Breakthrough Manchester is excited to announce that Dr. Eilidh Hall will become the next Executive Director upon Deb McLoud’s retirement at the end of August. Eilidh brings experience across education, public policy, diplomacy, and nonprofit leadership. Originally from Scotland, and now based in New England, she most recently worked in talent and workforce development with the British Embassy in Boston.

Driven by a commitment to expanding opportunity, Eilidh has served as an Assistant Professor in the US and UK, a Fulbright Scholar, and a mentor supporting students on their pathways to higher education. She is excited to build on Deb’s outstanding legacy and work alongside students, families, educators, and partners across the community.

Breakthrough Manchester’s 35th summer of students-teaching-students will be bittersweet as it will be current Executive Director Deb McLoud’s 8th and final summer—she will retire this fall. In her retirement, Deb is interested in continuing to support the Breakthrough Collaborative and other nonprofits as a consultant or through interim Director positions. Deb will continue leading Zumba and Yoga classes, and she plans to spend more time with her family and travel. 

With 100% of Breakthrough graduates going on to higher education, Deb knows Breakthrough’s work is truly making a difference. She works tirelessly to make this happen, and when Deb cares about something, nothing gets in her way of ensuring positive results. Deb is an incredible advocate for students, teachers, and staff. She is always in your corner and will go to bat for you or provide you with the tools to advocate for yourself. She does this with a smile on her face, a positive outlook, and a dance move to congratulate successes!

Please save the date of Wednesday, September 23, to celebrate Deb’s retirement; details to follow.

Breakthrough Teaching Fellows were eager and ready to greet our Scholars having wrapped up two weeks of orientation. After high fives of the bus, breakfast, and morning cheers, we kicked the day off with a welcome assembly and abridged classes before wrapping up with our annual clap-in/clap-out graduation ceremony. This event welcomes (or “claps in”) new 7th-grade students on the first day of their Breakthrough journey and celebrates (or “claps out”) the graduating high school seniors who have completed three summers and six school years of learning, community-building, and mentorship as Breakthrough Manchester scholars.

This powerful full-circle moment gives Breakthrough 7th-graders a preview of where they will be six years from now! For graduates it's a time to reflect on where they started their Breakthrough journey and share advice and words of wisdom with the middle school Scholars.

Starah, a graduating senior attending Southern New Hampshire University shared her experience "When I think of Breakthrough, I think of community. The connections I’ve built with the advisors are dear to me; they’ve all encouraged me in different ways and pushed me to my full potential. Thank you to all my teachers from the middle school program, you’ve brought me here today, whether it was because of a smile, or just a new word of encouragement, you’ve all made a change in my life somehow.”

The celebration culminated in Ben & Jerry's ice cream for all compliments of Southern New Hampshire University's Chandler Center - this sweet treat truly kicked off the summer!