About
NAF Next is a dynamic professional development conference that brings together education, business, and community leaders to address some of the biggest challenges facing education and the workforce. NAF Next will feature innovative initiatives in order to shape a highly skilled and inclusive workforce. Participants will learn key strategies to improve academy quality, work-based learning, student and employer engagement efforts that they can bring back to their schools, districts, and communities.
Logistics
Dates: July 11-14, 2023
Location: JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054
More information coming soon!
Award Nominations
Janet Linton Leadership Awards
The Janet Linton Leadership Awards were created in 2006 in memory of the late San Diego Academy Director, Janet Linton, and is intended to recognize extraordinary contributions and leadership within the NAF network at the school, district, and state levels. These awards recognize outstanding leaders who advance the NAF design and ensure that all students are prepared for college, career, and future success. NAF will be recognizing leadership at all levels – please nominate all deserving superstars!
Advisory Board Champion Award
The Advisory Board Champion Award honors an advisory board member who has exercised extraordinary leadership in advancing the NAF design by engaging with the community and fully supporting academy development – including providing work-based learning experiences and internships, ensuring that all students are prepared for college, career, and future success.
Alumni Awards
The Alumni Awards recognize NAF alumni who have achieved success in either college or their career, or have demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit that can be attributed in part to their academy experience.
Testing Event Awards
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Internship Champion Award
was designed to recognize companies that help NAF scale internship opportunities by providing a large number of internships within their own company. In addition, the honoree is a strong advocate for internships in their network, sharing best practices with peers for planning successful internship programs and creating opportunities to keep interns connected to their company at the end of their internship.
The Advisory Board Champion Award
recognizes those who have exercised extraordinary leadership in ensuring that all NAF students have the opportunity to participate in a series of work-based learning activities designed to prepare them for college and career success.
(New York)Managing Director at Accenture
The Alumni Award
recognizes NAF alumni who have achieved success in either college or career, or have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit that can be attributed in part to their academy experience.
2013 Alumnus from Miami Springs Senior High School AOHT
Miami, FL
2016 Alumna from Waipahu High School AOE
Waipahu, HI
2013 Alumnus from Academy of Finance and Enterprise AOF
Queens, NY
The Janet Linton Leadership Award
recognizes outstanding academy directors and educational leaders (including district administrators, teachers, principals, etc). Created in 2006, in memory of the late San Diego Academy Director, Janet Linton, the award honors extraordinary contributions and leadership within the NAF network, at the school, district and state levels.
Dr. Austin HillAOF Coordinator
at Edgewood High School
Edgewood, MD
at New Britain High School
New Britain, CT
Sonia SamarooEducational Specialist
at Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami, FL
Keynote Speaker: Collette V. Smith
Collette V. Smith is the Founder and President of Believe N You, Incorporated. She gained international notoriety when she became the NFL’s 1st African-American female coach and the 1st female coach in NY Jets franchise history. Collette made her NFL coaching debut with the NY Jets defensive backs in 2017 during Training Camp.
Her professional football career started at the age of 42, playing for the New York Sharks, an all-women’s professional football team. After being sidelined by an injury, she served as Coach and Director of Marketing for the two Women’s Professional Football Leagues, the WFA and IWFL(Women’s Football League Association, Independent Women Football League).
Smith is currently affiliated with the WFLA, the only Women’s Professional Football League that pays their players and fosters an environment for female athletes to sustain healthy lifestyles through playing, coaching and participating in American Football at the Highest Level for Women. The League’s purpose, principles, and plans are rooted in creating the development of the most pristine women’s football product in the world.
Smith is an ambassador for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Up2UsSports, and the Voss Foundation which facilitates access to clean water for women in rural Africa. She is also an Official Wish Grantor with the Make A Wish Foundation. She has received numerous awards.
NAF Next 2023 Keynote Speaker Collette V. Smith
Sponsorship and Exhibit Packages
Please consider sponsoring NAF Next 2023: Perspectives!
- Engage and connect with 1,000+ educators, educational leaders, and district administrators
- Interact with a constant flow of attendees in our Innovation Studio, the same space where concurrent innovative and immersive sessions take place.
- Our Innovation Studio enables attendees to interact with free or low-cost products and providers, receive guidance at an always-open NAF staff support center, and attend relevant sessions!
- NAF promotes sponsors to 20K subscribers through our NAF Next website, social media, conference app, and email blasts.
View our sponsorship deck: