Breakthrough Houston

This summer, I had the privilege of teaching at Breakthrough Houston, and it was an incredibly impactful and fulfilling experience. Using my passion for education, I was able to turn research theory into practice, making a real difference in the lives of young scholars. Special thanks to God for guiding me, and to the amazing admin, staff, and teaching fellows at Breakthrough Houston SJS. I also want to express my gratitude to my professors at Morehouse College for equipping me with the tools to become an influential and effective educator. Here's to many more opportunities to inspire and be inspired! - Mr. Patterson Breakthrough Houston Morehouse College

Please help us welcome German Aparicio to the BTH team as our new 11th Grade Program Manager! German brings 8 years of experience in the college counseling field and loves helping students discover schools that fit them financially and academically.

A Full Circle Moment Seven years ago, I joined Breakthrough Houston as a student, and over the past seven weeks, I had the privilege of serving as a Teaching Fellow for the organization. In this role, I taught Biology and Financial Literacy to students from diverse communities, preparing them for the upcoming school year. Through this fellowship, I have strengthened my communication skills by explaining complex concepts concisely to different types of students. This experience has also deepened my appreciation for educators who often have to pivot in response to challenging situations.  I am grateful to my instructional coach, Ashlee Stevenson, and my fellow teachers for their guidance and support, which have been instrumental in my growth. I would also like to thank Erica Barnes and Twenewaa Adu-Oppong for making this opportunity possible this summer. #breakthroughhouston #teaching #nonprofit

Check out our Breakthrough summer ☀️ highlight! Our students are College Bound thanks to the amazing team that makes completing college applications…fun! Students began working on their personal statements, preparing potential college lists, and practiced their presentation skills! For many high school seniors this could be the most stressful year ever, but with the amazing Breakthrough staff and all the resources and support provided, our students will be well-equipped for a successful senior year and a joyful transition to college! Thank you for supporting Breakthrough students!

Visitor’s Day at The Awty International School was ah-mazing!! Check out this recap and hear what our students and Teaching Fellows had to share about their Breakthrough experience. 📕

Our rising college students are energized for the journey ahead thanks to another successful Breakthrough Bridge workshop! Focused on creating and navigating Systems of Support, 20 eager college freshman learned how to find and access their specific campus resources and tools to better support their mental health. Thank you to our amazing representatives from Vanderbilt University and The Jed Foundation (JED) for partnering with us on this successful workshop. With just a few months left of summer, our students will be ready to start the year off right!

Breakthrough students are checking in for your morning news! Thank you Mariah Gardner for hosting our middle school students at KPRC News Station! Students had the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the station and the process behind what it takes to broadcast news to the public. Thank you for providing our students with insight to careers in news, broadcast media, production, staging, videography and so much more! You are helping open their minds to their own bright futures!

Breakthrough Houston's 11th Grade Summer Kick Off Event at The Cannon was incredible! This 2 day professional development workshop for our rising juniors prepared them for exciting summer experiences. Students learned and practiced elevator pitches, interview skills, and building a resume. Here are some highlights from the event: 💡 30+ students participated on BOTH days of the workshop! 💡 10 enthusiastic volunteers, from different professions and backgrounds, supported our students as they practiced their elevator pitch, interviews, and resume building. 💡 ~70% of our students have listed a meaningful activity in which they are participating this summer Thank you so much for your support! We are excited to return in August for the Junior Symposium - where our students will reflect on their experiences this summer and present to the community! Join us for this community presentation by signing up here: bit.ly/bthvisitors

Another Bridge Saturday is complete! This weekend, 2️⃣1️⃣ incoming college freshman took away tips on creating real life Academic Habits like: 📚 studying 📚 finding the right mentor 📚 practical tools for time management 📚 securing campus housing 📚 analyzing a financial aid award letter Listen in to their feedback: “I learned to make a proper schedule!” “I learned that sometimes you have to change your study habits for different classes.” Thank you Momentum Education and the College Completion team for bringing the knowledge to our students!

Our College Completion team is helping students navigate the financial landscape thanks to community partner Wellby Financial! Kicking off our first Bridge workshop, rising college freshman learned tips on how to save, budget, and manage money while in school. “No signing up for credit cards to get a free t-shirt!” Students shared their takeaways: “I learned a lot about credit and how valuable it is to keep up payments.” “I learned to ask for help if I am struggling with financial aid.” “I learned how to budget using the 50/30/20 rule.” We’re thankful for our amazing College Completion team and our community partners for joining in this collaborative opportunity for students!