As the national teacher shortage continues to challenge schools and communities, Breakthrough Collaborative is taking bold steps to expand pathways into the profession. One of the ways we’re making a difference is through our growing partnership with Teach For America (TFA), which has been actively recruiting on behalf of Breakthrough over the last three years.
Breakthrough’s “near-peer” mentoring model not only prepares students for academic success but also cultivates the next generation of educators. By placing more than 1,000 Teaching Fellows at our 25 affiliates nationwide each summer, we provide college students with a transformative, hands-on teaching experience. This immersive training—more than 100 hours of teaching, training, and mentorship—equips Fellows with critical skills and deepens their commitment to education. Many go on to pursue teaching careers, and our partnership with TFA has significantly expanded their opportunities.
The impact of this partnership is clear:
- Our collaboration with TFA has more than doubled the number of Breakthrough Fellows applying and being accepted into the corps.
- Fellows recruited through TFA accounted for 24% of all submitted applications in our 2025 recruitment cycle.
- Breakthrough Fellows’ TFA acceptance rate is 89%—far surpassing the general population’s 18% acceptance rate.
- 100% of Breakthrough Fellows who applied their junior year were accepted—securing a teaching position a full year before graduation.
“Year after year, our partnership with TFA has grown stronger, creating a clear and compelling pathway for Breakthrough Teaching Fellows to continue making an impact in education,” said Jonathan Appleby, National Director of Recruitment at Breakthrough Collaborative. The data demonstrates just how well Breakthrough prepares aspiring educators and how valuable their experience is in the classroom. We’re proud of the results and excited to keep building on this momentum to open even more doors for future educators.”
With our deep network of partnerships—including TFA, the National Center for Grow Your Own, Brown University, Harvard University, and the Texas and California university systems—Breakthrough is playing a critical role in strengthening the educator workforce. By expanding pathways to teaching, we’re ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and succeed.
As we head into another summer, we have an opportunity to deepen this impact even further. By engaging with TFA recruiters and continuing to champion early-career educators, we are building a stronger, more dynamic teacher workforce—one that reflects the students we serve and is equipped to transform lives for generations to come.