Fort Worth native Rudi Flores, 34, was a student of Breakthrough Fort Worth in 2002 and 2003. He graduated from the program and pursued a radio career after studying at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Flores returned to Breakthrough Fort Worth, an academic summer program for public middle and high school students, as the director of operations at Fort Worth Country Day, 4200 Country Day Lane.
“To be a part as long as I have, as a student in ‘02 and ‘03, and be a teacher, I see my mom and dad when I talk to the parents and I see my brothers and sisters when I see the kids,” Flores said. “I see the opportunity that they’re reaching for and what parents want for their kids.”
Teaching fellow Ismael Sanchez helps students in a writing class for Breakthrough Fort Worth on July 5 at Fort Worth Country Day, 4200 Country Day Lane. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Teacher Ismael Sanchez teaches writing on July 5. About 260 students participate in Breakthrough Fort Worth, an academic enrichment program for public middle school students. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Students work on an exercise in their writing course. Teaching fellow Annaya Williams, 18, transitioned from being a Breakthrough Fort Worth student to now teaching her own class. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Breakthrough Fort Worth teaching fellow Annaya Williams leads her classroom on July 5. Breakthrough Fort Worth is a summer program dedicated to teaching and serving public middle and high school students. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Yuliana Velazquez, 14, participates in Breakthrough Fort Worth. Velazquez began the program as a rising seventh-grader — she is now a rising ninth-grader. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Students walk to their next classes on July 5. Breakthrough Fort Worth students apply for the program as rising seventh-graders and participate until their high school graduation. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Jessica Manzano Valdez, 27, and Rudi Flores, 34, work for Breakthrough Fort Worth. Manzano Valdez was placed in Fort Worth for Teach for America and Flores is a former Breakthrough Fort Worth student. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
Breakthrough Fort Worth is a free-of-charge six-week-long program that provides resources like college readiness courses, classes in subjects that students will attend in school and exam readiness courses. There are 267 students in the program’s 2022 class.
Generally, Flores and other directors showcase the program at schools, then students take applications home to their parents — giving the student the opportunity to initiate interest in the program, Flores said.
As sixth graders, the students apply, write an essay and interview.
Then the rising seventh-graders participate in the program through middle and high school.
“You meet them as shy kids who get introduced through their parents. And as they get older, you figure out this confidence that’s just really incredible,” Flores said. “They’re fighting for themselves and advocating for ‘This is what I want’ and ‘This is what I need.’ It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
Flores said it’s difficult to describe the program and what students get out of it in words.
“There’s just a magic about it,” he said.
Cristian ArguetaSoto is the community engagement journalist at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him by email or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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