Partners
Partners for Acceleration is housed at the College of Charleston’s School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. It works in coordination with the Center for Partnerships to Improve Education. We focus our services to schools in South Carolina, primarily in the Lowcountry. As strong believers in the importance of collaboration, PFA relies on the following partners to assist us in our work.
· College of Charleston’s School of Education, Health, and Human Performance
· Center for Partnerships to Improve Education
· Charleston County School District
· Sea Islands Partners for Youth
· Accelerated Schools Plus
· Communities in Schools
Staff
Dr. Christine Finnan, Director
Dr. Finnan brings 20 years of experience working in school reform to the development and implementation of Partners for Acceleration. After completing a Ph.D. in Education at Stanford University, she worked in multiple capacities for the Accelerated Schools Project. In addition, she is an associate professor at the College of Charleston with a joint appointment in the Teacher Education Department and the Sociology and Anthropology Department. Dr. Finnan has written extensively on accelerating learning, school reform, and school and classroom culture/environment. The research completed for her recently completed book, The Upper Elementary Years: Ensuring Success in Grades 3–6 (Corwin Press, forthcoming), her experience with Accelerated Schools, and her college teaching provide the theoretical and practical basis for PFA.
Ms. Tysa Austin, School Liaison
Ms. Austin brings 25 years of teaching experience in the areas of elementary education, special education, grant coordination/writing, and inclusion facilitation. She was a building-based facilitator and also a service provider for the national organization, Accelerated Schools Plus, based at the University of Connecticut. In the latter capacity, she traveled extensively throughout the U.S., both as a trainer and support to schools. In her current role as PFA liaison, she works closely with teachers, other school personnel, and external partners to meet classroom and school goals consistent with the PFA mission.
