Teach Summer 2010

Breakthrough students have the drive, the talent, and the brains to get to college.

What they’re missing is YOU!

Breakthrough Collaborative’s 34 sites are looking for high school students and undergraduates to teach bright, ambitious and underserved middle school students.

You’ll be asked to plan and teach your own class under the guidance of professional educators. You’ll work long hours, push yourself like you never have before and make a genuine difference in the lives of tomorrow’s leaders.

Teaching with Breakthrough is the premier pre-professional teaching experience anywhere, and one of the most challenging internship of any kind available to high school students and undergraduates in the United States.

This summer, do something real.
Teach Breakthroughs.

————————–

  1. Read the 2010 Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook. This is required reading for any applicant.  Also review the Frequently Asked Questions.
  2. Read dispatches from our summer teachers at Teachbreakthroughs.org.
  3. Read 2010 Summer Program Dates to learn about the summer calendar at each site. For all questions related to additional site specifics please login to the online application and click into the “Site Roster” button at the top right of the page next to the “Logout” button.
  4. CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

Now accepting applications for summer 2010 – Rolling Admissions.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2009 5:00pm PST

117 Responses to “Teach Summer 2010”

  1. David L. Mitchem Says:

    I graduated from college in 2009. Do I still qualify to participate in the program?

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      I’m sorry, David. Our candidates are current high school students and undergraduates. Please check out our opportunities page for full time positions.

      Best of luck.

  2. Nalee Says:

    I’m a college senior that will be graduating this spring. Will I still qualify to apply for the Summer teaching program?

  3. Ann Says:

    Hi, if we choose an out-of-town location to teach, for example, Hong Kong, will we have to pay for our air fare?

    Thanks.

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      Hi Ann-

      Yes, you will need to provide transportation to your site should you accept a position as a teacher. Hong Kong is a bit of an anomaly. They do provide monetary support to teachers for travel but, as it says inside the “Site Roster” (located inside the application) only to experience Breakthrough teachers.

      Good luck!

  4. Sara Says:

    Hi, I’m currently completing my application and I was wondering if there is a preference for the subject used for the lesson plan part… I would love to teach Beginning French, but I don’t know if that is something that is necessarily a high priority in the program/ at my location (I’m applying for the Miami location). Does the subject I’m doing the lesson plan for matter in terms of whether that subject will be offered at that site?

    Thanks.

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      Great question!

      The application prompt calls for a lesson plan from one of the five core academic subjects we teach at Breakthrough. French definitely qualifies as a foreign language. Regardless of whether it is offered at your site this summer it’s a great choice for your application. Additionally, I would encourage you to indicate all of the topics you would be comfortable teaching in the “preferences” part of the application. Good luck!

  5. Jo Says:

    I have a dilemma. I heard about this program through school….our school hosts the program in the summers, and I’m really interested in being a teacher. It’s my sophomore year in high school, and my only problem is that I turn 16 June 7th, and we were told the deadline is June 1st. Do I really have to wait until next summer?

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      Hi Jo-

      You are certainly eligible to apply for the program. We accept applications from candidates aged 15-23. Typically, programs bring on only the top high school students who apply. Make sure your application is the best it can be!

      Good luck!

  6. Nick Says:

    Hello again, Dave!

    I was curious as to know if I would be able to apply for another location after I submitted my application.

    A woman from the local breakthrough came to my class and I was informed Boca Raton’s location was shut down.

    Any way I could apply to Miami after already submitting my application?

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      Hi Nick-

      There seems to be some confusion here. The Boca Raton site is definitely not “shut down” this summer. I’m not sure where you heard this rumor nor from whom. They will receive your application per usual.

      As for your question about changing your preferences, once you hit submit your application is submitted and locked. As I’m sure you noticed there are several checks that we put in place to ensure that all of the information you put into your application is valid and that you know that once your application is submitted there is no way to edit it. Please write to my email address dbryson@breakthroughcollaborative.org with questions or comments.

