WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

APEF: Preparing our Children for Tomorrow

Preparing our students for life beyond the classroom

At APEF, we believe that workforce readiness must begin long before graduation. As the job market evolves, public education must play a central role in preparing students not just for college—but for meaningful careers that support thriving communities. That’s why we are building programs and partnerships that make workforce development a core part of K–12 education.

We equip students with the tools they need to explore careers, build in-demand skills, and connect with real-world opportunities. Through digital platforms like West TN Worx and district-led efforts across the region, we’re helping to ensure that students graduate not only with diplomas, but with direction.

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One size does not fit all.

Developing a completely new way

of thinking about public education.

As our world changes, we must adapt and evolve. We must lead the change to ensure that public education remains relevant. While college remains a worthy goal for many of our students, public education must embrace the challenge to prepare them for learning, for leadership, and for life. It is not just about preparation for college, but also for career. Work Force Development must become an essential element in public education, whether in vocational, technical, or professional development.

Of the 25 most in-demand jobs, 60% don’t require a bachelor’s degree.

www.thebestschools.org

How APEF is taking steps
to prepare our next generation

At APEF, we’re redefining what workforce development looks like—starting in K–12 and designed for real-world impact. Our innovative approach is grounded in regional collaboration across West Tennessee, where we’re building systems that connect students, educators, and industry leaders in meaningful, measurable ways.

Through initiatives like the West Tennessee Workforce Collaborative (WTWC) and our digital platform West TN Worx, we’re doing more than just filling gaps—we’re building a model. One that begins with public education, responds to local economic needs, and can be adopted by communities anywhere across the country.

WFD Success

A Regional Blueprint for National Change

Formed by APEF and local public school districts—including Bartlett, Collierville, and Germantown—the West Tennessee Workforce Collaborative is led by district superintendents and designed to align K–12 education with workforce priorities. Together, we’re creating a region-wide strategy that centers public schools as key drivers of economic development.

We focus on:

Coordinating career-readiness efforts across multiple school systems
Hiring high school career counselors
Facilitating internships, apprenticeships, and teacher externships
Launching a student-focused job board
Hosting regional career fairs and industry engagement events
Streamlining workforce response to meet real-time employer needs

This work is already gaining traction—and our goal is to make it portable. By proving what’s possible in West Tennessee, we’re building a model that other regions and states can adapt to better serve their students, schools, and economies.

A Scalable Digital Platform

Our workforce strategy includes West TN Worx, a digital platform designed to make opportunity more accessible and career exploration more engaging. It connects students with job openings, internships, industry mentors, and real-world insights through virtual tools tailored for K–12 education.

By combining technology, regional leadership, and community partnerships, we’re not just improving workforce readiness—we’re building a roadmap for how it can be done anywhere.

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Past Projects

We partnered with Collierville High School (CHS) – the newest and largest high school in Tennessee – to create a Model District for Workforce Development

We have worked with CHS to give high school students the opportunity to gain certification and/or up to an Associate’s Degree, preparing them for life outside of high school.
APEF took over management of Collierville Partners in Education, an independent organization made up of local business leaders who aim to support Collierville youth and the school system in helping to ensure that students graduate prepared for college or a career.
- PIE partnerships help enhance a student’s educational experience by providing field trips, mentorship, speakers, internships, and access to hands-on experiences in high demand sectors.

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We partnered with the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) and the Tennessee Business Roundtable to create the Tennessee Business Fund for Public Education

These established organizations sought out our help to empower innovation in public education
This state-of-the-art project enables local school districts to receive funding for education initiatives
It is a gamechanger for businesses looking to invest directly into cutting edge technology for underprivileged districts
Recently, we began grantmaking with a $10,000 grant to Perry County, Tennessee for specialized programs