Teaching Fellows
Every summer, we find the brightest college students from across the Southeast and beyond. We welcome them to Birmingham, where our team of veteran educators gives them the training they need to be teachers and mentors to our middle school Scholars.
Students Teaching Students
Teaching Fellows are at the heart of the Breakthrough experience, serving as our scholars’ primary leaders and mentors. We recruit the most talented and driven college students to lead our summer classrooms. To ensure they’re ready for the challenge, our Fellows undergo thorough training, including guidance from our team of veteran educators, culture-building workshops and instruction on effective teaching strategies. Our Fellows receive continuous support, reflection opportunities and ongoing feedback to help them become even stronger leaders, all while making a lasting impact with our scholars.
Breakthrough By the Numbers
Our Teaching Fellows’ impact on our communities is measured and proven. Just take a look at the results.
scholars supported since 2013
Teaching Fellows enter careers in education
of scholars are college-going
Who We Look For
Our Teaching Fellows Program is designed for passionate college students who bring creativity, resilience, and a belief that all students can achieve great things in our programs. We’re looking for students from any major who thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and are excited about making a real difference. If you’re interested in how education can change communities and love working with young people, we encourage you to strengthen our community by applying.
What to Expect
Are you looking for a meaningful summer experience that will impact scholars’ lives and develop your professional skills? Breakthrough Birmingham Teaching Fellows strive to reverse educational inequities by working directly with middle school students in our communities, promoting both academic and social growth.
- Role: Breakthrough Summer Teaching Fellow
- Training: 100+ hours of
- student-centered teaching practice
- professionalism & leadership building
- opportunity to build relationships with likeminded peers
- Stipend/Payment: $4,000 total paid in bi-weekly increments (with a bonus for returners!)
- Serving: 200+ rising 7th – 9th graders across Birmingham & Talladega
- Schedule: 9 weeks (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Teach a core class (Math, Science or Humanities)
- Co-teach an elective class
- Mentor scholars
- Ongoing skills-building
- Off-site field trips on Fridays
- Instruction: With the support of a veteran educator as your coach, you’ll create & teach lessons in small classes (avg. of 10-12 students)
Hear From Fellows
Become a Teaching Fellow
Teaching Fellows at Breakthrough Birmingham transform the lives of the scholars they teach by igniting a passion for learning in them. Our programs foster confidence and resilience in our students, benefiting them in the classroom and in the “real world.” By building trust with scholars and their families, Teaching Fellows create a supportive environment where students feel valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential.
