The Breakthrough Miami Alumni Network (BTMAN) exists to foster a continuing educational and philanthropic relationship between Breakthrough Miami alumni, both scholar and Teaching Fellow; to provide programs for the continuing education of Breakthrough Miami alumni; to facilitate the meeting of Breakthrough Miami alumni with one another; to encourage Breakthrough Miami alumni to make contributions to public service; and to enhance the reputation of Breakthrough Miami.

Alumni Board Members

Damonta Morgan, President (2020-2022)

alumnichair@breakthroughmiami.org

Damonta first came to Breakthrough Miami the summer after his sophomore year at Vanderbilt University. A fifth grade Science teacher at the Palmer Trinity site, Damonta recalls feeling an immediate connection to the program as the students he worked with reminded him so much of himself. After what he considered to be a transformative summer, Damonta resolved to remain involved with the organization, if not as a Teaching Fellow the next summer, then by helping to spread the word and recruit other Teaching Fellows on his campus.

Damonta was elected to the Alumni Network’s Board of Directors in December 2017, starting his tenure in January 2018. He was elected President of the Board in November 2019. Currently a student at Columbia Law School, Damonta serves on the Board of Trust at his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, and in a number of positions at his law school campus. In his free time, Damonta enjoys learning to ride horseback, cooking, playing tennis, and singing.

Jamila Stephens, Vice President 

A graduate from the University of Miami, Jamila is currently pursuing her MBA degree from Florida International University with a specialization in Business Data Analytics. Jamila lives in Miami, Florida where she works as a Ticket Operations Associate for the Miami HEAT. A former Breakthrough Miami scholar, Jamila currently serves as the Vice President of the Alumni Network, having previously served as the Social Media & Marketing Committee Chair and as the Board Secretary in 2016.

Leigh Cooper, Secretary

Leigh has been with the board since its inception. Having participated in BTM as both a Scholar and Teaching Fellow, she is the current Secretary of the Board. Leigh is a graduate of FAMU, and works at the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe.

Anyssa Chebbi, Treasurer

Anyssa joined the Alumni Board in 2020. She currently lives in Center City Philadelphia, where she works as a senior management consulting analyst at Accenture. Anyssa was a Breakthrough Scholar in 2008 and 2009, and a Teaching Fellow in 2014. She graduated from Princeton University in 2018 with a degree in International and Public Affairs and a minor in Near Eastern Studies.

Tywan Harris, Director of Marketing

Tywan joined the Alumni Board in 2020. He resides in Tallahassee, Fl, where he works for the Justice Administrative Commission as a Fiscal Assistant. Tywan is a former Breakthrough Miami student starting from the 5th grade and then became a Teaching Fellow with the program in 2015 through 2017. He is now a senior at Florida State University pursuing a B.A. in Marketing where he is also serving as the Vice President of the Financial Management Association.

Darren Printemps

Darren is a Sophomore at Miami Dade College, majoring in Elementary Education, with aspirations to later attain his Master’s and Doctorate in Education. Breakthrough Miami has been a part of his life since he was eleven years old and BTM has been like a second family for him. Darren joined the Board in 2020.

Daniela Garcia Estrella

Daniela discovered her passion for education while teaching fifth grade math at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart site in 2014. Since then, she has taught Civics at the Ransom Everglades site, worked as an Undergraduate Advisor at Dartmouth College, and served as a mentor for QuestBridge students. In 2019, she graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Psychology and minor in Education. She currently lives in Weston, Florida and works as an Admission Counselor at the University of Miami. She hopes to continue working at a university and focus on issues of inequity in higher education.

Zach Friedman

Zach is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and a current graduate student at Columbia’s Education School, studying Learning Analytics. Zach was a teaching fellow at the BreakthroughU site, where he fell in love with the Breakthrough community teaching a Geometry and Rubik’s Cube class. He has remained involved as a college access coach, providing weekly mentorship to two Juniors and one Senior pursuing their college goals. Joining the Board in 2020, Zach is excited to further his Breakthrough involvement by aiding in the professional development of Alumni and putting his data analysis skills to work to help advance the Board’s missions.

