Elaine Loft, Staff Writer
Debra McLoud, Executive Director of Breakthrough Manchester, is slated to begin her first term on the Executive Committee of the national board of Breakthrough Collaborative. McLoud has been an Affiliate Member of the board since 2023, serving on the Finance Committee. She will commence her term as chair of that committee in the fall.
The Derryfield School has hosted Breakthrough Manchester since 1991, providing generous in-kind support of benefits, facilities, and administrative needs, as well as legal counsel and governance. Breakthrough was founded to fill the need for academic enrichment and support for motivated Manchester students with limited opportunities. The program serves sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in the Manchester school district, offering an intensive 6-week summer program, and school year Saturday enrichment programming. 44 school year and summer teachers, including Derryfield students, serve as educators and role models for Breakthrough students. This model not only provides wonderful mentors for the Breakthrough students, but also supports workforce development by encouraging Teaching Fellows to pursue careers in education.
At the concluding celebration of the 2024 summer session, McLoud offered the following:
“Over and over again, Teaching Fellows share about their students’ growth, often highlighting students who started the summer quiet and shy, barely speaking – then blossoming as they set goals to raise their hand each class – or speak out in class more, often then taking on leadership roles within the classroom, or on the stage. We all live the Students-Teaching-Students model, and ALL learn from each other.”
Breakthrough has opened applications for high school juniors and seniors to be Teaching Fellows for the 2024/2025 academic year. Responsibilities include teaching 50-minute classes, providing in-person tutoring on five specific “Super Saturdays,” and serving as mentors via monthly check-ins with students. Applications can be found on the Breakthrough Manchester website.
