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OUR HISTORY

Public Education Partners was founded in 1985 as a local education fund that works to build connectivity between the private sector and our public schools. Over the last 35 years we have provided both on-the-ground supports and services like teacher grants, while also working at a systems-level through research and recommendations for policy and programmatic innovations. By collaborating with the community, educators and local organizations, PEP creates initiatives that provide critical resources for children and teachers to strengthen our public education system.

1985: With $5,000 and a passion for change, a group of community, business, and school leaders, led by Hayne Hipp, joined together to ensure our community would have an enduring voice for an excellent education for our children.

1986: The Alliance for Quality Education (AfQE) was founded with a commitment to excellence and innovation in Greenville County Schools. Hayne Hipp serves as the first Chairman of AfQE's Board of Directors.

1989: After working with the organization in its early years, Grier Mullins takes the reins of leadership as Executive Director for the Alliance for Quality Education.

2010: AfQE transitions to Public Education Partners, reinforcing the organization's mission of collaboration with the district and community.

2014: Public Education Partners launches "Make Summer Count," at 18 high-poverty elementary schools. Make Summer Count launched as a summer reading initiative, featuring free book fairs to build home libraries in May and Family Reading Nights to engage with parents and students during June and July. In its inaugural year, 120,000 books were selected at the book fairs and 9 schools hosted Family Reading Nights with more than 700 students in attendance.

2015: PEP joins the OnTrack Greenville initiative to keep middle school students on track for high school graduation. The initiative, spearheaded by the United Way of Greenville County, is a collaborative effort by the school district and community partners.

2016: PEP partners with Greenville County Schools on the Greenville Alternative Teacher Education (GATE) program, the state's first district-based alternative certification program geared specifically towards highly-qualified science and math teachers.

PEP role and impact

PEP has played a critical role in Greenville County District initiatives including:

Introduction of magnet school and school choice
ADEPT teacher evaluation system
Graduate Greenville
The development and launch of Greenville Early College
The development and launch of the Greenville Alternative Teacher Education Program (GATE)

PEP’s program impact has been widespread, reaching 84 schools, over 5,000 teachers and over 76,000 students. Through donors, foundations and corporate partners, over $13,000,000 has been invested in Greenville County’s students, teachers and schools. Help us build on that legacy.

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