AmeriCorps Program Fellow

Position: AmeriCorps Member - Program Fellow (8 open positions)
Role dates: September 1, 2026 - August 13, 2027

From September - May, we operate as an out-of-school time program, meaning you may regularly work late afternoon/evening hours, and at least one weekend per month.

From June - August we operate an 8-week, full day summer program. Expect to be on site with our teams from 7am-5pm.
 

Location: Houston, TX - In Person

Expect to be based in our office (Upper Kirby/Greenway Plaza area) and travel to schools, recruitment events,
etc.

Hours, Benefits, and Compensation:
Full-time (year-round) members are required to accumulate 1700 hours and complete the full term of service period of
September 1, 2026 - August 13, 2027. Members receive the following:
 

• Total compensation:
  • 1st Year Member (AmeriCorps Member): $36,289
  • 2nd Year Member (AmeriCorps Leader): TBD
  • 3rd Year Member (AmeriCorps Senior Leader): TBD
  • Education Award: $7,395
    • Upon successful completion of the Member’s 1700 service hours and completion of the full term of
      service, members are eligible to receive an Education Award from the Corporation for National and
      Community Service of $7,395 to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, for
      educational training, or to repay qualified student loans. Members may receive no more than the
      aggregate value of two full-time education awards.
• Optional health insurance coverage at no cost
• Ongoing support and professional development from experienced educators and nonprofit leaders
• Generous time-off, including:
  • The full week during Thanksgiving, two weeks during winter break, and spring break

Our Mission:
We equip students with remarkable promise and financial need to discover what’s possible, access and attain a college degree, and build lives of choice and purpose–making a 10 year commitment to each student from middle school through college graduation.
 

Our Background + Our Program:
Founded in 1995 with a handful of teachers and a small class of 7th graders, Breakthrough Houston makes a bold ten year commitment to students - from middle school through college graduation. BTH comprises three fundamental programs for students: the Middle School Program, College Bound Program, and the College Completion Program, and currently serves over 800 students within Houston or at colleges nationwide. BTH provides summer and ongoing school year tuition-free programming that includes both academic college preparatory curriculum and learning opportunities, as well as extended enrichment programming and college access support. With this depth of focus we aim to promote academic success and personal growth to place our students on the path to college completion and career success.

Additionally, our Teacher Training Program identifies and supports current college students who are aspiring teachers through an innovative near peer model during our summer program. We partner these Teaching Fellows with professional educators who provide intensive instructional coaching and mentoring. We support 100+ Teaching Fellows each summer who gain 100+ hours of in-classroom teaching experience.

Job Summary:
Breakthrough Houston AmeriCorps Members play a vital role in advancing our mission. Across our placement areas, Members work side by side with Program Directors, Program Managers, and our Operations team to bring our year-round
and summer programming to life. Together, these placements form an integrated team that recruits new scholars, delivers Saturday and summer programming across the 7th-12th grade and postsecondary continuum, counsels high schoolers through the college access process, and keeps the systems, logistics, and behind-the-scenes operations of the organization running smoothly.

This full-time, year-round opportunity is ideal for individuals who enjoy building strong, trust-based relationships with a wide range of stakeholders — students, families, school administrators, college partners, and community members — and who thrive in a dynamic environment that blends program delivery, project management, and creative problem-solving. Members can expect to lead engaging workshops and lessons, support students through individualized counseling and case management, coordinate complex logistics, manage data in Salesforce, and contribute to community outreach and special projects. In return, Members gain meaningful experience in education and the nonprofit sector, ongoing professional development, and mentorship from experienced educators and nonprofit leaders. Members are matched to a placement based on their interests, strengths, and the organization's needs.

Main key responsibilities include:
 

• Community Outreach and Development: Attend monthly events during the day, in evenings and on weekends to increase Breakthrough Houston’s visibility in the communities we serve and develop relationships with community
• Data Management: Track student and program data in Salesforce, maintaining accurate records and generating
  reports to assess performance, identify trends, and inform decision-making processes.
• Breakthrough Houston Community Building: Participate in monthly community building opportunities offered exclusively to AmeriCorps Members including professional development, community service, lunch and learns, and more.
• Special Projects: These special projects will rotate twice throughout the year based on emergent programming needs and aligned personal interests. Examples of projects include art and cultural workshops, book clubs, career days, etc.)
• Cross Collaborative Work: Collaborate effectively with other departments within the organization; work together to align initiatives, share resources/information, develop cross-departmental processes, and leverage collective expertise to enhance the overall impact of the organization

