We would like to extend our special thanks to the DC Public Schools Tenacity team for sharing the great lessons they have created. We have used many of Tenacity’s open source activities in our Internship Prep lessons and have been inspired by the concepts throughout their curriculum. Any time we used Tenacity’s materials for inspiration, we have noted that in our materials and linked to this page.

To learn more about Tenacity, we encourage you to check out the full semester-long Tenacity curriculum as well as this Welcome to Tenacity video from the DCPS team.

~ The NAF Curriculum Development Team

About Tenacity

Increasing research in the marketplace shows that employers are seeking more than know-how or technical ability—they seek candidates with soft skills. Also known as job readiness or employability skills, they basically mean the same thing—personal attributes that enable one to maintain effective and harmonious relationships.

The Tenacity Professional Character Skills Curriculum introduces students to real-life workplace expectations and centers on the development of three character strengths: poise, initiative, and tenacity. Character strengths are more meaningful than any particular lesson about a professional skill, such as resume writing, organization, or time management. The argument that a student’s ability to craft a resume is the make-or-break moment for their career is disingenuous. Although a necessary skill, alone it is insufficient for success after high school. Acquiring communication, leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities provide students an advantage not only to secure employment but also to excel in their careers and in life. The objective is to train students to apply professional skills beyond technical know-how and adopt them as their own personal mindsets and work habits.