November 18, 2008
The Master of Arts in Teaching progam at Brown University prepares future educators to understand fundamental principles of teaching and learning and to employ that understanding to work effectively with all children, youth, families and communities. The program is dedicated to the idea that teaching is creative and intellectually serious work. Intentionally small in size, the program seeks to ensure that future teachers learn best practices in curriculum design and instruction, and to develop personal characteristics that enable them to work collaboratively with others. Student teachers are encouraged to seek constructive feedback, take risks, engage with colleagues in exploring sensitive issues of race, class, linguistic diversity, sexual orientation and gender, and to explore opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our commitment to contributing to the creation of a truly democratic, multiracial, multicultural society begins with the program’s work in the community and the schools and is best seen through the ability of graduates to reflect critically on their work and the world.
Brown offers M.A.T. programs in elementary education, secondary English, secondary history/social studies, and secondary biology.
Applications for admission to the class of 2010 are due by January 2, 2009. (Not in February)
For further information about the program and the application process, please contact Karl Dominey at: Karl_Dominey@brown.edu, 401-863-2407
No Comments » | 
Careers, Grad School | 
Permalink
Posted by Bobby Cupp
October 31, 2008
We know that Breakthrough really lays the foundation for future educators and we hope that the work you’ve done with us has inspired you to continue a career in education. We’re confident that your summer teaching experience with us will give you the edge you need to be an effective Teach For America corps member. There are eager students out there who need committed teachers like you! Are you up for the challenge, again? Lauren Tinkoff was. Here’s her story:
Dear Breakthrough Collaborative alumni,
My name is Lauren Tinkoff, and I am a 2007 Teach For America corps member and a former Breakthrough Collaborative teacher. The summer I spent teaching at Providence Summerbridge was one of the most transformative and inspirational times in my life. Now, in the midst of my second year as a part of the New Mexico corps, I have been able to use some of that Breakthrough spirit to help transform not only myself, but my students and my school as well.
I decided to join TFA because I wanted to bring the excitement and passion for learning that exists in Breakthrough to the everyday classroom. I teach 9th and 11th grade English in an extremely rural community on the Navajo Nation. Our students, on average, are reading at a fourth grade level, and often do not know simple math facts such as subtraction. This is not just an achievement gap – it is a chasm.
We can do something about this educational inequity. Closing the achievement gap isn’t just about test scores – it’s about giving students the education they deserve. When Shawndale (goth, anarchist, and self-proclaimed hater of all things literary) asks me to print out some more Emily Dickinson poems for him, I know that I’m making a difference.
Join us in the fight to end educational inequity. The second deadline is November 7th. Apply now.
Best,
Lauren
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. Join them in the fight ot end education inequity.
No Comments » | 
Careers, Teacher Updates | 
Permalink
Posted by imckinzie
October 23, 2008
Â
Roxbury Preparatory Charter School students.
Schools like Roxbury Preparatory Charter School in Massachusetts are making great strides in changing the educational trajectory of middle school students in their community. The formula is simple, but takes commitment on many levels to achieve:
- The curriculum is rigorous, engaging, and well-planned.
- The school emphasizes student character, community responsibility, and exposure to life’s possibilities.
- AÂ community network supports student academic, social, and physical well-being.
Roxbury Prep helps students gain admission to outstanding public and private college preparatory high schools.
We like schools like Robxury Prep because their purpose is aligns with what Breakthrough believes in- preparing students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college and placing passionate teachers in the classroom.
Now they need people like you: highly motivated, young college graduates to serve as Apprentice Teachers for the 2008-2009 school year. So, if you’ve taught a summer or two at a Breakthrough site and loved seeing the positive changes in your students as well as yourself, this could be another chance for you to do something that really matters. Check out the Opportunities page for more information.
No Comments » | 
Careers | 
Permalink
Posted by imckinzie
October 6, 2008
Ed in ’08’s Roy Romer posts this about the DC plan. Much better basic breakdown than I offered.
Washington Aims to Improve Its Local Schools (Ed in ‘08)
Romer lays out the DC plan and says this:
Rhee’s plan would place teachers on two tracks. The first track would remain the same – teachers can opt to maintain tenure and the traditional salary structure. The second track, which would be completely voluntary, would provide bonuses for those teachers who opted out of tenure. In other words, they would have a strong incentive to improve student performance.
No Comments » | Careers, Issues | Permalink
Posted by Bobby Cupp
October 6, 2008
Big drama in DC.
We’ve talked before on this blog about teacher merit pay, unions, and the difficult efforts at reform. Things have come to a head on this issues in the District, where schools chancellor Michelle Rhee has made a “take no prisoners” approach to fixing that city’s disastrous public school system.
