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Don't miss the 25th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion!
Since 1991, the Derryfield School has hosted Summerbridge, now Breakthrough Manchester, on its campus.  In those early years, there was no Middle School building, no Gateway building and no Auditorium!  Who remembers the name of the building (since demolished) in the background of this picture?


Reconnect and network with friends and former colleagues, and with all of the program's prior directors -  Lynn Sorensen,  Joel Vargas,  Natalie Koepp Gray, Kathryn Robinson, Kate Erskine and Trevor Munhall.  Join other student and teacher alumni and current and past supporters as we both celebrate the past of this remarkable program and launch its future  A limited number of hotel rooms are reserved for people needing overnight accommodations Friday and/or Saturday. 
Pick your day!
Visit Breakthrough this summer!
Summer is a busy time, so we're making it easy! Pick any weekday day between July 5 and August 5 to visit us this summer.  Come see our dual mission in action!  The visit is free, of course, but registration is required.


Register just yourself, or better yet, register with a group of colleagues to share this experience.  Adults only, please.

All visits begin at 8:00 am and last for 90 minutes. Like everything at Breakthrough, we pack a lot into a short time!  You will experience a Breakthrough morning greeting, tour the school, observe an academic class, speak with students and teachers and meet with the Director for a Q &A session.

A Warm Welcome to Ben Gentry!
College Bound HS Program Director
Breakthrough Manchester at SNHU
As a first step in our new partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, the SNHU School of Education has appointed Benjamin Gentry as the Director of Breakthrough's College Bound High School Program.  

Ben has attained M.F.A. and M.Ed. degrees and is currently a doctoral student in the university's School of Education.  We welcome Ben and the partnership with SNHU as a sustainable way to ensure a seamless continuum of supports for Breakthrough students, first with their three middle school summers at The Derryfield School and then through high school with programming offered by Southern NH University.  Ben can be reached at [email protected].
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Pipelines and Pathways
Breakthrough Manchester is a critical link in the PATHWAY for bright, limited opportunity students, and a PIPELINE for the development of the next generation of excellent teachers.  

Connect with us, so that we can better connect these pathways and pipelines for students!

Our Mission
Our Vision
All young people, regardless of circumstance, can achieve their full potential as students, teachers and leaders.

Our Mission
The dual missions of Breakthrough Manchester are to launch promising Manchester middle school students, particularly those with limited opportunities, on the path to college while inspiring high school and college students to pursue careers in education.

We do this by:
* Recruiting and selectively admitting high-potential sixth graders with limited opportunities from Manchester middle schools for a tuition-free, three-year program
* Providing three rigorous, joyful academic summers and school year supports to admitted students
* Recruiting, training, mentoring and supporting college students, and some local high-achieving high school students, as excellent teachers
* Connecting with similar programs serving Manchester high schools to create a pipeline of opportunity for Breakthrough students as they enter ninth grade
* Engaging a broad array of stakeholders in understanding, promoting, funding and championing both missions of Breakthrough. 

With thanks,

Becky Berk
Executive Director
Breakthrough Manchester