      Best of luck,
      Dave.

  7. Mrs. Smith Says:

    Hi!

    I am currently in my 2nd year of teaching for Mason City schools and I would like to be a mentor teacher for the summer.

    I did not see any links for applying to be a mentor teacher on the site. Can you help me with this?

    Thanks :)

  8. Matt Says:

    Hey Dave, sorry but last question

    Is it Monday-Friday for 6 weeks straight that we teach? How does that schedule work?

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      No worries, Matt.

      For the students the program is 6 full weeks of academic classes. The teacher schedule is actually a bit longer than 6 weeks. Most programs have about a week to two weeks of teacher training/orientation at the beginning of the summer and a week of evaluation and wrap-up at the end of the summer. You can see each site’s summer dates by clicking the PDF “2010 Summer Program Dates” document in #3 above.

      The main idea is that this is a significant time commitment during the summer; jump in with both feet and the experience will be better for you and your students.

  9. Matt Says:

    Hey, question. I’m at HS student wanting to be a teacher when I grow up and think this will be a great start for me. I’m a little confused on two things. (1.) If I can go and teach in Fort Lauderdale and go back to my house to stay..is that fine? and (2.) Does this cost me anything to teach?

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      Hey Matt-

      Great questions. Homestays are available to out of town teachers. As a local teacher it would certainly make more sense for you to live at home.

      To your second question: no! ;) In fact we pay you! Teaching Stipends vary from site to site. You can ask directors about stipends once you are offered an interview.

      Good luck!

  10. Nick Says:

    Sorry for another questions, but I can’t find what this means. :)

    What does Application Status: Assigned, Means ?

    I just submitted it but I would think It would say pending or under review or something, Heh.

  11. Nick Says:

    For people becoming H.S Juniors, this summer, when the 2010 teachers are picked, will we have a chance to be picked ? (I heard it was only for people becoming Seniors and going into College, but you could still apply if you were becoming a Junior)

    I would absolutely love to help, and I’ll still apply, but I would like to know.

    • Dave Bryson Says:

      Hey Nick-

      Great question! Breakthrough Teachers range in age from 15-23.You will certainly be considered by the sites to which you apply. I would consult the “Site Roster” which is inside the online application next to the “Log Out” link to learn more about which sites you might be best fit.

      Cheers and let me know if you have any other questions!

      • Nick Says:

        Yes! Thanks so much for the quick reply! I’ll be 16 by that time!

        Exciting, and I’ll check the roster!

  12. Dave Bryson Says:

    Hi Briana-

    On average candidates have about a week to make a decision. Though this can be a shorter time period for some candidates. That would be a great question to ask if you are offered an interview.

    Thanks for your question!

  13. Briana Says:

    Hello. I was wondering if offered a position, how long does the candidate have to make the decision to commit?

  14. Dave Bryson Says:

    Hi Sunny-

    We’ve replace the Teacher Resources page with the Application Resources page. We’ve provided two great examples of Curriculum Guides with accompanying lesson plans. We hope that’s sufficient. If not, please let us know and we’ll consider re-posting “Breaking It Down: Guide to Teaching at Breakthrough.”

    Thanks for your interest!

    • Sunny Says:

      Hi Dave,

      If possible, I think re-posting “Breaking It Down: Guide to Teaching at Breakthrough” would be quite helpful for applicants. I felt like it gave more detailed instructions on how to go about making a lesson plan.

  15. Sunny Says:

    Hi! I was wondering where did the teacher’s resources section go? I thought it used to be one of the tabs. It contained some information, which would be particularly helpful for the lesson planning section of the application.

  16. Teacher Application is LIVE! « TeachBreakthroughs Says:

    [...] Teach Summer 2010 [...]

  17. TeachBreakthroughs Says:

    [...] Teach Summer 2009 [...]

