Breakthrough Overview

Breakthrough San Francisco is a college access and teacher training program. In 2025-26, we’re serving 258 students from across San Francisco. They make an eight-year commitment - from the summer after fourth grade until their high school graduation - with the goal of attending a four-year college. In addition, through our summer teacher residency, we train outstanding college students for education careers. Founded in 1993, we’re a community involvement initiative of San Francisco Day School and one of two dozen affiliates of the national non-profit organization Breakthrough Collaborative. For more information, please visit  www.breakthroughsf.org.

Position Summary

The High School Program Manager supports Breakthrough students during their first two years of high school, ensuring they’re succeeding in school, participating actively in Breakthrough’s programming, and embodying our core values. They lead workshops for ninth and tenth graders, and support management of the Breakthrough Leadership Program in the summer. At all times, they strive to maintain strong relationships with each student that affirm their high potential. The High School Program Manager collaborates closely with the other members of our administrative team and reports to Breakthrough San Francisco’s Director of High School and Postsecondary Programs.

Responsibilities

High School Success

• Support Breakthrough ninth - tenth graders. Build strong relationships with each student, characterized by positive rapport and clear communication. Ensure each student participates actively in our program, transitions successfully to high school, and embodies our core values of collaboration, excellence, gratitude, perseverance, and responsibility.
• As needed, connect students with tutors and with summer opportunities, such as Yale Young Global Scholars.
• In collaboration with the Director of High School and Postsecondary Programs, promptly and effectively handle all academic, behavioral, personal, and social issues that arise throughout the year. Maintain high expectations while always affirming each student’s dignity and tremendous potential. Demonstrate cultural competence and thoughtful communication at all times.
• Lead Saturday workshops for ninth and tenth graders on topics such as DEI, financial literacy, leadership development, and more, supporting their success in high school and college and career readiness. 

Student Record Keeping and Communication 

• Manage high school student records, including contact info and attendance. Manage calls, mailings, email newsletters, and Remind texts.
• Maintain up-to-date High School Program website, a source of information including grade-level calendars, High School and College Talk recordings, and scholarships.

Breakthrough Leadership Program

• Support management of summer Breakthrough Leadership Program, an intensive service and leadership opportunity for high school students that supports the operation of Breakthrough’s summer program.
• Support recruitment and selection of a group of high-performing high school students, comprised of Breakthrough students as well as other students from across the city.
• Support leadership of orientation and ongoing professional development workshops.
• Support management of volunteers in decorating the school, teaching elective classes, overseeing lunch service, providing special event support, staffing the after-school program, and more. 
• Support creation of a culture of strong community and high expectations.
• Possibly, support leadership of our Junior BLP program.

Additional Program Support

• Lead planning and implementation of key programmatic events, such as our summer Community Day.
• Support recruitment and selection of new Breakthrough students.
• Collaborate effectively with other Breakthrough staff members, as well as staff at San Francisco Day School and other Breakthrough sites nationally. Participate actively in staff meetings.
• Complete other projects as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least 2-3 years of experience working with youth, preferably at the high school level
• Extremely organized and dependable
• Positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated history of reflecting on own performance and striving for professional growth
• Commitment to increasing educational opportunity
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with first-generation college students and their families
• Commitment to honoring and celebrating all members of our diverse and inclusive community
• Fluency in Amharic, Cantonese, Spanish, or Tigrinya a plus
• Familiarity with Breakthrough and/or San Francisco schools a plus

About San Francisco Day School

SF Day is an independent, co-educational, K-8 school. SF Day educates, nurtures and inspires girls and boys of diverse backgrounds to achieve their highest academic and creative potential, to embrace ethical values and to become active contributors to their communities. San Francisco Day School welcomes and celebrates children, families, faculty, and staff that reflect the broad range of diversity in the Bay Area. The school values the strengths and accomplishments of the individuals who are part of the community and takes pride in and celebrates the diversity and special character of the community as a whole. Therefore, San Francisco Day School encourages people of color and LGBTQ+ applicants to apply.

Connections working at San Francisco Day School