Exhibiting compassion and empathic awareness is at the core of Celena's work, whether it's through strategic planning efforts, teaching, or creating an environment that supports learning and getting students into flow...an amazing human potentialist.
Celena Turney
Program Designer
Project Manager
Strategic Planner
Celena Turney
Program Designer
Project Manager
Strategic Planner
About Me
I assist people grow their capacity for success -- for themselves, their teams, their organizations, and their clients. I use a process-driven approach -- one that fosters curiosity, creativity and intentionality. I synthesize resources to build community, communicate across platforms, and inspire collaboration and innovation -- building new solutions with the resources at hand.
My Services
Program Designer
Create captivating equity-centered programs for targeted audiences. Design mission-aligned academic and creative concepts, events, and activities.
Curriculum Development
Author innovative, detailed learning sequences to meet identified needs for in-person and online experiences.
Project Management
Lead teams from concept to completion, coordinating resources and ensuring results are on-time, on topic, and within budget.
Trainer/Facilitator
Present and facilitate multimodal professional growth trainings, workshops, and Community of Practice activities for individuals and groups of all sizes.
Recommendations
Skills
Project Management
- Project Planning & Scoping
- Timeline Mapping
- Communication
- Needs Assessment
Strategic Planning
- Solutions-based problem solving
- Facilitation
- Presenting & Report Writing
- Data Analysis
Technical Knowledge
- Articulate 360
- ADDIE
- Asana/Trello
- WordPress
- Microsoft 365
- Google Suite
Resume
Experience
2005-ongoing
Senior Project Management Consultant, Creative Capacity Builders
Provide strategy and implementation support for school districts at administrative and site levels.
2024-ongoing
VAPA Program Designer & Master Teaching Artist
Design, implement, and provide direct instruction for Prop 28-funded Elementary and Middle School Creative Movement/Dance Program.
2022 – 2023
Program Associate II, Quality Schools & Districts Division at WestEd
Provided technical assistance to schools and districts in the areas of family engagement and school improvement. Supported English Learner and Migrant Education Services team with qualitative evaluation, literature review, and research projects.
Wrote briefs for State Education agencies.
2021-2022
District Literacy Support Specialist, Cabrillo Unified School District
Developed district-wide Elementary Literacy Assessment Plan (K-5) for administration in digital and paper format across four sites. Built a digital platform to provide a central location for test administration, scoring, and data analysis.
2018 – 2021
Managing Director, Tutor Solutions of the Peninsula
Launched and managed all aspects of tutoring company, providing in-person and distance learning services.
2017-2018
Curriculum Specialist, The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula
Developed and revised course standards, produced instructor guides and materials.
2015-2016
Innovative Teaching and Learning Manager, Western Region at Crayola
Partnered with educational leaders across Western US, developing methods for infusing creativity, critical-thinking, and collaboration into teaching.
Education
- Instructional Design Certificate; UC Santa Cruz
Coursework: HTML5, Designing Online Instruction, Assessment & Evaluation, Learning Theories & Styles
- Masters in Public Administration; California State University, San Bernardino
Emphasis: Entrepreneurial Government
- University of California, Riverside; Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science
Education Abroad Program: Budapest, Hungary
Articluate 360
Introductory Parent Education lesson adapted from content provided by SME. Utilized tabs, lists, flashcards, and sorting features.
Articulate 360
Arts Integration lesson incorporating video and images. Expanded upon content from SMEs to reflect best practice in Learning Theory and Curriculum Design.
Articulate 360
Educational mini-course designed for inclusion on a small business website. Utilized timeline, tabs, labeled graphic, and flashcards.
Mentoring Day @ Facebook
PARTNERS: Facebook, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, Service Clubs
LOCATION: Menlo Park, California
DATE: March 2017
SKILLS:
- Project Management
- Event Design
- Lesson Planning
- Staff and Volunteer Training
DESCRIPTION: 125 fifth grade students were paired one-to-one with mentors who provided editing and practice support for their student’s year-end speeches. This ½ day event gave students confidence in their abilities as writers and storytellers while offering mentors an opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way.
TurnAround Arts Gala @ The White House
PARTNERS: Crayola, TurnAround Arts, National Portrait Gallery
LOCATION: White House, Washington, DC
DATE: May 2016
SKILLS:
- Project Management
- Curriculum Development
- Communication
DESCRIPTION: Specially-created artwork of 100 (K-8th grade) students from 10 states across the country was exhibited at the White House. The Annual Talent Show, hosted by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities demonstrates the importance of Arts Education in building the creative capacity of students of all ages.
'Arts for All' Task Force @ Monrovia USD
PARTNERS: California Alliance for Arts Education, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and School Districts across California
LOCATION: Los Angeles, Ventura, and Alameda Counties in California
DATE: 2004-2019
SKILLS:
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
- Group Facilitation
- Data Analysis and Report Generation
- Presentations
DESCRIPTION: Community Task Force Teams were guided through activities that inventoried and analyzed current programs, articulated an organizational vision, and determined strategic priorities. The resulting action plans assist leadership in providing high-quality, mission-driven programs that serve their identified audiences.
Tango 360 – Embraces @ Lineage PAC
PARTNERS: Lineage Performing Arts Center and Electric Lodge
LOCATION: Old Town Pasadena and Venice, CA
DATE: November 2014
SKILLS:
- Artistic Direction/Choreography
- Talent Management
- Communication
- Fundraising
DESCRIPTION: Professional and amateur artists from the community performed an evening of poetry, music, and dance inspired by the Argentine Tango. The performances, directed and produced by Celena Turney, highlight how the arts in all its forms, provide an opportunity to experience and express the nuances of humanity.
Blog
- Beyond the Numbers: New Possibilities for Measuring the Real Impact of Arts Education
Everyone says they believe in the power of the arts. We hear it all the time—the arts matter, arts education boosts learning, creative experiences make communities stronger. So why is it still so hard to secure lasting support for arts programs in public schools? One major reason: we’ve been measuring the wrong things. - Towards Crafting a Global Framework for Arts Education
As I clicked the button to reserve my plane ticket to Portugal last Spring, I wondered… Would this feel like a homecoming of sorts? What core values and aspirations do I share with my international… - Designing Professional Development with Your Participants in Mind
I recently designed and led a day-long retreat for a task force team. Participants were internal and external to the organization and represented all levels of leadership and experience. As I reflected upon the day, I… - Now I Understand
I am in a sentimental mood today. And I really didn’t expect that this story would be my very first post on my journey’s blog. But life is like that sometimes. I have been listening… - Vision and Values Board as a Leadership Exercise
I love visioning exercises. As a strategic planner, I have had the pleasure of facilitating the creation of amazing practical vision statements – for events, programs, departments, etc. Without exception, everyone who participates is energized,…
Contact Me
- Email Celena.Turney@gmail.com
- Call Me 415.416.0533