  18. Suzie Says:

    Hello again :)
    I am abroad and my usually reliable internet connection seems like it couldn’t handle all the traffic on the site. I am afraid of missing the deadline. Is there anyway I could contact (by phone or email) somebody about my application. Everything is ready, I am just having trouble uploading and submitting.

  19. Suzie Says:

    Bobby,
    I have two questions. First, I am studying abroad and can’t have my recommender hand me back the form in a sealed envelope because I am communicating via email. What alternative do you suggest? Second, I am having trouble locating on the website if the sites I am applying to need supplements to the application.
    Thanks!

  20. Ola Says:

    Although the Long Island site is listed in the 2009 Summer Program Dates it doesn’t appear as an option on the application. Why is this?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Ola,

      Unfortunately, Breakthrough Long Island will not be accepting any teachers for this summer. We have not updated the summer program dates to reflect this.

      -Bobby

  21. Emily Says:

    It seems like the word limit for the “academic elective course” section is 75-100 words, but that seems awfully low. Is that right or am I missing something? Thanks!

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Ah, Emily-

      Brevity is the soul of wit.

      And we don’t want the whole story, but rather the “blurb” you would use to entice potential students to your elective.

      Good luck!

      Bobby

  22. Shira Says:

    I do not currently have up-to-date First Aid or CPR certifications, though I could definitely attain them before the summer. Will this affect my application?

    -Shira

  23. Ariel Says:

    Does anyone know where I can find the lesson plan template?

    Thanks!
    -Ariel

  24. Chrissy O Says:

    Hi Summerbridge! I was wondering if two applications are required, the general application and a site application, or if that would be redundant. Also, an oddly specific question: Does Summerbridge ever teach math electives, or only humanities electives? I have a great idea for one and I’d love to put it on my application! Thank you!

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Chrissy,

      It’s hard to answer your first question without knowing the site(s) in which you are interested. While there is only one national summer application, some of our sites do ask for supplemental forms. The directors of those sites will have the best information on what is required and what isn’t.

      As for your second question, there are variations around the Collaborative but, as mentioned in the Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook, most sites offer both academic and non-academic electives.

      Regardless, I suggest that you apply with your fun elective idea – even if you don’t get to teach it this summer, it will still show what an interesting, creative applicant you are.

      Bobby

  25. Yami Rodriguez Says:

    Bobby,

    On the Hong Kong roster it states that housing and airfare will only be provided to those with previous Breakthrough experience. I’m a graduate of Breakthrough Miami from a few years ago and would love to change a students life as they changed mine by applying to teach at a Breakthrough program. But does my participation as a Breakthrough student count as a previous Breakthrough experience or are they referring to a previous teaching experience?

    Thank You for your time

  26. Teresa Says:

    Once we get accepted to a program, is there an opportunity to network with others who’ve been accepted to our site? I’m applying from out-of-town and looking for an apartment to sublet, and I imagine there might be others at the sites I’m looking at in the same situation, in which case it’d be nice to network for finding housing. (I have a cat, which I assumed meant it’d be difficult to get a homestay.)

    - Teresa

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Teresa-

      Yes Yes Yes! That is one of the great things about this community. Be sure to mention your interest in networking if you’re offered an interview.

      Bobby

  27. Dan Says:

    Bobby,

    Would it be possible to complete the training at a different location than where you would actually be teaching. For instance, if I were teaching in Austin, could I complete the training in Houston and then transfer over to Austin for the actual program?

    Thanks

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Dan,

      By joining a teaching staff for the summer, you are agreeing to become a part of the community of students and teachers. The lessons and bonds established in Orientation Week are what sustain you through the long, hard weeks ahead. Please only apply to sites at which you would be able to be present throughout the entire program.

      Best,

      Bobby

  28. Ben Says:

    I have already submitted my application, and have a question about the letter of recommendation. There is a professor at my university who I feel would be a good candidate to fill out the form for me, but I feel like my counselor from high school (who I still keep in close contact with) knows me a bit better. Would it be at all detrimental to use a contact from high school? Does the program prefer college contacts? Also, do most people include an actual letter, or just the rubric provided?

