Social & Emotional Learning Specialist Breakthrough Fort Worth Summer Session

Social & Emotional Learning Specialist

Breakthrough Fort Worth

Summer Session 2025 (June 2-July 30)

Breakthrough Overview

Breakthrough Fort Worth at Fort Worth Country Day fosters educational equity through an innovative, two-pronged approach. We provide intensive academic enrichment and ongoing support to motivated, under-served students from public schools across Fort Worth, ensuring they are academically successful and on the path to college. Simultaneously, we train outstanding high school and college students from across the country for work as tomorrow’s teachers and urban educational leaders. 

The intensive six-week summer program for rising seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-graders is a key component of Breakthrough’s effort to ensure students are on an academically rigorous path through middle and high school, and will be prepared to enter college.  Summer programming consists of core academic classes (math, literature, writing, and science) and non-academic clubs such as athletics, languages, and fine arts. Because Breakthrough utilizes a “students teaching students” model, all summer classes are planned and taught by exceptional high school and college students.  Summer teachers bring energy, excitement and a willingness to learn. In the subsequent years following the pandemic there was a serious need for an expert on site to address the mental health needs of students and staff. As well as combating the stigma of mental health needs in communities of color by educating, informing and providing resources to our breakthrough community at large. 

General Job Description

SEL Specialists are vital to the mental health and development of students, who experience difficulties at home as well as the classroom. They serve as the bridge between school years for our students, staff and families who otherwise do not have access to resources. SELS are experienced professionals who will be able to assist students/staff through social and emotional challenges or liaising with other agencies and organizations outside of Breakthrough. In addition to one-on-one meetings, SELS will inform, collect data, educate and engage fully with the Breakthrough Fort Worth community. SELS will select social and emotional learning  topics and themes they feel are age appropriate to present to students/staff on a weekly basis.  Exemplary SELS  effectively communicate their expertise, remain accessible to our community, and assist in the leadership development of our staff.  SELS will work the Breakthrough Summer Admin Team (Program Director, Operations Director, Dean of Students, and Dean of Faculty) and is expected to attend weekly meetings to discuss needs for students and staff.

Specific SELS Responsibilities

Pre-summer

• Complete Pre-Summer Trainings (2 sessions during April and May, dates TBD)
• Understand and internalize the  Breakthrough Culture, Expectations, and procedures; modify and elevate the sustainability of this position as needed in consultation with Breakthrough directors
• Connect with the Breakthrough Families via Family Night Intro Letter and need assessment survey (June 14-15)
• Familiarize yourself with the names of the students
• Confirm summer schedule for SEL Takeovers

Teacher Orientation (June 2-13)

• Participate in training (dates and schedule TBD) from June 2-June 13
• Lead orientation workshops relating to interactions with students, procedures on how refer student to the SELS,  student/teacher interactions
• Familiarize self with the  procedure on how the Breakthrough Staff reach out to you for assistance regarding their own wellbeing, a peer, or a student
• Participate in a Salesforce training with our Director of Operations to learn