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FocusQuest and NAF Deepen Strategic Alliance to Expand Career Readiness Pathways for High School Students and Alumni 

Fresh off a shared presence at NAF Next 2026, the two organizations confirm a multi-year partnership connecting NAF’s national academy network with FocusQuest’s career readiness and workforce programming. 

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLA. — JULY 2026. FocusQuest, a student success and workforce readiness organization serving HBCUs today reaffirmed its strategic alliance with NAF,  a national leader in career-connected education that expands access to real-world learning opportunities for high school students. The renewed emphasis on the partnership follows both organizations’ joint presence at NAF Next 2026, held July 6–9 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, where the collaboration was introduced to NAF educators, alumni, and school district leaders in person for the first time. 

Formalized earlier this year, the alliance between NAF and FocusQuest is built around a simple, shared conviction: every student, regardless of zip code or background, deserves a real pathway from the classroom to college, career, and long-term success.  NAF bridges the gap between classroom learning and real careers—while students are still in high school, while FocusQuest brings career readiness programming, workforce-ready skills development, student success coaching, and innovative online learning solutions to the next generation.. 

Under the agreement, NAF and FocusQuest will work together to expand programming across six priority regions — South Florida, New York City, Washington, D.C., Charlotte/Raleigh, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Detroit — with the goal of increasing the number of NAF educators, students, and alumni engaging with FocusQuest programming through the 2028–2029 school year. The collaboration includes  coordinated training and events, shared measurement and reporting, and mutual marketing support, including FocusQuest’s continued participation in NAF Next, the NAF Alumni Summit, and NAF’s Innovation Studio. 

NAF Next 2026 marked the first major milestone on that shared timeline. Described as a movement bringing together teachers, education decision-makers, industry leaders, and innovators shaping the future of education and workforce readiness, NAF Next offered  FocusQuest the opportunity to connect directly with NAF alumni and key school district partners in the priority regions identified in the partnership, turning a framework built earlier in the year into visible, on-the-ground momentum. 

“Being on the ground at NAF Next alongside NAF’s educators, alumni, and school district leaders made something clear: this partnership isn’t just paperwork, it’s people,” said Sean-Reed McGee, Chief Executive Officer of FocusQuest. “NAF has spent decades building career academies that prepare students for what’s next. Our job is to make sure that momentum doesn’t stop at graduation and that students, especially those coming out of HBCUs, MSIs, and underserved communities, have a clear, supported path forward.” 

“NAF Next is where our network comes together to think about what’s possible for our students,” 

said Tarawhona (Tara) Bellevue, NAF’s Vice President of Strategic Alliances & Business Development. “Introducing FocusQuest to our alumni and school district partners was a meaningful step. We’re looking forward to what this collaboration can build for NAF students and alumni in the years ahead.” 

ABOUT FOCUSQUEST 

FocusQuest is a student success and workforce readiness organization dedicated to empowering high school students, HBCUs, Minority-Serving Institutions, and underserved populations through career readiness programs, workforce-ready skills development, student success coaching, and innovative online learning solutions. FocusQuest partners with institutions and networks nationwide to build clear, supported pathways from the classroom to college, career, and long-term success. Learn more at www.focusquest.com.