Design and implement district-wide Creative Dance Program (Tk-2 ). Work with teachers on how to weave arts education strategies and Reggio-Emilia teaching and learning practices into classroom instruction.
Celena Turney
Program Designer
Project Manager
Strategic Planner
Curriculum Developer
Celena Turney
Program Designer
Project Manager
Strategic Planner
Curriculum Developer
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 Developer
Author innovative, detailed learning sequences to meet identified needs for in-person and online experiences.
Project Manager
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.
Skills
Curriculum Development
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Instructional Design
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Content Development
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Adult Learning Theory
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Training & Coaching
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Needs Assessments
Languages
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English
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Spanish
Management
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Strategic Planning
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Facilitation
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Presenting
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Communication
Technical Knowledge
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Google Suite
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Microsoft 365
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Articulate 360
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ADDIE
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Asana/Trello
Resume
Experience
2025 - present
Early Childhood VAPA Specialist
Rincon Valley USD
2005-present
Senior Project Management Consultant
Creative Capacity Builders
Provide strategic planning, technical assistance, and implementation support for school districts, non-profits, and small businesses.
Serve as Co-Project Lead for the Sonoma County Reggio Emilia Project.
2022 - 2023
Program Associate,
Quality Schools & Districts
Quality Schools & Districts
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
Launch and manage 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
Crayola
Partnered with educational leaders across Western US, developing methods for infusing creativity, critical-thinking, and collaboration into teaching.
Education
2021
Instructional Design Certificate
UC Santa Cruz
Coursework in HTML5, Designing Online Instruction, Assessment & Evaluation, Learning Theories & Styles
Enter years
California State University
Los Angeles
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with English Learner Authorization
California State University
San Bernardino, CA
Masters in Public Administration
Emphasis: Entrepreneurial Government
Thesis: An Analysis of the California State Department of Parks and Recreation's "Quality Management Program"
University of California
Riverside, CA
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science
University Honors Thesis: Hungary's New Voices: A Study of Changing Political Ideologies (1848-1991)
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.
Sonoma County Reggio Emilia Project
PARTNERS: Sonoma County Office of Education, Creative Sonoma, North America Reggio Emilia Alliance, and 25 public, private and non-profit organizations and community leaders across Sonoma County
LOCATION: Sonoma County, California
DATE: October 2025-May 2028
SKILLS:
- Strategic Visioning and Planning
- Group Facilitation
- Project Management
- Technical Assistance
DESCRIPTION: Co-lead a workgroup of 25 invited community leaders through a multi-year strategic planning process that will culminate in the hosting of an exhibit and conference from Italy on the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning in Early Childhood spaces. Technical assistance topics include visioning exercises, communication plans, fundraising methods, and engagement strategies for schools, families, and the community at-large.
World Arts Education Summit in Madeira, Portugal
PARTNERS: World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE), Project Officers from UNESCO, International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA), International Society for Education through Art (InSEA), World Dance Alliance (WDA)
LOCATION: Madeira, Portugal
DATE: March 1-3, 2023
SKILLS:
- Multi-disciplinary Arts Lesson Design
- Experiential Workshop for an Academic and Professional Audience
- Collaborative Group Work
DESCRIPTION: This workshop specifically designed for the WAAE Summit entitled, “Weaving Our Roots into a Collective Tapestry”, invited international educators to create collaborative and embodied performance pieces woven from the sensory memories of their cultural roots shared through improvized expressive and figurative languages.
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
November 23, 2025
Beyond the Numbers: New Possibilities for Measuring the Real Impact of Arts Education
Organizational DevelopmentProfessional Learning
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.
November 20, 2023
Towards Crafting a Global Framework for Arts Education
Professional Learning
As I clicked the button to reserve my plane ticket to Portugal last Spring, I wondered… Would this feel like…
September 1, 2019
Designing Professional Development with Your Participants in Mind
Professional Learning
I recently designed and led a day-long retreat for a task force team. Participants were internal and external to the organization…
July 12, 2019
Now I Understand
Creative Writing
I am in a sentimental mood today. And I really didn’t expect that this story would be my very first…
Contact Me
- Email Celena.Turney@gmail.com
- Call Me 415.416.0533