  29. Kimberly McManus Says:

    I submitted my application already; however I have recently began creating curriculum and teaching high school students once a week through a program at my college. This new experience seems very relevant to Breakthrough. Is it possible to somehow add it to my application?

  30. Lauren Says:

    Hello,
    If I graduated from college last May 2008, can I still apply? Or is it only for undergrads??
    Thanks.

    L

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Lauren,

      Unfortunately, you are not eligible to teach with Breakthrough this summer. Only students with a Bachelor’s completion date of December 2008 or later can apply.

      Our sites may have a need for other types of support, though, and you are encouraged to contact your local directors with your availability and interest.

      Best wishes,

      Bobby

  31. Naadia Owens Says:

    Hello.

    On the Lesson Plan portion of the application are we preparing a lesson plan for a single class or outlining something we would try and teach for the entire summer.

    Thanks,
    Naadia Owens

  32. Jennae Says:

    I just found this internship and am extremely interested in it. I was wondering if there are any positions still available for the summer of 09 and what still available locations offer housing options?
    Thank you :-)

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Jennae,

      All sites are still accepting applications, and all information on our affiliates is included on the Site Roster once you start applying. Be sure to read the Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook before you start!

      Bobby

  33. Trishala Says:

    I know the deadline for the application is March 2. I understand that some of the sites look at applications and fill positions as early as February. I just started the essay portion of the application and I’m worried that I might not finish in time. How late is too late?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Trishala,

      It depends on the sites to which you are applying. All sites will have at least *some* positions available at the deadline, but the more high-interest locations will have very few. Basically, submit your application as soon as it is good. A rushed application is worse than a good application sent in at the deadline, but don’t delay otherwise.

      Bobby

  34. Meliss Says:

    Thank you! Okay just two more questions.
    I thought I read somewhere about a recommendation letter. Do we need one? If so, where do we upload or mail it to?
    Secondly, if notified of an interview will we receive suggested preparation? If not, any suggestions?
    I may be jumping the gun a bit since I haven’t even applied :) .

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Melissa,

      The answer to your recommendation question is in the Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook, and you will receive a recommendation form via e-mail when you submit your application.

      Any director that offers you an interview will let you know what they need from you at that time.

      Bobby

  35. paul Says:

    When do we find out whether we are accepted or not?
    Does “Early Assignment” application find out faster or are they the same?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Paul,

      All selections are done by directors after interviews have taken place. Early Assignment means that your application is submitted and queued up for review. If you are to be granted an interview, you’ll hear from a director first, and the final notification deadline is March 13. You may hear sooner than that, but it depends on the sites to which you applied and a host of other factors.

      Good luck!

      Bobby

  36. Melissa Says:

    Hello,
    On the application under the course description for an elective class it says 75-100 words. Is this only for the title or for the entire description?
    I hate being so behind on applying I didn’t find out about Breakthrough until recently!

    Thank you,
    Melissa

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Melissa,

      That is for whatever goes in the box. You don’t want to write a textbook there, just give a sense of what elective you’d like to teach and why it would be interesting to students.

      And you’re not behind – you’re right on time!

      Bobby

  37. Bobby Cupp Says:

    Paul,

    If you are granted a “homestay,” that generally means that you will not have to pay for your housing. These are all handled on a case-by-case basis, with the assumption that a site will do whatever they are able to do to support a strong candidate. Be sure to be in communication with directors when you interview about your needs.

    Bobby

  38. Bobby Cupp Says:

    Jenny,

    That is a really good question, and the answer is that it varies from site to site. You can get some sense of how structured a site is from the descriptions on the Site Roster, but it is generally best to contact the local directors with specific questions.

    Even at the most structured sites, however, you are expected to show independence and creativity in your lesson planning. At most, a site will determine specific skills that need to be mastered in the summer and will set the scope an sequence of the curriculum accordingly.

