Sophia Kor was an Instructional Coach–a licensed educator working directly on lesson-planning and curriculum with Teaching Fellows–during our 2018 Summer Session. See what she had to say about her experience in her interview below!

1. Please tell me a little bit about your background! Where did you grow up, where did you attend high school and college, what have been some subjects or potential careers you were interested in growing up, and how did you become interested and involved in teaching?

I grew up in Eagan, Minnesota and went to Eastview High School. After I graduated, I attended St. Olaf College (Um Ya Ya!) for Music Performance and Asian Studies. Just this spring, I received a Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. I was always interested in teaching, especially as a child, when I would create math quizzes for my non-existent students! However, as I grew older, I wanted to focus on music. It wasn’t until I was a BLP teacher at Breakthrough that I realized how much life and energy teaching in the classroom gave me. After my summer at Breakthrough, I received a Fulbright to teach English in Taiwan, pushing me even further into the world of education.

2. How did you become aware of Breakthrough, and why did you decide to get involved as an Instructional Coach?

Four years later, I found myself yearning for the spirit and collaboration that defines Breakthrough. I reached out to an old friend that still worked at Breakthrough, and he said that there were openings for the IC position. So, I applied!

3. In what ways has your experience at Breakthrough helped you develop and grow as an individual?

Working closely with Teaching Fellows has strengthened my own practice. I love that their perspectives are fresh and occasionally non-traditional, which is sometimes what experienced teachers need. I can’t wait to apply what they’ve taught me to my own teaching.

4. What do you enjoy most about your job as an Instructional Coach?

One of my favorite parts about being an IC is observing the Teaching Fellows create relationships with their students. I especially enjoy hearing the Teaching Fellows come back into the faculty room and boast about the success of their students. It’s very cute.

5. Can you tell us about an experience working at Breakthrough that impacted you or sticks out in your mind?

Every year, my BLP co-teacher and I have a reunion for our students. Every year they are brighter, taller, and more mature. We love hearing about their academic successes, their future plans, and how BTC impacted their lives. Not to mention all of our inside jokes!

6. What advice or suggestions would you give for someone else who wants to get involved with Breakthrough or apply to be a Teaching Fellow or Instructional Coach?

As an Instructional Coach, it’s necessary to have patience. The Teaching Fellows are like superheroes, completing multiple tasks at once. For most of them, it’s their first time teaching. Not only is it our job to support them to academically, but mentally as well.

See what Christian Roldan, an 8th Grade BTC student at St. Paul City School, has to say about Breakthrough!

1. If someone had never heard of BTC, what is the one thing you would say to help them understand what BTC does? 


It’s a program that helps you learn academic skills. It helps you get out of your shell.

2. What motivated you to be a part of Breakthrough?

My sister is in Breakthrough! I also needed help because I was stuck in school. I thought that Breakthrough would help me more. 


3. How has BTC impacted you? 


It has helped me get out of my shell and not be shy, because everyone here is pretty outgoing and it made me feel comfortable to be myself.

4. Why have you stayed involved in BTC? 


I think Breakthrough is fun. It was fun the first day and it’s still fun. Classes are not just about learning, my teachers make it fun and in different ways.

5. What is your favorite Breakthrough Code and why? 


“Persist,” I just think it’s good, and it’s meaningful to me. It was a part of my life growing up because my teachers always told me to persist because sometimes I give up a little easily. So it’s encouraging to see my friends persisting at Breakthrough.

6. If you could give Breakthrough a shoutout, what would it be for?

I would give Breakthrough a shoutout for helping me get out of my shell, and for encouraging me not to give up even when something is hard.

Check out what Laura Smith, one of our fantastic 2018 Summer Session Teaching Fellows, has to say about Breakthrough Twin Citeis in her interview below.

1. Please tell me a little bit about your background! Where did you grow up, where did you attend high school, are you currently in college and if so where, what have been some subjects or potential careers you have been interested in, and how did you become interested in teaching?

I grew up in Washington D.C. and graduated from Georgetown Day School in 2015. Currently, I am a rising senior at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. I am majoring in English and minoring in Educational Studies. My love of reading comes from my 5th and 6th grade Language Arts teachers, so I guess those two things just came together for me at Carleton, and at Breakthrough as well where I am a Literature Teaching Fellow.

2. How did you become aware of Breakthrough, and why did you decide to get involved as a Teaching Fellow?

Daniel Bernal is a Carleton Alum, and I became aware of Breakthrough through that connection–the Teaching Fellow position was listing on the Carleton Career Center’s Alumni Connection Page. I have had the opportunity to work with students and young people through being a sleepaway camp counselor at a YMCA camp and through tutoring a high school student from Northfield. I really enjoyed both those experiences and decided to apply for the Breakthrough Teaching Fellow position as a way to continue exploring a possible future in working with students in some capacity.

3. In what ways has your teaching experience at Breakthrough helped you develop and grow as an individual?

Teaching at Breakthrough has taught me that people want to hear what I have to say. Before the summer began I imagined I would have to do everything in my power to keep attention on me or on the task at hand, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Standing in front of a class with all eyes focused on me and ready to learn whatever it is I am planning on teaching that day has helped build my confidence. It has shown me that I can succeed and that everyone (especially my students) want me to succeed.

