Welcome to the FACSA website!
FACSA was established in 2003 by a small group of Florida authorizers who realized the importance of establishing a network of local authorizer experts who could help guide their colleagues through the early years of charter school authorizing in Florida. Since then, FACSA has grown and now has 65 members who represent 30 of the 47 districts who currently serve charter school students.
Our members meet monthly to provide informative and timely information sessions as well as an opportunity to discuss pressing issues. In doing so, FACSA members collaborate to ensure that only strong charter school applicants are approved; that charter schools are of high quality and able to serve all students; and that these public schools are governed and operated appropriately to honor students’ needs as well as the public interest. For dates and location of upcoming FACSA meetings see the Event Calendar.
We hope you will take some time to explore our website. You can review the large and growing bank of free authorizer resources provided by FACSA members. Florida authorizers will find many examples of work that they can readily adapt for their own use. You can also read about our latest work and consider joining upcoming events. This site is continually adding new resources, news items and information, so please visit regularly.
FACSA is the co-recipient of a federal grant that supports the work of FACSA and partner organizations in California and Colorado. This grant supports FACSA’s work and allows local authorizers to work with partners across the nation. You can read more about this important grant here.
Marianne Blair
Executive Director
Marianne Blairmarianne.blair@flauthorizers.org
Marianne was an active member and former director on the board of FACSA. During her 15 years with Volusia County Schools, she was a high school business teacher and district administrator supporting various roles designated by the superintendent. While in the district office, Marianne was a specialist for Career & Technical Education overseeing the industry certification process and later curriculum development for career programs. As the School Choice Specialist, Marianne was responsible for the variance (school choice) process, home education, DJJ programs, charter school authorizing, and other district compliance supervision.
She is currently a Professor of Accounting at Stetson University.
Vanessa Glenn
Project Support Specialist
Vanessa Glennvanessa.glenn@flauthorizers.org
Vanessa Glenn joined FACSA as the Project Support Specialist in July 2021. She recently served as the Treasurer for FACSA and Specialist for the Office of Charter Schools at Polk County Public Schools. Vanessa has been involved in public education since 2013. During her tenure with PCPS, Vanessa was responsible for coordinating high stakes five-year reviews for charter schools, charter contract renewals, and the charter application process from prospective applicant training to charter review team reviews and applicant interviews. She also played a vital role in monitoring Polk County’s 30 charter schools for compliance and academic performance.
Her commitment to quality education for all students led her to join the Polk County Sheriff’s Advisory Council in 2018, where she was able to engage in the council’s discussions about various matters within the Polk County community. Her experience on the council provided her the opportunity to participate in assignments such as patrol ride-alongs, observe the 911 call center, visiting the local jail and booking center, and most importantly serving her local community as active participant.
A former native of Virginia Beach, Vanessa worked for Ferguson Enterprises in Newport News, Virginia where she led efforts to support Ferguson’s 1,500 branch locations and distribution centers as an Implementation Coordinator in Information Technology.
Vanessa earned her Associate of Science in Business Administration from Polk State College.