Here’s the long view, as I understand it. Faced with years of failed reforms and interminable disputes between the schools, the teachers, and the municipal officials, the city hired Michelle Rhee as the new Chancellor. Rhee is a TFA alum, and the founder of The New Teacher Project (disclosure: TNTP is a friend of Breakthrough, and their programs can be a good next step if you want to teach in distressed areas). DC also gave Rhee a mandate to improve student performance by any means necessary and unprecedented power over the bulk of the school system. Rhee has, since she started in the summer of 2007, become a lightning rod for controversy, alienating just about everyone in her drive to improve the quality of teaching in the schools.
Now the focus is on implementing a merit pay program in DC schools. As we’ve discussed before, merit pay is generally popular with younger teachers (who want to be rewarded for their ambition and new ideas), and distrusted by the older, more experienced teachers who see it as a risk to the Union-based security they’ve fought long and hard for. Rhee’s top priority is getting the bad teachers out of the system and drawing the good ones in with general pay increases and additional incentives for performance. The right-to-fire has become a big part of the story. Now it’s gotten personal, with some Union members accusing Rhee (a Korean-American woman) of targeting them for firing because of their race.
Here’s where things are now. Rhee asked the Washington Teachers Union to approve her plan, but President George Parker decided to not bring it to a vote (he’s torn because he sees the need for reform, but his members think Rhee is trying to kill the union). Now Rhee is moving ahead anyway with her rumored “Plan B,” which will allow the firings of underperforming teachers, institute some incentives for performance, but without the general increases. Plan B is the stick without the carrot. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes.
“While I am disappointed that we cannot announce an agreement on a new teacher contract, I am moving forward to ensure that all adults in this district are accountable for high performance.” Michelle Rhee, Open Letter to DCPS
1 Comment | Careers, Issues | Permalink
Posted by Bobby Cupp
September 15, 2008
Long-time TeachBreakthroughs readers will remember our previous posts about this great program from teaching alum Erin Tsukamoto (Miami ‘06, Cambridge ‘07). Â MATCH Corps is back for another year, and here’s a message from Erin:
Bobby-
I sent this last year around this time to inform the Breakthrough Community. I taught Miami ‘06 and Cambridge ‘07 and spent last year working at the MATCH High School. We just opened a new middle school this fall (where I currently work with several other Breakthrough alums) and have started a new teacher training program as well.
-Erin
The MATCH Corps is an urban education service year program at the MATCH High and Middle Schools, both open-admission Charter Public Schools in Boston, MA. The MATCH mission is to close the academic achievement gap that our almost entirely minority student body faces, and prepare each of the urban youths at our school to succeed in college. Corps members work 1-on-1 with 5 MATCH students every day, tutoring them in their classroom subjects and on SAT, AP, and MCAS tests. The Corps, who live in dorm housing in the High School and in apartments near the Middle School, also have secondary duties as teaching assistants and administrative assistants, as well as running clubs, coaching sports, and powering extracurricular activities.
MATCH has received much recognition since it opened its doors in the fall of 2000 for its rigorous, innovative approach to urban education. In 2007, MATCH was named by US News & World Report at one of the nation’s top-100 High Schools, and in 2008 was similarly recognized by Newsweek as one of the top-25 High Schools in the country.
Corps members have the option to take part in the MATCH Teacher Training Program during their Corps year, a program designed to produce unusually effective and confident first-year teachers. Corps members go on to teaching or administrative positions (often staying on at MATCH), as well as a variety of grad schools (law, medicine, education, etc.) and to positions as public policy leaders and social advocates.
To apply to the MATCH Corps, complete the questionairre and submit your resume and cover letter via the website at: http://apply.matchschool.org/apply.php
No Comments » | Careers, Grad School, Teacher Updates | Permalink
Posted by Bobby Cupp
September 15, 2008
Dear Breakthrough Collaborative alumni,
I fell in love with my first class as a Breakthrough teacher in Miami. Meeting great kids like Kwan and Bryan changed my worldview in two distinct ways. First, the atrocity of the achievement gap was made so much more real to me when looking at students in lieu of statistics. Secondly, my passion for working to close this gap was intensified by the enormous success we achieved in that short summer.
My name is Matthew Schultheis, and my experience in Miami inspired me to seek an organization every bit as dedicated to our children as Breakthrough. I’ve found that organization in Teach For America. The skills and creativity you gained through your experience with Breakthrough will be a tremendous asset to your students next fall. I strongly urge you continue acting on your commitment to this nation’s children. Join Teach For America in the movement to end educational inequality. The first application deadline is 9/19. Apply now.
Click Here To Apply
With great hope for the future,
Matthew Schultheis
No Comments » | Careers, Grad School | Permalink
Posted by Bobby Cupp
 We have an exciting opportunity for the right person– A chance to join Breakthrough Collaborative’s national team. We always look for the best and brightest and we think former teachers are just that! Breakthrough’s national office in San Francisco is looking for a team player to serve as Development Associate. This is an excellent learning position for anyone who is interested in gaining skills in nonprofit management, fundraising, and communications for social causes. See our 
