. During our six weeks of instruction, we reviewed the elements of a story, vocabulary skills, rhetorical devices, figurative language, and refined critical reading and writing skills through analysis and prompt-response practice…
My favorite moment of the summer was getting a student who famously hated ELA to not only write a beautiful poem, but to share it at the Poetry Slam.”
“An immensely valuable experience.”
Judah B., Breakthrough Denver
“This summer I was serving as a 10th-grade science teacher at Breakthrough Denver. In this role I developed a science curriculum for rising 10th graders in the greater Denver area and created hands-on lessons and activities that students could connect to the world around them. Content ranged from natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, and wildfires to studying forces and motion.
Working on this amazing staff and living in a new city was an immensely valuable experience, one which I truly valued as it helped me develop as an educator, team member, and person.”
This summer, Teaching Fellows taught lessons, built community, adapted when things didn’t go as planned, and discovered new things about themselves along the way. Their reflections are a reminder that when we create opportunities for young people to learn and lead, everyone in the classroom has the chance to grow.