How far can you go...

Friday, February 24, 2023

Dear MNPS & Community Member:

In times of unprecedented focus on personal success, associated with fame, power, wealth or a combination of all these, the words quoted above could not be timelier and more thought-provoking.

They remind me of Doña Alejandrina Marmolejos, who preferred to be called by her nickname “Jandín.” She was an elderly lady who lived next door to my parents' house in my hometown.

More than a neighbor, Jandín was a grandmother figure to me, my siblings, and other kids in our community. She was someone to go to for advice in various situations of life. She also had the gift of visiting the sick to give a word of comfort and occasionally bring a hot meal or beverage. I remember her leaving her house, sometimes during a downpour, carrying a hot pot of ginger root tea and cinnamon to bring to us and some others in the neighborhood who were fighting a cold. There are so many other inspiring anecdotes about her that are impossible to include here for obvious space limitations.

While Jandín did not fit the typical attributes we tend to associate with a successful person, she went extremely far in life and left an incredible legacy of unconditional, non-transactional love and compassion for everyone that still resonates today, particularly to me, more than three decades since she left this physical realm.

Until next time!

Overton has five career academy programs offering 10 distinct pathways and multiple industry certifications. They include the Health Sciences Academy, the Information Technology Academy, Engineering Academy, Academy of Interdisciplinary Research, and the Freshman Academy. Most student learning experiences include collaborating with more than 50 community business partners to implement real-world experiences through work-based learning programs, job shadowing, and internships.

Metro Schools is one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the United States. Our teachers and staff educate more than 80,000 students in Metro Nashville-Davidson County, preparing them to excel in higher education, work and life.

Whether you are a teacher, an administrator or a potential support staff employee, if you want to make a difference, we want to hear from you. We are currently the highest- paying school district in the state with teachers starting at $48,000 a year and bus drivers at $22 an hour.

LEARN MORE

The Metropolitan Action Commission currently has 622 summer work experiences, internships, and peer leader opportunities available for Davidson County youth and young adults between the ages of 14-24 years old.

The agency’s POWER Youth Summer Employment initiative partners with employers within Metro Government, businesses, non-profits, and other organizations to provide seasonal, part-time, year-round and career preparation experiences. Click here for additional information, including hourly pay by age group