Breakthrough Fort Worth
Breakthrough brings together high-achieving students from schools across the Fort Worth area and pairs them with like-minded, aspiring classroom leaders from across the nation.
A leader in education opportunity, Breakthrough creates empowering educational experiences for underrepresented students on a path to college while also developing college and high school youth for classroom leadership. For youth who are the first in their family to navigate the college-bound path, Breakthrough enables them to gain resources and knowledge to bridge the gap and pursue their goals. Its successful students-teaching-students structure ensures learning and guidance for these younger students while providing an immersive, pre-professional teaching experience to older youth leading the classes and activities.
Mission
Breakthrough Fort Worth seeks to prepare high-achieving middle school students to succeed in demanding high school programs; support and guide them on their college-bound path; and encourage the talented college/high school students leading them to explore careers in education.
Upcoming School Year Events
Events
December 13, 2025: Holiday Party | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | FDP
January 24, 2026: Grades 7, 8, 9 | 9 a.m. - noon; Grades 10, 11, 12 | 1 - 3 p.m. | Upper School
February 16, 2026: Spring College Trip | Grades 10, 11, 12 | Location TBD
February 21, 2026: Grades 7, 8, 9 | 9 a.m. - noon | Upper School
March 25, 2026: New Student Orientation | 9 a.m. - noon | FDP
April 18, 2026: Grades 7, 8, 9 | 9 a.m. - noon; Grades 10, 11, 12 | 1 - 3 p.m. | Upper School
May 9, 2026: Grades 7, 8, 9 | 9 a.m. - noon | FDP
May 16, 2026: Senior Dinner, 5 - 7 p.m.
Summer 2026:
June 15 - July 25, 2026
Vision
We seek to build meaningful relationships that propel promising students on their path to college and aspiring teachers on their path to classrooms. Expanding our services in breadth and depth programmatically, we will create a community of students, teachers and advocates devoted to education success and opportunity.
Core Values
- Passion for Learning
- Respect
- Accountability
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Courage
- Excellence
- Self-Advocacy
(These values are embraced by the entire Breakthrough family of students, teaching fellows and staff.)
About Affiliate
Breakthrough Fort Worth (BTFW) is an affiliate of the nationwide Breakthrough Collaborative, and like most early sites, it is hosted at an established independent school. The affiliate was founded at Fort Worth Country Day in 1992 and launched its first summer session in 1993 as Summerbridge, a summer-only program serving 40 students, grades 7-8. In 2008, Breakthrough became a year-round program and began its growth to a six-year format for students through grades 7-12. Today, BTFW serves more than 400 youth as students, volunteers and/or teachers, annually recruiting 80 new seventh graders from public middle schools throughout Fort Worth. It is one of only three sites in Texas and the longest-running program in the state.
Contact Us
The Breakthrough Fort Worth team is always glad to connect with our community. Please reach out as follows:
Students | Families | Student Recruitment | Alumni | Schools | AmeriCorps
Contact Rudi Flores, [email protected], 817.302.3280
Curriculum | Teaching Fellows | Instructional Coaches | Student Volunteers | Training
Contact Jessica Manzano-Valdez, [email protected], 817.302.3280
Grants | Donations | Fancy Meal | Junior League Volunteers
Contact Renee Pierce, [email protected], 817.302.3256
Collaborative Partners | Summer Food Service | Transportation | Affiliate Info
Contact Joe Breedlove, [email protected], 817.302.3294
Operations and Engagement Manager | Breakthrough AmeriCorps Member
Karen Benitez, [email protected], 817.302.3280
