Edna M. Bland is a certified educator, arts integration specialist and teaching artist in theatre and puppetry arts who has honed her skills at The Kennedy Center’ CETA and VSA programs, Lincoln Center Education at The Juilliard School’s Teaching Artist program, and the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England. As a professional puppeteer, she was mentored by Carroll Spinney, “Big Bird” and Dr. Loretta Long “Susan” of Sesame Street.

Ms. Bland serves as an executive board member for the Puppeteers of America where she also serves as the chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She also is a board member of the Florida Association of Theatre Education and chairs the Florida Jr. Thespians District 2 where she oversees theatre directors in Seminole and Volusia counties, as well as the Kennedy Center’s VSA (arts and special needs) content committee. Recently she was selected as one of the recipients of the 400 Distinguished Award given by the US Congress as part of the commemoration of the 400 years of African American History. And in 2022, she was awarded Theatre Arts Educator of the Year by the FATE organization. Ms. Bland is currently a theatre arts instructor at Millennium Middle School where she created the only puppetry arts elective program in the nation.

Ms. Bland has a M.F.A. in Entertainment Creative Writing, M.S. in Entertainment Business, B.S. in Organizational Management and A.A.S. in Music Business and resides in Sanford, Florida.