Welcome to 2024, NAF Network!
As we embark on a new year, I can’t help but reflect on NAF’s mission that was ideated nearly 45 years ago. NAF is addressing some of today’s biggest challenges in education and workforce to transform the high school experience like never before. Reimagining what it means to deliver high-quality and impactful work-based learning and industry connections for students.
We are invigorated for the year ahead and excited to continue on this journey forward together. Our shared goals set the stage for all we will accomplish this year – the students who will be exposed to new careers, the industry connections to be made, and the hands-on learning activities that will help a student define a future path and much more.
With your continued support, dedication and passion, we are on the right path, together, to expand local and national partnerships, deepen impact to alumni, and most of all, to provide more meaningful opportunities for students to explore, actualize and achieve their dreams.
We are just getting started and are thrilled to share a few of the exciting updates with you.
| KNOPRO, CALLING: This month, KnoPro is offering “Choose Any Challenge January” where students can win $$$ for completing any Challenge already posted on our site such as AI for the Environment, Technology Inclusion or Health Equity. Visit KnoPro.org to learn more and get your students involved. WBL IMPACT PROGRAM: Last month, we launched the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Impact Program to recognize innovative activities that elevate students’ professional development, made possible through the support of American Express. The program will offer a recognition opportunity for educators, work-based learning coordinators, and academy leads through the WBL Impact Award, the first dedicated award for WBL and will highlight the achievements of NAF network members. All NAF academies are eligible and the submission deadlines are January 22, 2024, for Fall 2023 WBL activities and May 1, 2024, for Spring 2024 WBL activities. Click here to learn more and to submit a nomination. DATA DESTRUCTION POLICY: We are updating our data destruction policy to better safeguard and protect the student data you share with us while also adding provisions related to FERPA-compliant research that align with district standards. Many in our network have expressed support for FERPA-compliant research that allows for the examination of post-high school outcomes of NAF students, and we have added those provisions to the Data Destruction policy as well. You can reach out to NAF Support at support@naf.org with any questions and feel free to review the full language changes in our policy here. |
| Mark Your Calendar |
| NAF TOWN HALL 2024: The NAF Town Hall Series returns this year with four robust and informative virtual events discussing some of the most challenging and hot button topics in education, workforce development, access and more. Join us on Thursday, February 22 at 6 pm EST for “Building Skills For the Future of Tech” with Lisa Dughi, NAF CEO; Matthew Zielinski, Lenovo, EVP President of International Markets; NAF Board of Directors; Kal De, Vista Equity Partners, Chief Technology Officer; and Nick Cain, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Director of Strategic Grants. Registration for the virtual event opens next week. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS: Save the date for NAF’s 20th Annual Benefit on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Metropolitan Club in New York. More details to be announced over the next few months. MEET US IN SUNSHINE: On July 8-11, meet us in Kissimmee, FL for NAF Next 2024: Our Mission. Registration opens soon – click here to learn more. GET READY! |
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out, to share how we can better support you. Thank you, again, for inspiring and guiding the next generation of leaders to be college, career, and future ready.
