Vince Marigna visits site of 12 Teaching Fellows and 79 students
Breakthrough New York welcomed Vince Marigna, the new CEO of Breakthrough Collaborative, during Visitors Day on July 21. Marigna observed Teaching Fellows leading writing and literature classes, and met several of them during a Q&A panel.
Teaching Fellows are a cornerstone of Breakthrough’s summer programs. They teach classes in STEM, literacy, and creative electives to build students’ love of learning. Visitors Days are important because they allow Marigna and others in the Breakthrough community to see this enrichment first-hand.
“I was impressed by the Teaching Fellows,” says Marigna. “They were utilizing the Socratic method. It was amazing to see the engagement of the students and the activation of their critical thinking skills. It was inspiring to be in the classrooms.”
“Our partnership with Breakthrough national and affiliates across the country is invaluable as we all work to cultivate future educators and strive for educational equity,” says Beth Onofry, Executive Director of Breakthrough New York. “We are delighted to welcome Vince to our community and hope his visit helped him see both what is unique to New York and what is universal across the Collaborative: a powerful Breakthrough spirit, love of learning, and belief in the transformative power of education.”
Breakthrough New York returned to in-person summer programming for the first time since 2019. Teaching Fellows are undergraduate students who attend college across the country. This year, four of the 26 Teaching Fellows are current Breakthrough New York college students.
For more info about the Teaching Fellows program, visit our Teaching Fellows & Mentors page.
About Breakthrough New York
Breakthrough New York empowers motivated students from low-income backgrounds to graduate from college and pursue a fulfilling career. Our ten-year, tuition-free program provides students from low-income backgrounds with the opportunities, resources, and relationships to succeed in rigorous schools and careers. Over 90% of Breakthrough students graduate from college each year.
About Vince Marigna
Vince Marigna most recently served as the Executive Director of Braven – Newark, where he supported the growth of the organization nationally and expanded the number of college students served. He previously held leadership roles at KIPP New Jersey as its Chief Schools Officer/Chief Academic Officer and later Chief People Officer. Marigna is a first-generation college graduate who is committed to expanding educational opportunities to students from historically marginalized and underserved communities. Read more about his appointment as CEO on the Breakthrough Collaborative website.
