I AM WONDERING ...

Where does the program take place?
The summer and school year program both take place at our host school, Mounds Park Academy, which is located at 2051 Larpenteur Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55109. (See the location map.)

I do not live in Minnesota but want to teach at Breakthrough Saint Paul. Are there home stays available?
We have a small number of home stays available each summer. If you apply, be sure to state your need for a home stay. We do not offer home stays during the school year.

I am interested in teaching, but I do not have a car. Are there options for transportation?
At the beginning of every summer we help faculty members arrange carpools. In the past all of our teachers have been able to arrange necessary transportation.

I might have another job or take classes in the summer while teaching at Breakthrough. Is this acceptable?
No. Teaching at Breakthrough in the summer is a lifestyle, not a job. In order to ensure the quality of instruction for our students and for you to grow as a teacher, you need to dedicate all of your energy to your work here and should not have concurrent job or school responsibilities outside of the program.

Do teachers design the courses or is there a predetermined curriculum?
Breakthrough Saint Paul has a unique approach to curriculum design which involves breaking course development into two parts: 1) the standards-based academic skills we want students to attain, and 2) the content (topics) through which those skills are taught.

At BSP, the professional staff decides which main academic skills you will focus on with students. And YOU determine the specific topic of your course based on your academic background and passion. For example, all English teachers will work on paragraph writing. However, that skill can be taught through a variety of content topics such as Harry Potter novels, Harlem Renaissance poetry, or Shakespeare.

How is it decided which subject I teach?
In the online application you have an opportunity to list which core subjects you are “excited”, “able to” and “not willing” to teach. Our staff looks at these preferences, in combination with the needs of the program, and offers positions accordingly.

Why is the Americorps Education Award optional? Wouldn’t everyone want it?
Over the course of one’s lifetime, an individual may only receive two AmeriCorps Education Awards. Education Awards offered for post-graduate work are often higher in value than the $1,000 award we offer. Therefore, Breakthrough teachers who anticipate going into Teach For America, VISTA, or AmeriCorps, each of which offer larger awards, may choose to decline this opportunity.

How can I find out more about the Americorps award?
Read more about the 2007 Americorps Education Award.