Academic Support Program Intern

About Breakthrough Silicon Valley

Breakthrough Silicon Valley launches talented students who have been historically excluded from higher education on the path to college, and inspires high school and college students to become the next generation of leaders, advocates, and educators. BTSV’s seven-year college access and success program, which supports students from 7th grade to first year of college, has proven to be effective in preparing these students for college: a stunning 99% of BTSV graduates attend college immediately after high school.

BTSV’s tuition-free program provides year-round out-of-school time academic support, counseling, and advocacy for a diverse group of talented students, most of whom come from under-resourced communities and will be the first generation in their family to go to college. Through our students-teaching-students model, BTSV also provides a consummate professional development experience providing talented high school and college students the opportunity to understand the K-12 system and the drivers of educational inequities, and to design and teach classes under the direction of seasoned educators.

Located in San Jose, California, Breakthrough Silicon Valley is an affiliate of The Breakthrough Collaborative, a leading national service organization that acts as the national voice for 25 Breakthrough sites across the country.

The Position

Breakthrough Silicon Valley’s internships are designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in education through a hands-on, impactful internship experience at a highly effective nonprofit organization. Throughout the internship, you will be coached and supervised by our experienced BTSV staff. Interns will develop organizational, communication, project management, and volunteer coordination skills while gaining exposure to education and youth development programming.

As the Academic Support Program Intern, you’ll oversee the operations of BTSV’s academic support center, where we provide both scheduled and drop-in tutoring to 7th-12th grade students every Monday through Thursday after school. Here’s what a day on the job may look like: You might start by onboarding tutors - ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to begin work with students, you might be pairing students with volunteer tutors based on academic need, helping ensure timely, equitable and effective academic support for students while contributing to the efficient operations of student and volunteer programming, then make sure the academic support center classroom is prepped. You will collaborate frequently with the BTSV program staff to check in on student engagement and progress, and you’ll enter student grades and attendance data into spreadsheets. You’ll be the main point of contact for both students and volunteers, ensuring they’re informed of the tutoring schedule and objectives each day.

The Academic Support Program Intern reports to the VP of Programs and Instruction. 

What background and skills do you have?:

• You’re a rising college junior or senior.

• Experience working with students (preferably middle and/or high schoolers) as a tutor, counselor, teacher’s aide, etc., and an unwavering focus on students’ best interests.

• Proficiency with MS Office and Google Suite, including Excel/Sheets. Ability to learn Salesforce CRM with direction.

• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, verbally and in writing, with students, volunteers, and colleagues.

• Ability to work in an organized and thoughtful way while juggling multiple tasks, and implement plans with a keen attention to detail.

• A customer service skill-set gained from prior experience such as retail, food service, or other direct-service positions.

• Flexible problem-solver with a can-do attitude; willing to support where needed or change plans based on need of the day(s).  

• Ability to work independently with strong communication skills, including responsibly asking questions and seeking clarification whenever necessary to perform duties effectively

• Ability to commit to working in-person according to a regular program schedule with access to reliable transportation to our two program locations.

• “Breakthrough Spirit”: You’re a collaborative team player who is committed to excellence and open-minded, demonstrates a growth mindset, thinks creatively to solve problems, and works with a sense of humor and humility.

• Commitment to Breakthrough Silicon Valley’s mission and goals as well as a passion for educational equity.

Bonus points if:

• You’re a former BTSV student, Teaching Fellow, or volunteer, or have supported us in another capacity.

• You’re proficient with Salesforce or spreadsheets.

• You’re bilingual (Spanish or Vietnamese).

• You’re majoring in education or a related field.

• You have experience at a youth development or educational organization, particularly one focused on college access for first-generation students, students of color, or students from low-income communities.

We know that many strong candidates will not have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!

Location, Commitment, and Compensation

This is an in-person position, alternating between Breakthrough’s two offices in San Jose, listed below.

• Herbert Hoover Middle School, 1635 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126

• Bridges Academy, 1702 McLaughlin Ave, San Jose, CA 95122

This is a part-time (average of 12 hours per week) position, starting in mid-September 2026 and continuing through the end of the school year in May 2027. Candidates must be available Mondays through Thursdays from 3 PM–6 PM in order to be considered.

This is a temporary, hourly, non-exempt (overtime-eligible) position. You will be paid $18.45 per hour.

Application Process

Apply online through this site and attach your resume and cover letter as PDFs. Please indicate where you heard about the position in your cover letter. We will review applications on a rolling basis.

Breakthrough engages with individuals of all backgrounds and we are committed to embracing diversity within our organization, including developing a team who represents the communities we serve.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Breakthrough is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.