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, AmeriCorps Members will have responsibilities associated with their specific placement. AmeriCorps Members can rank between 4 role/team options:

Middle School Team (2 Positions Available)
In close partnership with a Site Director and the Middle School team, a Middle School AmeriCorps Member will oversee:

• Student Recruitment (afterschool and weekends): Recruit, process, and interview new middle school students to join our cohort of scholars. Represent Breakthrough Houston at school visits, community events, college fairs, and other recruitment activities after school. Conduct presentations and informational sessions for prospective students and
  their families during evenings and 1-2 weekends a month. Track and report on recruitment activities, outcomes, and trends.
• School Year Saturday Programming: Lead 12 Saturday program sessions for students; create and deliver relevant, engaging lessons for Breakthrough students. Coordinate and manage event communications (i.e. newsletters and RSVPs) with students, parents, and staff to provide necessary information and ensure attendance and preparedness for each Saturday session. Host individual meetings with absent students as needed.
• Summer Programming: Support a 8 week summer program for 150+ middle school students taught by 30+ Teaching Fellows. Provide operational support including monitoring attendance, communicating with absent
  students and families, supervising nutrition services, monitoring bus routes and student safety, and organizing special events (field trips, role model speakers, mental health workshops).
• Summer Planning Committees: Participate in summer planning committees to support the development of an immersive, nine week summer program
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies: Monitor Search Engine Optimization (SEO) trends and identify opportunities to position our social media content so that as many youth as possible find our program. Support team members in increasing use of SEO in our work.
• Other duties as assigned.
   

College Bound Team (4 Positions Available)
In close partnership with a Program Manager, a College Bound AmeriCorps Member will support with:

• School Year Saturday Programming: Lead at least 12 Saturday program sessions for students; create and deliver relevant, engaging lessons for Breakthrough students. Coordinate and manage event communications (i.e. newsletters and RSVPs) with students, parents, and staff to provide necessary information and ensure attendance and preparedness for each Saturday session. Host individual meetings with absent students as needed.
• Grade Level Based Counseling: Manage a caseload of 30 - 35 students; provide individualized support addressing academic needs, personal development goals, and targeted counseling based on their grade level.
• Meet with students virtually or on their school campus to closely monitor their progress in the following areas:
  • 9th Grade: Academic Habits / Transitioning to High School
  • 10th Grade: Career Exploration / Resume Development
  • 11th Grade: College Application Components (standardized testing, college exploration)
  • 12th Grade: College Application Supports (essay writing, financial aid applications, scholarship applications)
• Event Coordination: Lead the planning and execution of two signature College Bound events, managing all logistics from concept to completion.
  • Winter Extravaganza (December): Own the full event experience–conceptualize and execute a theme, design and execute decorations, curate engaging activities, and source raffle items that excite and reward students.
  • Graduation Ceremony (May): Bring the program’s culminating event to life by developing a cohesive theme, coordinating decor, sourcing community organization partners and food vendors, and coaching senior speakers and emcees to ensure the students shine in the spotlight
• Summer Programming: Deliver summer programming based on the specific grade level assigned.
  • 9th Grade: A weekly Transition Course designed to equip rising 9th graders with the essential skills needed to transition into high school successfully.
  • 10th Grade: A 4 week leadership development workshop designed to prepare rising 10th graders for experiential learning opportunities.
  • 11th Grade: A 2 day “Kick Off”to prepare rising juniors for summer internships and programs and a “Junior Symposium” for rising juniors to showcase their summer activities, learnings, and reflections.
  • 12th Grade: A series of weekly “College Application Workshops” designed to support rising seniors with developing personal statements, resumes, and college lists.
• Other duties as assigned.
   

College Completion Team (1 Position Available)
In close partnership with a Program Director, a College Completion AmeriCorps Member will oversee:
 

• Student Counseling: Manage a caseload of <30 students, providing individualized support and addressing academic and personal development needs. Meet with students virtually or on their school campus to closely monitor their progress.
• Lead Student Ambassador Program: Lead the student ambassador program at the University of Houston by supporting the student ambassador and recruiting students. Support the Program Director with the recruitment and hiring of additional student ambassadors on other campuses.
• School Year Saturday Programming: Support 12 Saturday program sessions for students; create and deliver relevant, engaging lessons for Breakthrough students as needed.
• Digital Communications: Manage digital communications streams (i.e. MailChimp, Instagram, etc) to provide relevant, timely information to 200+ college completion students across the nation.
• Monthly Virtual Workshops: Develop and lead virtual workshops to address the needs of early college students. Workshop topics can include: building a resume, self-advocacy, time management strategies, and building community on campus.
• Summer Programming: Support weekly Bridge workshops designed to support graduating high school seniors with their transition into college. Create and deliver relevant, engaging lessons for students to support their completion of essential tasks like, completing financial aid counseling, enrolling in orientation classes, completing insurance paperwork, and choosing classes.
• Other duties as assigned
   