    Thanks, and good luck!

    Bobby

  39. Paul Says:

    So if we have to homestay, do we pay that on our own? Or is that included as part of the program?

    • Michelle Says:

      Hey Paul,

      From my experience this summer in Sacramento, I can tell you that you don’t have to worry about that. You do however have to pay for your own food and what not–but thats when your stipend comes in hand (:
      Good Luck!

  40. Jenny Says:

    Hello. A few questions…For the academic classes, is the curriculum a set curriculum? If so, is there any way prospective applicants can see a sample curriculum? How much flexibility do teachers have in how they choose to teach the curriculum? Thanks!

  41. Carmen Says:

    Is it possible to view the application/essay questions without starting an application?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Carmen,

      Unfortunately, there is a login-wall for the application, and you need to create a login to view the application. That said, there is no commitment that comes along with starting an application. Should you decide that you are no longer interested in applying, I’d even be able to delete your information entirely from our system, if you’d prefer.

      Thanks!
      Bobby

  42. Laura Z Says:

    Hi, I was looking through the site roster, and noticed that Houston, one of the places I’m interested in, does not offer housing. If I don’t have any means myself of finding housing, should I choose not listing it as one of my preferences?
    Thank you!

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Laura,

      If you are unable to provide your own housing, and the site doesn’t offer housing, it would be best to apply somewhere else. Directors that don’t have homestays generally reject all applications that require housing.

      Bobby

  43. Emma Says:

    Hey!

    I was wondering what a typical day would be like in the summer. I read “A Typical Day” in the handbook, but I wasn’t sure if that applied to the summer as well.

    Thanks!

  44. arielle Says:

    Hi, I’m a junior in highschool now and I was wondering if all the sites accept high schoolers or if only specific ones do, especially for out of town teachers. Thanks!

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Arielle,

      While all sites accept HS teachers, not all are able to offer homestays to HS teacher. You’ll need to contact the directors of the sites which you are considering to ask this question.

      Good luck!

      Bobby

  45. Mickey Lai Says:

    What if there are time conflicting issues (only by a couple days) with the UC calendar and our choices on sites such as Sacramento or San Jose? Are we able to work out a solution for those couple days?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Mickey,

      Full attendance is required of all teachers at all sites. If you will not be able to attend every scheduled day of the program, you are asked to apply elsewhere. However, the UC calendar lists the last day of the Spring Semester as May 21, so there is definitely no conflict there with any of our sites.

      Bobby

  46. Chris Says:

    Hi, I’m about to graduate in May from college, am I still eligible?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Chris,

      Check out the FAQ for the answer to this, and other questions. Also the Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook. Both can be downloaded from this page.

      Bobby

  47. Kevin Says:

    I have a question Bobby, for the Hong Kong program, is it in English? Do you teach in English? This program is really interesting and I hope I get in!

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Kevin,

      All important details about our sited (including Hong Kong) can be found in the Site Roster inside the application. Please review that information before you make a decision!

      Good luck,
      Bobby

  48. Bobby Cupp Says:

    Walter,

    The program is tuition-free and voluntary for all students. Even so, the directors travel around town seeking out the absolute brightest and most promising students from the most underserved or underresourced areas. Breakthrough and the students kind of “find each other” that way. The student admission process is even more involved and difficult than that for teachers, as it includes deeper research, more interviews, and parent/guardian interviews as well. This is because the program is making a six-year commitment to the students and their families.

    Good question!
    Bobby

  49. Walter Says:

    Sorry to ask another question, but I’d like to know how exactly are the students (not teachers) that attend breakthrough selected? Do they apply for the program themselves? or does the program look for them?

  50. Deborah Cohen Says:

    I was wondering how I could mark that I wanted to be an athletic chair. The handbook says there is an athletic chair, but it does not appear on the drop down in the application. Thanks for your help!

