media release

Fox Cities: Twin City Catholic Educational System (TCCES) is pleased to announce that Ms. Christina Turner will become the new fine arts director and Mr. Hayden Kraus has been hired as the new technical director of the Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center. Turner will work in cooperation with TCCES administrators, faculty and community partners in the areas of assessing, planning, coordinating and implementing continued improvement of the TCCES fine arts program. Kraus will work in a supporting role, continuing and expanding his formerly interim position in managing the facility and providing technical support for all productions and events in the fine arts education center. Both Turner and Kraus will assume their part-time roles on March 2, 2015.

Turner, a native of Menasha, is fulfilling her dreams of making an impact in fine arts education. “My goal is to help our students explore and expand their creative capabilities and prepare them for life and work in the 21st century,” she states. “I am delighted to find a passionate and well-qualified technical director in Hayden Kraus, and am confident that our talents will help students harness their imagination and put them on the road to becoming tomorrow’s innovators.”

Turner brings years of business collaboration skills to the table as a result of her executive level work with clients as director of marketing for IDG Books Worldwide. While working as director of graduate admissions at the California College of the Arts, she developed a new admission’s process to evaluate prospective students and their work. Turner holds several degrees including a BA in Economics/Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a MA from University of San Diego and a BFA and MFA from California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA.

Kraus, also a native of Menasha, is a 2011 graduate of St. Mary Central High School. He has stayed active in TCCES theatrical productions throughout college, most notably as the founder of the successful TCCES Community Players summer theater program, as the current theater assistant at the Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center and as the director of the high school’s production of Cinderella, which is coming up in April 2015. Kraus also brings significant experience as a scene shop assistant, production manager, technical director and stage manager at UW-Stevens Point.

Ms. Helen Englebert, president of TCCES, is delighted to welcome Turner and Kraus. “Fine arts is a key component of a well-rounded education. The growth and longevity of our TCCES schools relies heavily on the success of our co-curricular programs, in addition to strong academics, faith and service” states Englebert. “Christina’s experience will positively impact our visionary goals, and her expertise fits well with the emphasis TCCES places on the importance of community relationships. Hayden brings state-of-the art technical knowledge, familiarity with our facility and a deep commitment to our schools. This team will be a catalyst to accelerate the growth of our fine arts program!”