A native of Cheraw, SC, but a local of Conway, Savannah Funderburk joined the ACA Armada for her first year as a certified teacher in South Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree in English and her graduate degree in English Education from Coastal Carolina University. Throughout her time studying at Coastal Carolina, Funderburk spent extensive time working with students across Horry County at the secondary and collegiate level.
“Savannah Funderburk is going to be a great English teacher that will build positive relationships with her students,” Atlantic Collegiate Academy principal Mike Lorenz said. “Students will enjoy her English classes and she will instill a growth mindset with her students."
While working towards her undergraduate degree, Funderburk was recognized as a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. As a member of the esteemed CERRA recruitment program, Savannah devoted four years to clinical experiences and service projects throughout Horry County and the surrounding communities. She worked closely with high school students at every level and guided them in obtaining knowledge and preparing themselves for the next stage in their education.
“I am passionate about education: at all levels, in all forms,” Funderburk said. “There is nothing more rewarding to me than watching the moment the light bulb glows for a student.”
After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Savannah immediately began working towards her graduate degree and served as a graduate assistant for the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences at CCU. As a graduate assistant, Funderburk managed internal affairs for the Teaching Fellows Program and tutored potential future educators for the reading and writing sections of the Praxis: the Core Academic Skills for Educators Exam.
While she takes pride in the English discipline, Savannah is devoted to preparing her students for life outside of education.
“English is the one discipline that affects all others, but it is not just about being able to analyze a poem or recite Shakespeare. It is about the fundamentals of communication; the ability to understand another person’s perspective and communicate one’s own effectively. My goal is for my students to leave my class with confidence in their ability to speak for themselves and translate their truth to the world they inhabit.”
She has spent classroom time in several high schools in the area, including Carvers Bay, Carolina Forest, Conway and Myrtle Beach as well as the Coastal Leadership Academy.
The youngest of two daughters to Sheila and Wyatt Funderburk, Savannah found a calling for English while serving as the editor of her high school yearbook, earning honors for her efforts. Her passion is for British Literature, from classics like William Shakespeare and the Brontë sisters to modern television and film.
“I am a major movie junkie and love pretending to be a film critic,” Funderburk said. “I have always been artistically driven, whether or not I have skill in the art that I am participating in.”
She also enjoys camping and connecting with nature, including gardening.