  51. Vivian Says:

    How strict is the 3000 character limit? If it’s strict, does the limit include spaces or indentations?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Vivian-

      The limit is indeed strict (it won’t allow you to submit if you go over at all), and spaces and indentations count as characters against that limit.

      Thanks!
      Bobby

  52. Bobby Cupp Says:

    Walter,

    You should check out the Site Roster on the application. That will give you the information you need for all the sites.

    Bobby

  53. Walter Says:

    Thank you
    umm…. do you have information about Houston? I’m assuming the acceptance rate is probably going to be lower…

  54. Walter Says:

    may I ask about how many people are accepted out of how many applicants?
    Thanks.

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Walter –
      That depends on the sites to which you apply, but nationwide we place about 780 out of 1600 applicants. Some individual sites, however, have much higher or much lower acceptance rates. When you apply, be sure to include some sites in smaller cities (such as Norfolk, Cincinnati, or Santa Fe) or sites that select a higher number of teachers (Philadelphia or Miami) to improve your chances of acceptance.
      Bobby

  55. Shirley Says:

    Aw, too bad! I didn’t read that before submitting my application though, so please ignore it. And if you know of any interesting work for a desperate grad student, drop me a line!

  56. Shirley Says:

    Can graduate students apply? I’m a first year grad student.

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Shirley,

      Unfortunately, the Breakthrough teaching internship is available only to undergraduates. If you are interested in offering your expertise to Breakthrough students in some other capacity, just contact the director at your local site to find out how you can help.

      Take care,
      Bobby

  57. Ola Says:

    Is this program open to international students?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Ola,

      Breakthrough always has a number of international students. You are encouraged to apply, but also to be in touch with the directors at the sites you are interested in. It’s up to each individual site to arrange the rules and policies for documents and permits, etc.

      Good luck!
      Bobby

  58. Mary Says:

    For the lesson plan part of the application, one of the sections for that is “assessment.” I am not sure how to approach that section…

  59. L.H. Says:

    What does “early assignment” mean on the application status?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      L.H. – That means that your application is submitted and waiting to be reviewed by a Director. “Early Assignment” just means that you submitted your application more than a month before the deadline.

      Bobby

  60. ij Says:

    What are the dates for the program?
    Also, I am doing an intensive Arabic studying abroad program next semester. Will my inability to do an in-person interview prevent me from being accepted?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      All the program dates are shown on the Site Roster inside the application. Starting an application doesn’t imply a commitment, and for now, it’s the only way to get all the dates.

      Interviews are mostly done over the phone. The answers to these, and most other questions you have can be found in the Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook.

      Good luck!

  61. jman Says:

    Thanks Bobby!

    :) .

  62. jman Says:

    How soon do people usually find out about interviews?

    DO you find out if they are simply not interested in you?

  63. Mia Says:

    I taught for two summers through Breakthrough in South Florida. After those two summers, I went on to teach H.S. for three years and now I am a Resident Principal! I am on my way to being an innovative leader for our under privileged students. All this would not be possilbe without Breakthrough!!! I would encourage you all to apply if you are serious about changing your life and positively affecting others. Thank you so much Breakthrough.

  64. Deja Says:

    Hi,
    I just wanted to know if the interviews for each individual site are held in the different states, or is it one interview held in your hometown for whichever site you are interested in?

    • Bobby Cupp Says:

      Unless the site that grants you an interview is close to where you live, you can expect to be interviewed over the phone. All the details are in the “Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook.” Good luck!

  65. jamn Says:

    I applied already. I really hope that I get in .

  66. APPLY NOW « TeachBreakthroughs Says:

    [...] Teach Summer 2009 [...]

  67. Bobby Cupp Says:

    Cheris-
    You can get all the details in the Teaching at Breakthrough Handbook, but there is a living expenses stipend that varies according to location and your need.

  68. Cheris Says:

    Not that it matters that much, is this a paid program

  69. Alexis Martinez Says:

    Wow! This sounds so amazing–I can’t wait for the summer application to be online!

Leave a Reply