Local program builds students, and future teachers too

Posted 1/27/25

For almost 30 years, one Northwest Philadelphia program has been transforming the lives of the city's middle school students while building a pipeline of future teachers.

Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, housed at Germantown Friends School, serves more than 175 students annually through its innovative, tuition-free academic enrichment program. Students receive seven years of enrichment in academic, co-curricular and life skills, fostering a love for learning and commitment to education. They also participate in free career exploration workshops, resume building, interview practice, …

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Local program builds students, and future teachers too

Posted

For almost 30 years, one Northwest Philadelphia program has been transforming the lives of the city's middle school students while building a pipeline of future teachers.

Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, housed at Germantown Friends School, serves more than 175 students annually through its innovative, tuition-free academic enrichment program. Students receive seven years of enrichment in academic, co-curricular and life skills, fostering a love for learning and commitment to education. They also participate in free career exploration workshops, resume building, interview practice, test preparation, and college and financial planning assistance.

The impact is clear: 83% of eighth-grade Breakthrough Scholars now attend their top three choice competitive admission high schools, with 100% attending non-neighborhood Philadelphia high schools.

"Thanks to Breakthrough, you get to learn about different professions," says Jakob Bakali, a 10th-grade student and former Breakthrough scholar. "There are so many teaching fellows you can make great bonds with. The teachers are also like mentors. Breakthrough is a great place to flourish."

Creating tomorrow's teachers

Matthew Tossman, now principal of the Bache-Martin School in Fairmount, traces his 22-year career in public education to his start at Breakthrough as a teaching fellow while studying at Haverford College.

"That summer with Breakthrough over two decades ago ignited my passion for education," Tossman says. "I experienced those moments that define teaching: the electric connection with students, the thrill of watching their eyes light up when a concept finally clicked."

When Tossman joined Teach For America the following year as a full-time teacher, he brought more than basic training to the classroom. "I had the confidence that comes from successful teaching experiences and expert mentorship," he says. "Today, I can trace my 22-year journey in public education back to that pivotal summer. My career in education, with all its successes and impact on young lives, began with that summer opportunity to teach, learn and grow."

Azure Lintulahti, who now teaches at Science Leadership Academy Middle School, shares similar experiences. "My experience at Breakthrough was my first real teaching experience," Lintulahti says. "As difficult as it was to balance planning curriculum, caring for my students and caring for myself, the struggle felt good. I felt like I was showing up each day with a purpose and a goal, to be better than I was the day before. Breakthrough showed me that I actually was capable of doing this scary thing called teaching, and not only could I do it, but I genuinely wanted to."

Growing impact

The program continues to expand its reach. In the upcoming fiscal year, Breakthrough is expanding its middle school program and building upon last year's College Bound pilot program to develop 21st century tech/digital skills, identify career interests and provide practical guidance for participants.

The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education recently strengthened the program's impact by offering an annual $20,000 scholarship for Breakthrough teaching fellow alumni who enroll in Penn GSE's Urban Teaching Program. The Summer 2024 program saw record-level returning teaching fellows, with one-third returning from 2023. Seventy-five of Summer 2024's teaching fellows were persons of color, surpassing last year's record high.

The success extends nationally: 75% of teaching fellows pursue careers in education, with over two-thirds of current teachers planning to teach for five or more years.

Michelle Palmer, Breakthrough's executive director, said she is particularly proud of the program’s role in developing future educators. 

"Breakthrough's 29-year track record is closely aligned with the mayor of Philadelphia's vision for growing the city's teacher population, and building a diverse, talented teacher workforce," she says. "I am amazed at the academic and personal growth of Breakthrough's scholars and teaching fellows – and we remain steadfast in our dual mission to help them reach top-choice high schools."