Celebrating 20 Years of Breakthrough: Spotlight on Annie Jenkin LaVanway
As we continue to celebrate 20 years of Breakthrough Twin Cities, we highlight the incredible stories of our alumni who have shaped and been shaped by the BTC community.
Meet Annie Jenkin LaVanway, a Teaching Fellow alum whose passion for education, mentorship, and equity was ignited during her summers with Breakthrough and continues to this day.
Beginning of the Journey
Annie first joined Breakthrough Twin Cities as a Teaching Fellow in 2014, teaching literature at the Saint Paul site. “My summers (2014 and 2015) as a Teaching Fellow were some of the most powerful I have ever had,” she said. “Building relationships with faculty and students, growing my teaching practice, and being introduced to the magic of the Twin Cities, which I have now called home for ten years.”
What started as a summer opportunity quickly grew into something more. It was a stepping stone into a lifelong commitment to education and equity.
BTC Memories
Annie’s favorite BTC memory was the joy of dancing in the hallways. “Especially that first summer at Saint Paul City School, we were a tiny but mighty site with amazing students and a tight-knit faculty. I wish all schools used passing and dismissal times to share some joy!” That energy and sense of community made an impact and created memories that still bring a smile to her face!
For Annie, BTC stood out for its unwavering commitment to a growth mindset. “I really valued verbal kudos given in faculty meetings, the plus/delta model of feedback, and written kudos cards (which I still have!).” These small but powerful practices helped create an uplifting and supportive environment. “I have found few other spaces that were this positive and uplifting in my adult life, and these are practices I have brought into my own teaching, evaluating, and collegial relationships.”
From Teaching Fellow to Higher Ed
Annie’s BTC journey didn’t end with her Teaching Fellow summers. She went on to serve as an Instructional Coach and later as a Dean of Instruction. Alongside earning her graduate degrees in education, these roles laid the groundwork for her work as a teacher educator at both the University of Minnesota and St. Catherine University.
In fact, her first solo research study was a Master’s thesis exploring what makes Breakthrough so successful!
If Annie had to describe Breakthrough in just one word, she says it’s simple: “Incredible!” She explains, “Breakthrough does an incredible job providing helpful supports for highly motivated students including prompts for every aspect of the college application process… I have seen Breakthrough successfully uplift intelligent, thoughtful, wonderful students, faculty, and staff year after year.”
Life Today
Today, Annie lives in the Twin Cities with her partner, their baby daughter born in August 2024, and their dog. She is currently on a break from academia to stay home with her daughter, but looks forward to returning to the classroom and continuing her research on educational equity.