 4. Can you tell us about an experience working at Breakthrough that impacted you or sticks out in your mind?

One day at lunch during my first week at Breakthrough, a student I didn’t know approached me. She wasn’t in any of my classes and she had no reason to know me, but she sat down across from me and asked me my name and what grade and subject I taught. When I was her age I never would have approached a teacher I didn’t know just to start a friendly conversation. It is amazing to me how poised and genial Breakthrough students are. The connections at Breakthrough between students, faculty, and staff are incredible, and it is heartwarming to see so many people coming together to strive for a common goal.

2018 Summer Session Teaching Fellow Roni Margalit shares her perspectives on her time at Breakthrough in the interview below!

1. Please tell me a little bit about your background! Where did you grow up, where did you attend high school, are you currently in college and if so where, what have been some subjects or potential careers you have been interested in, and how did you become interested in teaching?

I was born in Israel and my family moved to the US when I was 2 years old. I grew up for most of my life in the Bay Area of California, 20 minutes south of San Francisco. I attended Hillsdale High School there, in San Mateo, CA. I currently attend Macalester College in Saint Paul and am majoring in Sociology and Educational Studies. I wasn’t always interested in teaching; I thought for a long time that I wanted to be a lawyer or public defender in some capacity. I started working with students and realized that learning with students of all ages not only made me really happy, but is a sphere that could use a lot of patience and improvement. I love learning and always loved helping people learn, so it feels natural that this is where my path ended up!

2. How did you become aware of Breakthrough, and why did you decide to get involved as a Teaching Fellow?

My first year college roommate in Macalester College was a Breakthrough student and continued working during summers as a Teaching Fellow and during the year as a School Year Coach. I wanted to begin working with middle-to-high school aged students and she suggested that I join her during the year. I ended up getting more involved in Breakthrough, decided to continue, and applied to become a Literature Teaching Fellow!

3. In what ways has your teaching experience at Breakthrough helped you develop and grow as an individual?

I’m learning what aspects of teaching and maintaining interpersonal work relationships come naturally to me and what I still need to work on. Working through my weaknesses until they became strengths was necessary as I grew this summer. My students taught me daily about how to persist, how to remain true to myself, and how to have fun all the while!

4. What do you enjoy most about your job as a Teaching Fellow?

There are many things I enjoy about my job, but it ultimately revolves on being able to witness students engage with academic material critically and creatively and seeing the community that the students build together. There is so much support and they all hype each other up. It’s just fun!

5. Anything else you would like us to know about you or your experience as a Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough?

I have learned, grown, laughed, enjoyed, struggled, and persisted this summer! It was exhausting, energizing, and it gives me hope. I highly encourage any college or high school student considering teaching or wanting a challenge to try working at Breakthrough!

See what Raniya Abawari, a 7th grade BTC student attending Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented in St. Paul, has to say about Breakthrough in her interview below!

1. If someone had never heard of BTC, what is the one thing you would say to help them understand what BTC does? 


It’s a fun learning environment where you can be yourself!

2. What motivated you to be a part of Breakthrough?

My brother and my sister are in Breakthrough and so I just did it and now I’m really glad that I signed up.

3. How has BTC impacted you? 


I feel like it’s made me break out of my shell and it’s made me more extroverted because I’m usually an introvert; now I’m more outgoing.

4. Why have you stayed involved in BTC? 


It’s just really fun and the teachers are so nice and everyone is really nice. There’s no one who’s mean. At school, there are some people who aren’t nice. But at Breakthrough everyone is nice and it’s just a good environment.

5. What is your favorite Breakthrough Code and why? 


“Persist,” because even if things are hard you have to keep on going, you have to persist and keep going through it. I feel like you can use this code for life outside of Breakthrough, too.

6. If you could give Breakthrough a shoutout, what would it be for?

I would give Breakthrough a shoutout for helping me break out of my shell and for giving me nice teachers who are supportive!

7. Is there anything else you would want people to know about how you feel about Breakthrough?

It doesn’t sound super fun at first, because in the application it says you will have two hours of homework a night, but every moment of it is worth it. It takes a big part of your summer, but it’s all worth it, you should do it.

Check out what Shana Dukes, a 2018 Summer Session Teaching Fellow, has to say about Breakthrough Twin Cities!

1. What did you enjoy most about your job as a Teaching Fellow?

The thing I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to build relationships with my students. I became attached to the positive energy of the Breakthrough students. Every morning when the bus pulled up and my students got off, I knew that no matter how many hiccups I might experience, their smiles and good vibes would always bring me through.

2. Can you tell us about an experience working at Breakthrough that impacted you or sticks out in your mind?

I was sitting in my elective course and one of my students and I were joking back and forth. She looked at me and said, “Shana, I just feel like you know me, you just get who I am, you are like my best friend.” In that moment, everything that I had been doing seemed worth it – the lesson planning and staying up late. Being able to not only impact someone academically but personally made me feel like I had won the lottery. 

3. What advice or suggestions would you give for someone else who wants to get involved with Breakthrough or apply to be a Teaching Fellow?

When you are applying for Breakthrough, apply with the mindset that “I am going to be more than a teacher.” I say this because here at Breakthrough, we are more than teachers. We are teachers, friends, students, partners, and, most importantly, family. The Breakthrough Teaching Fellows Program is more than a summer job. This is an experience that will change your life.

4. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I see myself in the field of education. I’m not exactly sure in what capacity, but education is definitely where my heart is.