Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science Education
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Curriculum and Instruction
Advisor/Mentor
Keith Vire
Committee Member
Jacquelyn Scalf
Abstract
This project explores the impact of Breakthrough, a program dedicated to supporting first-generation college-bound students, through the lens of a teaching fellow's summer experience. With a mission to grow educational opportunity, Breakthrough provides academic enrichment, mentorship, and support starting in middle school to ensure college becomes an option for all of its students.
This research highlights experiential data from a teaching fellow’s week-by-week responsibilities. This project seeks to share the stories of different roles within the program and their influence on student outcomes, academic pathways, and personal growth. The research highlights the unique structure of Breakthrough’s support system and its emphasis on collaboration, leadership development, and mentorship.
The project emphasizes the great impact of relational teaching and mentorship on both students and program leaders. For students, the program fosters confidence, academic success, and a sense of belonging, while for teaching fellows, it builds leadership and classroom management skills that extend far beyond the internship.
Keywords
First-Generation, Breakthrough Collaborative, higher education, mentorship, middle school education, college prep program
Citation
Borowski, A. L. (2025). Breakthrough: How Committed, Long-Term Supports for Middle and High School Students Help Unlock the Power of Education and Create a Lifetime of Opportunity. Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cieduht/44