David Gellman

Born and raised in Miami, David joined the Alumni Board in 2021 and has lived in Washington, D.C. for the past eleven years. He served as a Breakthrough Miami volunteer, teacher, or staff member nearly every summer and school year from 2006-2010, an experience that sparked his future career in politics and policy. He holds a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University.

Elizabeth Glass

Elizabeth joined the Alumni Board in 2021. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she works at DreamWorks Animation. Elizabeth was a Teaching Fellow from 2011 through 2014 at the Ransom Everglades site. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in History of Art and holds a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the American Film Institute.

Jasmine Johnson

Jasmine joined the BTM Alumni Board in 2021. She currently resides in Miami, FL, where she serves as the Regional Director of Community Engagement for Special Olympics Florida. Jasmine was a Teaching Fellow with the program the summers following her freshman and sophomore years at the University of Notre Dame. After earning her B.A. in Psychology from ND and working for the school’s football team, she returned to South Florida to pursue a Master of Science degree in Sports Management from St. Thomas University.

Jarvis Lundy

Jarvis Lundy is excited to join and contribute to the BTM Alumni Board. He currently resides in Houston, TX, where he serves as Program Director for Breakthrough Houston. Originally from South Florida, he earned his B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of Miami. His career in education began as a school year and summer teacher with Breakthrough Miami for 3 years beginning in 2007. Jarvis has spent over a decade working to ensure that our most underserved students receive a high-quality education. He has worked to successfully turnaround some of the most challenging schools in New Orleans as a school teacher, founding leader, and principal for 8 years. Most recently, he transitioned to Texas in 2018 as a founding principal to lay the groundwork for a new elementary school here in Houston. When not at work, Jarvis is cooking, spending time outdoors, or cheering on his Miami Hurricanes.

Jamie Sanchez

Jamie joined the Alumni Network’s Board in 2021, after graduating with her Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from FIU in December 2020. She plans to begin her Masters in Electrical Engineering in January from the same university. Jamie has been a part of Breakthrough Miami since I was 9 years old and began as a student. As the years went on, she transitioned into a volunteer, teacher assistant, and was a teaching fellow for 2 summers. She’s excited to join the BTMAN.

Dwanita Fields, MIBA, Immediate Past President (2015–2019)

Having founded and led the Breakthrough Miami Alumni Network for its first four years, Dwanita Fields is in her third term as a Board member. Following her stint as a Scholar at Breakthrough Miami (then called SummerBridge), Dwanita completed her Bachelor’s Degree of Science at Howard University in 2004 and obtained her Master’s of International Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2009. She has more than ten years’ experience working in the field of education, including serving as a Site Director for Breakthrough Miami. Dwanita is the founder and CEO of Leading with Love, LLC.

THE BREAKTHROUGH ALUMNI NETWORK BOOK SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The Breakthrough Miami Alumni Network is dedicated to continuing to offer our BTM Alumni (former Scholars, Teaching Fellows, volunteers or staff), the same quality of support they received as participants in the program. We exist to foster a continuing educational and philanthropic relationship between Breakthrough Miami alumni; to provide programs for the continuing education of Breakthrough Miami alumni; to facilitate the meeting of Breakthrough Miami alumni with one another; to encourage Breakthrough Miami alumni to make contributions to public service, and to enhance the reputation of Breakthrough Miami.

The Alumni Network continues to provide support and resources to our Alumni for success in their collegiate and professional careers. Your support helps to fund networking events, professional development resources, college scholarships, and our Emergency Assistance Fund. As we continue to deliver upon our commitment to our Alumni, your contributions today are critical.

All gifts are greatly appreciated, and we thank you for making Breakthrough Miami a philanthropic priority. An investment of $300 funds one Alumni Network Book Scholarship for a graduating BTM Scholar. Thank you for making breakthroughs possible.

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