Tyleah's Story

Tyleah served as the Dean of Curriculum during the past summer program; however, this wasn't her first encounter with Breakthrough Cincinnati. “I have a unique situation. I heard about Breakthrough Cincinnati first as a parent. My daughter went through the program starting in grade six. And she's still in the program as an eleventh grader where she's in a college-bound portion. So, after many years of recruitment from Dr. T, I finally decided to join the team.”

 Bringing more than a decade's worth of education experience to her role, Tyleah oversaw eight Instructional Coaches, who, in turn, supervised thirty-two Teaching Fellows. “What really drew me to Breakthrough was the keyword: mentorship, empowering young folks to either get interested in teaching or to perfect their teaching skills.” As a person who loves to learn and collaborate on a team, Tyleah thrived in her role.

 “Seventh-grade math class was really interactive [and] an 'aha' moment for me as an educator. I saw a TF take some tape and create the floor as a model. Not only was that great for the students because they were able to relate and grasp the concept, but [it's] something I've taken back into the classroom with me. Just seeing that and not only being able to give feedback and kudos, but to take that back into the classroom with me as a veteran educator was a highlight for me.”

 Reflecting on Breakthrough's impact on her life, Tyleah stated, “Breakthrough expanded my skill set professionally.” She explained that in her current role she supervises six students and an instructional assistant but has not supervised a fellow educator. Breakthrough provided her the opportunity to learn a new skill set in supervising a larger audience. Personally, she credited BTC with giving her the courage to try new things and pushing her to enter an era of, “Let's try something new. Let's learn something new.” To which Tyleah expressed gratitude, “Thank you, Breakthrough.”