Three Select Locations Chosen to Take Part in this Unique Learning Experience
(November 10, 2021 – New York, NY) – NAF, a national nonprofit bringing together education, business, and community leaders to transform the high school experience, VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (VA CDCE), and Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE) are collaborating this fall to provide a unique learning experience, called Innovation Academy, for students in Milwaukee, WI; Kingstown, RI; and Clarence, NY. Additionally, through NAF’s partnership with District C’s Coaching Institute, select NAF teachers were able to prepare for this pilot program to increase high-quality work-based learning opportunities for the next generation of leaders.
As a result, these educators received their certification in facilitating a project that would be of service and so that they could implement the Innovation Academy process with their students.
What makes Innovation Academy unique?
- Internship Experience – From NAF’s perspective, this experience counts as an internship alternative or mentored industry project — a curriculum-embedded project where students solve an authentic problem proposed by the VHA IE and are mentored by local businesses.
- Growth & Coaching – NAF also views this type of activity as allowing students to learn more about careers in governmental organizations, as well as the chance to develop college and career readiness skills that employers are seeking (communication, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, etc.). In turn, young people are also making a positive difference in their communities.
- Impact & Equitable Access – Students learn from organizations directly and Innovation Academy is delivered during the school day, providing direct access for more young people.
With the support of District C certified teachers and local employer partner mentors, NAF students will work to provide recommendations for a real-world scenario – with the focus being on how the VHA IE can increase engagement of students in service of Veterans and their families. Additionally, the larger goal will address building a sustainable pipeline of talent that is diverse and dedicated to positively impacting the future of Veteran care. To aid, the VA is providing locally based personnel to attend virtual events for each site and the VA leadership will also be contributing to these projects and connecting with student participants.
NAF advisory boards in these communities will be providing mentorship to students to help them refine their project proposals and enhance their college and career readiness skills development. These groups of professionals provide an essential bridge between schools and the workplace. Businesspeople and community leaders volunteer on local advisory boards to play an active role in developing their future workforce, by shaping talent in high school.
CEO, Lisa Dughi, said, “NAF is proud to have our students take part in activities that help hone their professional skills and tie them to service. We are thankful for the support of VA CDCE and VHA IE with mentoring and providing the resources for our young people to succeed with their projects. We also are grateful to District C for hosting our teachers through their Coaching Institute and setting them up for success in facilitating this important endeavor.”
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About NAF:
NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work together to ensure that high school students are college, career, and future ready.
NAF works with high need communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry-specific curricula, work-based learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems, allowing NAF to become an integral part of a plan for higher achievement at a low cost. NAF academies focus on one of five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2020-21 school year, over 117,000 students attended 619 NAF academies across 34 states, plus DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In 2020, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 87% of graduates planning to go to college. For more information, please visit: https://naf.org/
About District C:
District C is a nonprofit that is preparing the next generation of diverse talent for modern work. District C’s Teamship program is an innovative internship experience through which teams of students solve real problems for real businesses. Teamship is delivered through school, bringing valuable work-based learning directly to students in an equitable way. District C’s Coaching Institute trains and certifies educators to bring the Teamship model back to their schools. To date, District C has trained over 120 educators and has reached close to 2,000 students.