November is National Career Development Month, a time to celebrate the people, partnerships, and programs that help students prepare for success after graduation. Across Metro Nashville Public Schools, career readiness isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a movement powered by collaboration.

Alignment Nashville’s Collaborative Initiatives play a key role in this work by aligning resources that help students develop both the technical and durable skills needed for the future of work. Through the Academies of Nashville, students engage in real-world learning experiences — internships, job shadows, and industry-led projects — that connect classroom learning to career goals.

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Meanwhile, initiatives like the Out-of-School-Time Collaborative and the Youth Health Collaborative ensure students have the support they need outside the classroom to stay healthy, motivated, and career-focused.

“Career readiness is about more than a future job — it’s about helping students discover their purpose and understand how their talents fit into the broader community,” said Jaggers. “Our partners help make that discovery possible.”

Career Readiness Month shines a light on the collective effort it takes to help every student graduate ready for college, career, and life. From local businesses hosting interns to teachers integrating career skills into daily lessons, Nashville’s ecosystem is preparing students not just to enter the workforce, but to lead it.

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