Staff
Barry Aidman, Executive Director
barry@breakthroughaustin.org
Barry Aidman has more than 30 years of experience as an educator and has served successfully as a teacher, coach, administrator, assistant superintendent and college lecturer. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas.
Gillian Coates, Director of Development & Communications
gillian@breakthroughaustin.org
Gillian Coates came to Breakthrough after working as Assistant Director of Development at Trinity Episcopal School. While at Trinity she worked to create a development program for a school that was in its earliest state of growth. A graduate of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana and Saint Mary’s Law School, Gillian practiced law prior to her work in development for non-profit organizations.
Sarah Rayburn, Director of Operations
sarah@breakthroughaustin.org
Sarah Rayburn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her Masters degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. Prior to joining Breakthrough, Sarah worked in the areas of school health and education policy in both nonprofit and government settings.
Michael Griffith, Director of Programs
michael@breakthroughaustin.org
Michael Griffith received his Masters degree from Texas State University and has expertise in curriculum development, instructional strategies, and project planning. Michael speaks Spanish fluently.
Andrea Guengerich, Assistant Director of Student Services
andrea@breakthroughaustin.org
Andrea Guengerich taught high school in the Rio Grande Valley as a member of Teach for America. She is a certified teacher who also lived in Cairo, Egypt for 10 months, organizing a study abroad program for college students. She brings expertise in curriculum development and instructional design. Andrea speaks Spanish fluently.
Cooper Askins, Volunteer & College Persistence Coordinator
cooper@breakthroughaustin.org
Cooper Askins graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Science in Applied Learning and Development in 2000. He taught middle school science in the Austin Independent School District for five years where he recommended students for Breakthrough’s first classes. Cooper continued his career supporting youth by working at nonprofit organizations in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before returning home to Austin and joining Breakthrough.
Ana Arredondo, Program Coordinator
ana@breakthroughaustin.org
Ana Arredondo received her Masters degree from Texas State University. She is a certified teacher with expertise in reading. Ana taught in the Breakthrough Austin program for two summers prior to joining the staff.
Cristian Villalobos, Program Coordinator
cristian@breakthroughaustin.org
Cristian Villalobos joined Breakthrough after serving as an Americorps member working for Citizen Schools. He has extensive experience in after-school programming and is a fluent Spanish speaker.
Paulina Mason Murton, Associate Director of Curriculum
paulina@breakthroughaustin.org
Paulina Mason Murton holds a Masters degree in Teaching from Brown University and brings to the position extensive experience. She has taught in high performing charter schools, Teach for America, and served as a mentor teacher for Breakthrough Cambridge.
Abby Ames, Program Coordinator
abby@breakthroughaustin.org
Abby Ames holds a Masters degree in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified K-12 school counselor. Before coming to Breakthrough, Abby worked in both public and private educational settings as well as non-profit organizations in Ecuador, Boston, and Costa Rica. She also served as a Breakthrough Summer Teacher in Raleigh, NC.
Zakiyyah Kareem, Program Coordinator
zakiyyah@breakthroughaustin.org
Zakiyyah Kareem has dedicated her professional career to empowering young people to make a positive impact on their communities through education and service. Prior to joining Breakthrough Austin, Zakiyyah spent six years supporting and facilitating professional development in service-learning for K-12 teachers and students in Texas. In 2006, Zakiyyah directed IT Girl, a nationally recognized informal STEM education program for high school girls that integrated technology and community service. Zakiyyah holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Sara Holliday, Assistant Director of Development & Communications
sara@breakthroughaustin.org
Sara Holliday received a Masters degree in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. As a former editor for Pearson Education, she brings expertise in project management and editing to the Breakthrough Development team.
Ann Marie Wilke, Development Associate
annmarie@breakthroughaustin.org
Ann Marie Wilke received her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Berry College in Georgia. She worked as a classroom and after school program assistant at Berry College Elementary School for three years. Before coming to Breakthrough, she worked in non-profit development at Migrant Clinicians Network, a non-profit that promotes justice in healthcare for the mobile poor. Ann Marie is a certified TEFL / TESOL instructor.
Christina Almeida, AmeriCorps Member
christina@breakthroughaustin.org
Christina Almeida received a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Spanish from the University Of Idaho Martin School Of International Studies. Before her AmeriCorps placement at Breakthrough, Christina promoted cultural awareness and the international community through university organizations.
Rosita Tran, AmeriCorps Member
rosita@breakthroughaustin.org
Rosita Tran holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in International Business from the University of Texas at Arlington. In college she held several student leadership positions, including Business Constituency Council Vice President, peer mentor, and the 2009-2010 Ms. UTA, where she served as the official hostess of the University. Being a first-generation college graduate herself, Rosita looks forward to sharing her successes with Breakthrough students and hopes to inspire them to achieve their goals.
Annie Liu, AmeriCorps Member
annie@breakthroughaustin.org
Annie Liu received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. Before her AmeriCorps placement at Breakthrough, she worked as an Orientation Leader for three years, helping students transition and adjust to college. During her senior year of college, Annie served as Vice President of the University of Texas at Arlington student body, where she advocated the needs of the students to the administration.
Karla Farris, AmeriCorps Member
karla@breakthroughaustin.org
Karla Farris received a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an emphasis in Personal and Family Relationships from The University of Texas at Austin. Karla’s desire to fulfill an AmeriCorps placement at Breakthrough stems from her own experience as a first-generation college graduate. She is committed to supporting Breakthrough in its mission to provide students with the tools and social support they need to become the first in their families to graduate from college.
Jonathan Montero, AmeriCorps Member
jonathan@breakthroughaustin.org
Jonathan Montero is a graduate of Canisius College. He has a BA in Philosophy and English. As a college student, he was active in Latin American Students and Friends (LASAF), serving as president his senior year. Jonathan is passionate about philosophy and education.
Natalie Ginsburg, Program Coordinator
natalie@breakthroughaustin.org
Natalie Ginsburg received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She first discovered her passion for teaching under-served students when she joined Teach For America and taught 3rd grade in a rural community in the Mississippi Delta. She also taught 6th grade reading at a high-performing charter school in Austin. Additionally, she spent multiple summers training new teachers at Teach For America’s summer Institute.
Melora Coughran, Program Coordinator
melora@breakthroughaustin.org
Melora Coughran received a Bachelor’s degree in international studies and psychology from Texas A&M University. In Washington, DC, she taught computer skills and adult ESOL at a family literacy program through AmeriCorps. Before her AmeriCorps placement at Breakthrough, she taught English at a school for teen and young adult migrants and refugees in Thailand.