Meet the Staff
Contact our main office at 952-988-3755 or btmpls@blakeschool.org.
Tricia Crossman, Executive Director
Office Phone: 952-988-3706
Email: tcrossman@blakeschool.org
Tricia Crossman (she/her/hers) became the Breakthrough Minneapolis at Blake's Executive Director June 2020 following over 25 years of experience working with and on behalf of young people. Her career began in service to youth and their families in diverse settings such as schools, community based organizations and mental health facilities. In addition to direct service, Tricia’s experience includes developing and managing strategic initiatives, programs and operations for local and national non-profit organizations. She earned a Masters of Social Work degree from New York University. She is very excited that her role with Breakthrough Minneapolis at Blake allowed her to return to her home city of Minneapolis, along with her son Cruz.
Chris Z. Sanders, Student Services Director
Office Phone: 952-988-3755
Email: csanders@blakeschool.org
Chris Z. Sanders (they/them) joined Breakthrough Minneapolis in June 2026 as the Student Services Director but has been part of the program since 2021 - first as a teaching fellow (summer ‘21, ’22, and ‘24) and then as the Summer Dean of Faculty (summer ‘25). In addition to graduating from Macalester College with a Bachelors Degree in Educational Studies and American Studies, they served as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow for two years in St. Paul Public Schools. Currently pursuing their Master of Arts in Teaching at Hamline University, Chris cites these experiences as solidifying their passion for culturally responsive teaching, curriculum development, and providing youth with the necessary tools to be successful.
Jame See Yang, Academic Services Director
Office Phone: 952-988-3755
Email: jyang@blakeschool.org
Jame See Yang (she/they) joined Breakthrough Minneapolis in April of 2024. Jame See started out as a teaching fellow in the summer of 2018 and is excited to be back with the Breakthrough community. She was a Fulbright English teaching assistant in South Korea in 2021 and came back to the U.S. to teach with Saint Paul Public Schools. She has experience in the classrooms and is passionate about creating a safe and brave space where people feel they belong. With that, Jame See hopes to bring her experience in community and creativity to the Breakthrough family.