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About Miss Edna
Edna Bland is a certified educator, professional puppeteer, teaching artist consultant and arts integration curriculum developer. She has dedicated her life to helping people discover their gifts and talents through the arts.
She has honed her knowledge and skills at such prestigous institutions as The Kennedy Center's VSA and CETA programs, Lincoln Center Education's Teaching Artist program at the Juilliard School and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, England. She has been a guest classroom speaker at all three of her college alma maters, a workshop presenter for national arts organizations and includes a Creative Arts Ministry workshop in Rome, Italy.
Prior to becoming an educator, Edna worked in the entertainment industry at such organizations as The New York Emmy Awards and Sony Music Entertainment, where one of her accomplishments included contributions to Sesame Street's 35th Anniversary Box Set.
As a puppeteer, she was mentored by Carroll Spinney "Big Bird" and Dr. Loretta Long "Susan" from Sesame Street. She was honored to have been a puppeteer for Jane Henson's Nativity for two touring seasons, and was selected to be a contributor to an exhibit spotlighting African-American puppeteers at the Ballard Museum and Institute at UCONN and the South Florida Puppetry Guild exhibit at the Miramar Arts and Cultural Center.
She has an M.F.A degree in Entertainment Creative Writing, an M.S. degree in Entertainment Business both from Full Sail University, a B.S. degree in Organizational Management from Nyack University and an A.A.S. degree in Music Business from Five Towns College.
Arts Advocacy
Board of Directors
Jr. Thespians District 2 Chair
Board of Directors
Currently serving as a member of the national board; Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Interim Southeast Regional Director
Board of Directors
Jr. Thespians District 2 Chair
Board of Directors
Currently serving as a member on the state board.
Jr. Thespians District 2 Chair
Jr. Thespians District 2 Chair
Jr. Thespians District 2 Chair
Currently serving on the Jr. Thespians State advisory board and Chair for Jr. Thespian District 2 overseeing Seminole and Volusia Counties.
Grant Advisory Committee
Teaching Artist Development Committee
Jr. Thespians District 2 Chair
Assisted in selecting grand funding for Florida state arts organizations and programs.
Teaching Artist Development Committee
Teaching Artist Development Committee
Teaching Artist Development Committee
Assisted with creating certified teaching artists to incorporate into Florida schools.
Conference Content Committee
Teaching Artist Development Committee
Teaching Artist Development Committee
Assisted in selecting intersection conference content as well as conducted two workshops for the arts and special needs program.
Acculades and Awards
"In all my years of working alongside many puppeteers, I am thrilled to be working with historically one of the first professional African American female puppeteers in the country."
- Dr. Loretta Long "Susan" from Sesame Street
"Edna has a passion and commitment to give teachers an appreciation of the Arts while incorporating various learning styles through the Creative Arts."
- Miriam Velez, Ph.D. of Education & Field Experience Coordinator, Nyack College
Seminole County Public Schools Teacher of the Month
Millennium Middle School, 2018
Teacher Of The Month
Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, 2014
Executive Leadership Award
Full Sail University, 2011
Thank You Liner Notes
Songs From The Street: 35 Years of Music, 2004
Charles Brown "All My Life", 1990
Media
WKMG/ News 6 Featured Segment
Ballard Institute and Museum/UCONN
WKMG/ News 6 Featured Segment
Featured segment for "Getting Results in Our Schools" for having the only puppetry arts program in Florida.
Orlando Sentinel Newspaper
Ballard Institute and Museum/UCONN
WKMG/ News 6 Featured Segment
Featured article for Central Florida's local artists in entertainment.
Ballard Institute and Museum/UCONN
Ballard Institute and Museum/UCONN
Ballard Institute and Museum/UCONN
Living Objects - African American Puppetry featured artist exhibitor.