AmeriCorps Member - Breakthrough Program & Advising Fellow

Ameri Corps Member - Breakthrough Program & Advising Fellow

Breakthrough is the leading college access and success non profit in Central Texas. For more than 20 years, we have partnered with thousands of middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate with a degree or certificate. We make a radical, long-term commitment to students, to and through college, unlocking the power of education and a lifetime of opportunity.

We support the whole student with personalized services, work closely with community partners, campuses, and employers, and advocate for our students with lawmakers. Breakthrough students attend 60+ public schools and persist at nearly 100 colleges and universities. The result is that nearly 60% of Breakthrough students graduate from college, compared to 15% of low-income students in our region. Our work has resulted in more than 350 college graduates, with nearly 3,500 on their way, positively impacting families for generations, our region’s educational access, and the Central Texas economy.

By working for Breakthrough Central Texas, you will help hundreds of students achieve their dreams of success and receive the high-quality education they deserve. Breakthrough is an organization committed to its students and recognizes that our greatest resource to support them is our dedicated and talented staff. If you believe all young people deserve the opportunity to achieve postsecondary success and you desire to work at an organization committed to its employees and building the strongest team culture anywhere, then join us!

Breakthrough Central Texas (BTCTX), a non-profit organization, is changing lives with our community and student-centric approach to postsecondary access and completion. Ameri Corps members provide essential support to students who are on this path at various stages: middle school, high school and beyond. Members provide mentoring, academic support, coaching, program planning and implementation, and other activities to contribute to the success of Breakthrough students.

Members will receive extensive training in a variety of areas to prepare them for a rewarding and successful placement with BTCTX.

Ameri Corps Program & Advising Fellows work full-time (40-50 hours), Monday through Friday, and a handful of Saturdays each semester; with an increase in hours in the summer to accommodate the summer program schedule. They are assigned a caseload of students and are charged with providing one-on-one advising, academic support, and mentorship, while also co-leading programs Breakthrough puts on for students and families.

BTCTX has four distinct program teams:
Middle School Program, High School Program, Postsecondary Advising Program, and College & Career Success. Each team serves a specific population of Breakthrough students on the path to realizing their postsecondary aspirations.

All of the below duties and responsibilities are essential position functions, though some members may have a greater responsibility for some of the functions listed. Individuals may be asked to perform other position-related duties within the scope of their normal service activities as requested by their supervisor or other Breakthrough staff member in alignment with the grant and not unallowable or prohibited activities, all subject to reasonable accommodation.

• Work closely with assigned supervisor to provide individualized support to assigned caseload of students
• Provide academic support services to students at the Breakthrough office or at the student’s campus
• Assist in the development and implementation of programming
• Support in cultivating and managing Breakthrough volunteers assigned to your team and/or students
• Mentor students on the skills and strategies needed for success in attaining postsecondary goals
• Act as a role model to Breakthrough students
• Communicate with students and families regularly
• Approach work with cultural competence in working with vulnerable populations
• Participate actively in all training, professional development, civic…