Shannon M. Turner
StoryMuse offers storytelling techniques as a tool for personal discernment, team building, and community development in effort to cultivate a world where all stories are heard and honored. Shannon M. Turner, StoryMuse’s Founder and Creative Director, is a nonprofit professional who specializes in partnership development, program and event management, content development, storytelling, and writing. Shannon serves as an independent consultant who conducts workshops and provides coaching to individuals and organizations seeking to use true, personal stories for transformative potential. She has over two decades of professional experience and an MFA from Virginia Tech.
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn
Languages Spoken: English, Limited Spanish
Arts Disciplines: Storytelling
Core Content Curriculum Areas: Theatre/Drama, Media Arts, English/Language Arts, Social Studies/History, Technology
Specialized Content Areas: Arts Integration, STEAM, ELL (English Language Learners), Literacy, History, World Cultures, Anti-bullying, Character Education, Social Justice Education, Mindfulness Strategies
Grade Levels: 9-12, Community, After-School, and Elders
Special Populations: ELL (English Language Learners), At-Risk Students, Dyslexic Students, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Students, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students, LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex) students, Exceptional Learners (students with disabilities as well as those who are gifted and talented
Pre-Service Learning and Professional Development: Post-Secondary/Pre-Service Learning, Professional Development for K-12 Teachers, Professional Development for Teaching Artists
Geographic Availability: Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, Middle Georgia, South Georgia
Program Types:
School-based Classroom Workshop(s), School-based Afterschool Program, School-based Assembly Program, School-based Residency Program, School-based Summer Program, Community-based Workshop(s)
Community-based Assembly Program, Community-based Afterschool Program, Community-based Residency Program, Community-based Summer Program
Online Content for School Use, Online Content for Community Use, Online Content for Summer Program Use, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Schools, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Communities, Hybrid Online and In-Person Content for Summer Programs
Program Fees:
Fees are based on travel, length, and outcomes.
- Performance Fee: $2,000
- Workshop Fee: $1,000 / hour
- Residency Fee: $5,000 / week
- Access to Online Content: Free
- Hybrid Online & In-Person: Price quoted after discussion
Artistic Profile:
Shannon M. Turner is the Founder/Creative Director of StoryMuse, which offers storytelling techniques as a tool for personal discernment, team building, and community development in effort to cultivate a world where all stories are heard and honored. Shannon serves as an independent consultant who conducts workshops and provides coaching to individuals and organizations seeking to use true, personal stories for transformative potential.
Wrapping up her MFA in Arts and Public Dialogue from Virginia Tech in Spring of 2007, Shannon was on campus the day of the tragic shootings. She led a year-long initiative of community dialogue and artistic response for healing and reflection in the first year after the shootings and then went back for a residency during the ten-year anniversary in 2017. Shannon also created a storytelling show called Trigger Warning, about everyday encounters with trauma and violence, which was in partnership with Men Stopping Violence. She has over two decades of professional experience and an MFA from Virginia Tech.
Teaching Experience:
Year-long residency at a behavioral treatment facility.
Sample Programs:
Our Stories, Our Journeys
- Week 1-Promo session-Participants get a light taste of the material, almost like a commercial, with invitation to apply. This is an important step that alleviates attrition and contributes to better outcomes down the line.
- Week 2-Intro class-Overview of how to tell a true, personal story, including first/last line, outline, etc.
- Week 3-Life maps-Participants are led through the process of making a visual map of their lives, which pulls out life moments in a unique way.
- Weeks 4 & 5-Individual coaching-StoryMuse will work one-on-one with participants, one or two per hour, on the story they have selected to craft into a 5-minute performance.
- Week 6-Dress rehearsal & critical response-Using a revised version of Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process, participants rehearse their stories and give feedback to each other.
- Week 7-Final performance/celebration-A public performance to board members and the community, followed by a light reception and “graduation ceremony.
Residency Plan
- Utilize a StoryMuse residency to teach students the fundamentals of exploring personal narrative, how to tell a good story. For history or social studies courses, investigate how and whether they have been upstanders, bystanders, victims, or even anti-heroes in their own personal narratives and how they identify with social movements.
Workshop Plan
- Utilize a StoryMuse residency to teach students the fundamentals of exploring personal narrative, how to tell a good story, leadership and professional moments when being able to represent yourself well through your stories will apply in both the near & far future-college interviews, job leadership, etc.
Sample Lesson Plans/Study Guides:
Program Photos and Videos:
- Listing ID: 6063