Program Operations Team (1 Position Available)
In close partnership with the Director of People and Operations and Middle School Program Director, the Program Operations AmeriCorps Member will support with:

• Program Operations and Middle School Support
  • Student Recruitment (afterschool and weekends): Support the recruitment of our incoming cohort of rising 7th grade scholars. Represent Breakthrough Houston at school visits, community events, college fairs, and other recruitment activities after school. Support presentations and informational sessions for prospective students and their families during evenings and 1–2 weekends a month. Track and report on recruitment activities, outcomes, and trends.
  • Student Application Processing: Help process incoming student applications, coordinate interview scheduling, maintain applicant records in Salesforce, and support communication with prospective families throughout the admissions cycle.
  • Field Trip & Transportation Logistics: Source and secure field trip locations for summer and school year programming; coordinate transportation hubs, bus stops, and routing across Houston to ensure safe and efficient student travel.
  • Summer Program Operations: Provide operational support for a 6 week summer program serving students and teachers at 3 summer sites, including supervising nutrition services, monitoring bus routes and student safety, and organizing special events (field trips, role model speakers, mental health workshops).
  • Saturday Programming Support: Provide logistical support for school year Saturday sessions, including supplies, materials prep, and event communications.
• Office & Administrative Operations
  • Maintain organizational systems, supplies, and vendor relationships
  • Maintain upkeep, organization, and cleanliness of office, including taking out recycling, cleaning/organizing kitchen supplies, and storage closets
  • Coordinate copy machine and printer upkeep, and track office supply inventory
  • Serve as the point person for laptop onboarding and cable/equipment management for new and seasonal staff
  • Provide general administrative support including filing, data entry, and document management
  • Monitor and manage organizational accounts and virtual tools
  • Coordinate staff appreciation initiatives and help cultivate a positive in-office culture
  • Assist with onboarding paperwork and background checks for new and seasonal staff as needed
  • Manage staff registration processes and forms for year-round and summer programming
• Development & Communications Support
  • Support social media content creation and posting across Breakthrough Houston's channels
  • Capture photography at programming, events, and community activities for use in marketing and development materials
  • Coordinate marketing materials ordering and provide general event support for development events
  • Monitor Search Engine Optimization (SEO) trends and identify opportunities to position our content so that as many youth and families as possible find our program
• Other duties as assigned.
   

Qualifications:
 

• Be a U.S. citizen, or U.S. national or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Have a commitment to community service and the ability to serve for the complete program year (September 2026 - August 2027)
• Strong project management skills: Terrific at managing multiple responsibilities, deadlines, and relationships 
• Detail-oriented, with a natural orientation towards timely follow-through. Able to prioritize, multitask, hit quick-turn and long-term project deadlines.
• Comfort with a variety of tech platforms & ability to quickly learn new tools: We rely heavily on several tech tools to coordinate and communicate our work. Effective use of Google Suite, Monday.com, Salesforce, and Slack are essential to role success as well as a commitment to engage with and learn new technology are essential for this role.
• Analytical problem solver: Bring a positive, can-do attitude and is focused on looking for creative solutions to problems.
• Understanding of systemic barriers, youth trends, and lived experience: Breakthrough Houston primarily serves first-generation to college, BIPOC youth from low-income and/or immigrant families, and others who have been historically underserved by our systems.
• Availability to work nights and weekends for scheduled events or program needs
• Reliable transportation (personal vehicle) 

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Bilingual in Spanish is strongly preferred
• Clear and empathetic communication and facilitation skills that are adaptable for diverse audiences (students, families, educators, community partners)
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based, mentoring relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• A team player who is humble, hungry, and demonstrates a growth mindset
• Adaptable to shifting priorities, problem-solve creatively, and maintain flexibility in dynamic situations
• Commit fully to a year of service that will challenge, grow, and inspire you
• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and positivity, especially on long days when your team and your students are counting on YOU
   

Thinking Of Applying?
Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are excited about the role and see connection with what we are looking for, but don’t meet every single requirement, we’d encourage you to apply anyway.

To Apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application and upload your resume. If you have any questions please reach out to Eileen Wolfowicz at ewolfowicz@breakthroughhouston.org.
 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BTH is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.