Our Staff
Danny Hikes, Manager of Student Services
Danny taught in the Breakthrough Cambridge Summer Program for three consecutive summers during college, sparking a career in education and youth services. Danny has worked for the Gately Youth Center as the Family Liaison managing the homework center, supporting the youth's academic improvement and running fun after school activities. He also worked at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School as a swim instructor for elementary through high school students. As Manager of Student Services, Danny is responsible for the overall success of our students. He oversees a range of support services that we provide to our students and maintains regular communication with their families and school year teachers. Danny manages our Tutoring Program and Family Advisory Board. Danny holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Relations and Educational Program Development from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During his free time, Danny enjoys spending time with family, cooking and biking.Rupal Jain, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Rupal first entered the Breakthrough Cambridge community as a Summer Program Teacher and has been connected ever since. Over the last decade Rupal has worked as a classroom teacher, curriculum developer, and teacher trainer in public and private schools, in the US and abroad. While teaching on the west coast, she made a point to remain involved with Breakthrough, serving as a Mentor Teacher at the San Francisco site. Rupal was named Teacher of the Year by her school in 2009. In 2011, Rupal returned to Breakthrough Cambridge to share her expertise as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. In this role, Rupal oversees academic programming for our 7th-9th grade students and our Teacher Training Program. She ensures that all students benefit from rigorous, engaging curriculum and effective, differentiated instruction while our teachers are provided the best possible introduction to the field of education. Rupal received her M.A. and B.S. in Education from the University of Connecticut. Outside of Breakthrough, Rupal enjoys traveling with family, cheering on Boston sports teams, and exploring local bookstores and libraries.
Amee Naik, High School Program Director
Amee started at Breakthrough Cambridge in 2009 as the College Access Coordinator, working to help our high school juniors and seniors navigate the college search and application process. As the High School Program Director, she supports all BTC high school students by working with families, teachers, and guidance counselors to provide them with the supports and resources needed to succeed throughout high school and ultimately enroll in a 4-year college or university. Prior to joining the Breakthrough team, Amee worked as an admissions officer for her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. She has also received her M.A. in child and adolescent development from Tufts University. In her free time, Amee enjoys reading, baking, and exploring a newfound interest in photography.
Laurie Rothstein, Development Director
Laurie joined the Breakthrough team as Director of Development in September of 2006, a personally satisfying assignment for someone whose daughter attends public school in Cambridge. Her professional repertoire included serving as Director of Development for the Armenia Tree Project, Deana's Fund, and The City School of Boston. Prior to her fundraising career, Laurie earned a Master's Degree in Anthropology and founded a catering business for culture-specific events in Greater Boston. She returned to Indonesia, the focus of her studies, to make a documentary about Javanese cook-servants (distributed by D.E.R. in Watertown, MA.) At Breakthrough Cambridge, her primary responsibilities include building relationships with and serving the needs of our amazing individual and corporate supporters, including the leadership donors who form the Educators' Circle and Breakthrough Investors. Outside of work, Laurie's interests include running, ethnic cooking and learning to play the fiddle.
Elissa Spelman, Executive Director
Elissa first joined Breakthrough Cambridge as a Board Member, working actively on the Strategic Planning and Program Committees. She was thrilled to become even more involved with an organization for which she has such deep respect. Elissa's previous post was as the first-ever Director of the Wellington Management Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting education programs for low-income youth, including some of the affiliate sites of the Breakthrough Collaborative! Elissa has broad experience in the field of education and has also worked with nonprofits focused on foster care, adoption and domestic violence. Elissa began her career as a third grade teacher at the Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester, MA and has taught in a variety of settings. Elissa received her M.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has a bachelor's degree in education from Boston College. When not busy at Breakthrough, Elissa spends time with family and friends, enjoys food of all kinds, and volunteers regularly.
Nathalie Woolworth, Development Associate/ Office Manager
Nathalie began at Breakthrough as a Development Associate/Office Manager in 2011. After graduating from Bates College with a degree in Cultural Anthropology, Nathalie worked writing grants and coordinating volunteers for a regional land trust in Maine. She also interned with the Telling Room, a community writing center in Portland, where she experienced the first-hand excitement of helping students from a variety of backgrounds tell their stories. Nathalie brings her non-profit development and administrative experience, as well as her commitment to closing the achievement gap, to Breakthrough. An anthropologist and avid traveler, Nathalie loves to learn about new places and people and is passionate about enhancing cross-cultural communication. Outside of work, Nathalie spends time exploring Boston on foot and bike, and whenever she can, finds a kayak to paddle.
