About Breakthrough Silicon Valley
Breakthrough Silicon Valley launches talented students who have been historically excluded from higher education on the path to college, and inspires high school and college students to become the next generation of leaders, advocates, and educators. BTSV’s six -year college access and success program, which supports students from 7th grade to first year of college, has proven to be effective in preparing these students for college: a stunning 99% of BTSV graduates attend college immediately after high school.
BTSV’s tuition-free program provides year-round out-of-school time academic support, advising, and advocacy for a diverse group of talented students, most of whom come from under-resourced communities and will be the first generation in their family to go to college.
Through our students-teaching-students model, BTSV also provides a consummate professional development experience providing talented high school and college students the opportunity to understand the K-12 system and the drivers of educational inequities, and to design and teach classes under the direction of seasoned educators.
Located in San Jose, California, Breakthrough Silicon Valley is an affiliate of The Breakthrough Collaborative, a leading national service organization that acts as the national voice for 25 Breakthrough sites across the country.
About the Summer Teaching Fellowship
Your Impact: Our summer program could not be what it is every year without the dedicated service of our Teaching Fellows. You won’t just be a teacher. You’ll be a mentor and a role model to your students. You will witness how your leadership helps your students grow personally and progress academically in just a few weeks.
What does a typical summer look like?
Pre-Service Orientation Training
Your journey begins with an immersive Pre-Service Orientation. During the first few days, you’ll dive into the essentials of lesson planning, instructional strategies, and classroom management techniques. Alongside other AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows, you’ll build connections, form lasting friendships, and become familiar with Breakthrough’s vibrant culture and mission. During this time, you’ll meet your Instructional Coach, a seasoned educator in your subject area, who will mentor you throughout the summer. This guidance will set the foundation for your success in the classroom.
The Summer Program Experience
Teaching Fellows are responsible for delivering engaging instruction in core academic subjects such as reading, writing, math, and science, as well as leading elective classes that inspire and motivate middle school students. In addition, Fellows serve as Crew Leaders, fostering community and building relationships through daily crew time by planning and facilitating icebreakers, energizers, and team-building activities. Fellows work closely with an Instructional Coach, participating in regular meetings to strengthen their teaching and leadership skills while incorporating feedback to support continuous professional growth as educators.
But it’s not all work! Breakthrough’s summer is packed with joy-filled traditions like college campus visits, the summer talent show, Spirit Week, field days, and the Breakthrough Olympics. You’ll not only help students learn but also build a community of fun, encouragement, and support that will leave a lasting impact.
Wrap-Up Week and Reflecting on Your Impact
At the end of the summer, you’ll celebrate the achievements of your students and reflect on the incredible growth you’ve witnessed in them—and yourself. Wrap-Up Week provides time to document these experiences and share your insights. It also offers career-building opportunities through panels featuring local professionals in fields like counseling, educational technology, higher education, and youth development. These sessions will help you envision your next steps as a future leader in education or beyond.
This journey will not only give you hands-on teaching experience but also prepare you for a meaningful career, surrounded by a community that celebrates growth, learning, and the joy of teaching.
Mentorship and Guidance
You will serve under the mentorship of an experienced Instructional Coach, who will review your lesson plans, provide daily feedback, and train you in effective teaching strategies, classroom management, and student assessment techniques. Teaching Fellows will receive their Performance Review at the conclusion of their service.The final performance review will also include:
- Whether the member has completed the required number of hours
- Whether the member has satisfactorily completed assignments
- Whether the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service and in the member’s position description.
Ideal Candidate
This position is perfect for you if:
- You are passionate about working with middle- and high-school students.
- You are eager to tackle a steep learning curve with enthusiasm and an open mind.
- You pride yourself on your organizational skills and attention to detail.
- You are looking to start a career in education, social justice, or public service.
- You enjoy laughter and having fun while making a difference.
- You can commit to 300+ hours of service from June 15 to August 7, 2026, serving full-time hours throughout the program.
Embark on a summer journey that will not only enrich your professional skills but also leave a lasting impact on the lives of young students. Join us as a Teaching Fellow and make this summer unforgettable!
Training and Professional Development
BTSV wants you to learn and grow as much as your students will. At the start of your service, you will receive a comprehensive orientation to your new team, to BTSV, our program, and your role. Throughout the summer program you will serve with your colleagues, BTSV Staff, and with the expert guidance of an Instructional Coach, an experienced educator who will provide training, coaching, observation, feedback, encouragement, and support. Members will receive formal and structured feedback via performance reviews. Note, training hours will not exceed 20% of total service hours.
Requirements
- “Breakthrough Spirit”: You’re a collaborative team player who is committed to excellence and is open-minded. You demonstrate a growth mindset, think creatively to solve problems, and serve with a sense of humor and humility.
- Commitment to Breakthrough Silicon Valley’s mission and goals as well as a passion for educational equity.
- Have a commitment to community service and the ability to serve the full service term. (300+ hrs of service, full-time from June 15 to August 7, 2026.)
- Recent college graduate, or currently enrolled in college or high school.
- At least 17 years old at the start of the service period (June 15, 2026).
- Candidates 18 years of age or older must pass a National Service Criminal History Check.
- US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
- Access to reliable transportation to our summer program sites via personal vehicle, public transit, or other means.
- Spanish or Vietnamese language skills are a plus, but not required.
Compensation & Benefits
AmeriCorps positions are volunteer roles which carry a living allowance. BTSV’s AmeriCorps Members will receive:
- $5,294 living allowance (pre-tax) paid semi-monthly over the service period.
- Summer Teaching Fellows who complete their AmeriCorps service are eligible for a $1,565.08 education award via the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. This can be used for continuing education or to repay certain student loans.
- Student loan forbearance, if eligible.
Location(s)
BTSV maintains two offices in San Jose and our Summer Program sites will be co-located or nearby to these offices:
- Bridges Academy: 1702 McLaughlin Ave, San Jose, CA 95122
- Herbert Hoover Middle School: 1635 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Teaching Fellows are required to serve full-time in person. This is not a remote position.
Application Process
Apply online at http://breakthroughsv.org/becomeateachingfellow. We will review applications on a rolling basis.
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