Specializing in Creative Education Consultation
Jenn Katona, Ph.D. Founder and President 3 Looms
Dr. Jennifer Katona is a mission-driven consultant and leader with over 30 years of experience designing, building, evaluating programs and their impact, in education and the nonprofit sector. She works with organizations to develop the infrastructure, capacity, and partnerships necessary to drive meaningful and sustained work.
Jenn works with school districts to set priorities, design and implement programs, and secure and manage grant funding. She delivers professional development and speaks nationally on program design, evaluation, and sustainability. With deep expertise in impact measurement, she leads initiatives that scale arts integration to advance student engagement, mental health, and community connection. She co-leads the national implementation of the Immersive Arts Integration model and co-authored Immersive Arts Integration: A Step-by-Step Guide.
As founder of 3 Looms Creative Education Consulting Jenn partners with foundations, school systems, and cultural institutions to advance strategy, program design, and evaluation
Jenn holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education: Arts Policy and her current research explores Factors Which Influence the Decision of a School Leader to Maintain or Eliminate Arts Programming in their School and building sustainable arts programming in urban schools.
Writing
“The critical element to teaching is student engagement in the curriculum and the power of the learning experience for the student.”
— “Arts and the Brain” | Medium.com
“It is not an either-or to arts in school or after but rather a “Yes, And” to arts in the classroom and as a content area.”
— “Intrinsic Benefits of Arts Education, An Exercise in Yes, And…” | Medium.com
Podcasts
“How do I make sure every kid gets that kind of emotional connection to their education? The Arts are how you do that.”
— “Open a New Window: Weaving Arts Education in Today’s Classrooms” | First Online with Fran
“Explore the work of creatives all around the world as they respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic.”
— “Episode 19: Dr. Jennifer Katona” | #KeepMakingArt
What’s in a name?
The name 3 Looms is an homage to the influential work that started my journey into education over twenty years ago.
My first taste of how to liberate a classroom came from watching Dorothy Heathcote’s documentary, 3 Looms in Waiting. Dorothy famously would walk into a classroom and ask students, “What shall we do a play about today?”
Now while I recognize we cannot walk into a class and ask students what they want to learn, I strive to create environments that take us as close to learner-centered as possible. As close to allowing students to say, “This is what I would like to learn about today…”
The number 3 also signifies the three areas I am most passionate about:
I am passionate about supporting educators. I have nothing but admiration for educators and know all too well the challenge of the job. I want to provide support any way that I can.
I am passionate about working with schools and spreading the word on how powerful and impactful learning through the arts can be. I have seen schools transform time and time again, and I want to help all schools find this success.
I am passionate about building community partnerships. As a theatre artist myself, I love to collaborate and learn from others and to bring that collaborative spirit into my work with cultural organizations and community partners.
Lastly, I am proud mom of 3 wonderful kids who remind me everyday to be flexible, laugh, dance and enjoy our time together.