Catherine Turner

Years of acting like an adult have led me into extra work along with theater work. Recently retired as a science teacher, I find myself wandering through sets recently as an extra and loving it! Even if it is as a volunteer, I appreciate every opportunity. Dr. Turner has served as pianist/organist at Harrison United Methodist since February 2017. She twice served as interim choir director at HUMC. In October 2022, she assumed the choir director/pianist/organist position at Church of the Nativity in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. She served as organist, bell choir director, children’s choir director, and interim choir director as needed for 15 years at Ringgold United Methodist Church. Dr. Turner served as organist and children’s ministry director for several years at Boynton UMC. Dr. Turner plays percussion with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and keyboard with many local and regional theater companies. She produced and directed multiple school musical theaters. She supports many local companies and churches by creating sets and props for plays and events such as vacation bible school. Part-time work includes editing graduate students’ work, dissertation committees for colleges, publishing textbooks and authoring children’s books, and blogging. She also writes original music. Retired from teaching in 2022, Dr. Turner is pursuing her best life through blogging, performing, and travel. Recent work in music and the arts 2006 Percussion, Timpani, Xylophone, Chimes with MidSouth Orchestra 2008-15 Percussion and Keyboard with RUMC orchestra 2011 Beauty and the Beast, second keyboard, Colonnade, Ringgold, Georgia 2013 Les Mis, Ensemble, costume and set work, Tivoli Theater, Chattanooga Spring Awakening, second keyboard, Memorial Community Theater, Chattanooga Into the Woods, Second Keyboard, Memorial Community Theater 2014 Shrek, Orchestra and set work, Memorial Community Theater Les Mis Encore, Ensemble, set work, Abba House, Hixson, Tennessee Hairspray, work with sets/props, Colonnade Wed Widing Hood, entire sets/props, Valley Point Middle School, Dalton, Georgia Beauty and the Beast, Jr, producer, North Whitfield Middle School, Dalton, Georgia Titanic, ensemble, Tivoli Theater Sound of Music, Frau Schmidt, Tivoli Christmas Caroler, Chattanooga Market, and Chattanooga Zoo 2015 Founding board member of Scenic City Opera A Star Trek opera: Abduction from the Seraglio Set work Children of Eden, Ensemble, Memorial Community Theater Adam’s Family, Orchestra, Tivoli Theater High School Musical, set work, Cohulla Creek High School Mary Poppins, Orchestra, Tivoli Theater The Little Mermaid Jr., producer, costumes, props, and set designer, North Whitfield Middle School (147 in cast and crew) 2016 The Lion King, Jr., producer, costumes, props, choreographer and set designer, North Whitfield Middle School (64 in the cast, 100 students total with crew) Peter Pan, Jr., a consultant on set and costumes, New Hope Middle School Life Sport, Cave set pieces for RUMC Aladdin, Jr. Dalton Little Theater consulted on costumes Consultant costumes for Heritage Middle School for Lion King, Jr. Subtitles technician for Der Vampyre, a Scenic City Opera performance 2017 Peter Pan, Jr., producer, costumes, props, and set designer North Whitfield Middle School (82 in cast, 96 total students with crew) Guys and Dolls, Jr. consultant on costumes, co-set designer New Hope Middle School Cleveland Symphony Orchestra with Center for Arts in Chattanooga performance Nominated for CDE costume and set design award for Lion King, Jr. Set and Costume design for The Little Mermaid, Jr. for CDE 2018 to present Created sets and costume pieces for multiple schools in the Chattanooga Area. Launching multiple online blog businesses Authoring multiple STEM children’s books Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Percussion and Vocals Mamma Mia ensemble 2020 Cinderella Orchestra September 2022 Musical Director Clue the Musical October 2022 Career Summary Forensics and physical science at Dade County High School, two years of interim teaching science, and six years of teaching STEAM/Careers/Broadcasting/Yearbook at North Whitfield Middle School, Dr. Turner combines technology and art to show how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math combine to produce artistic results using critical thinking and imagination. She consults the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Engineering and Education departments on grants and is a published textbook author. Teacher of the Year at NWMS, Dr. Turner won a broadcasting grant for a daily news program, sponsored the yearbook, worked with Beta Club and Headstart Program, and launched two lego robotics competitive teams while teaching six periods a day of STEM classes. Prior, she taught for one year as a rotating engineering/robotics instructor through five middle schools in Whitfield County. She spent ten years teaching engineering graphics and architecture at Ringgold High School. The Georgia Department of Education hired her for two years part-time to create lesson plans for the engineering design pathway. She chaired the standards rewrite for engineering design and sat on the standards committees for energy, Project Lead the Way, electronics, and engineering for the Georgia DOE. Her industrial 20-year plus work background includes telephony, internet, and web design sales, national executive director for Women Construction Owners and Executives, management, and a twelve-year stint in research in the development of fabric yarns, wires, and cables. Education Ph.D. and Ed.S. in k-12 administration from Capella University. Masters in Educational Technology from the University of Phoenix. B.S. in Applied Physics from the University of North Georgia One year of ABAC college piano performance studies Years of private piano lessons Recent Accomplishments Teacher of the Year in 2016/17 for North Whitfield Middle School Served on Positive Behavior In School committee, Leadership Committee, Planning Committee at North Whitfield Middle school, student engagement committee at Dade County High School Drama Club Sponsor NWMS 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 *Note: drama will be converted from a club to an actual elective class in 2017/18, which minimizes responsibilities going forward Published textbook author with Scholastic’s Press in 2015, Generis Publishing in 2020 Received Bronze National Points of Light Award in 2012 Industry Certified as Engineering Design/Architecture Lab two years Certified Georgia Engineering/Technology 6 - 12 and math 5 - 8 instructor Sponsored annual Rivers Alive Cleanup for five years Sponsored eight proms at Ringgold High School Founded and lead a junior/senior in-school academy for seven years Certified for five years by USTA as a no-cut tennis coach Select league volleyball assistant coach for Adrenaline