Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
Software
Timeline
Generic
Erica Saben

Erica Saben

Former Education Director With Project Management Expertise
Chula Vista,CA

Summary

Dynamic leader with a proven track record in strategic planning, team management, and program development. Skilled at fostering inclusivity, promoting equity, and cultivating a positive organizational culture. Experienced in leveraging data analysis to drive informed decision-making, overseeing publications, and managing complex projects. Adept in financial management, stakeholder engagement, and developing partnerships to advance organizational goals. Committed to building collaborative and innovative work environments that align with mission-driven objectives.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Education Director

Fern Street Community Arts
01.2015 - 07.2023
  • Collaborated with guardians, staff members and stakeholders to create an environment that supported the well-being and creative growth of both students and staff members. Ensuring the needs of all invested parties were being met.
  • Fostered partnerships with successful circus artists, education facilities, and complimentary arts organizations to create experiential learning opportunities aligned with career pathways or industry trends.
  • Implemented data-driven decision-making processes to monitor student progress and inform instructional strategies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement through regular reviews of program outcomes and data informed adjustments.
  • Enhanced curriculum quality by collaborating with faculty and staff to develop innovative educational programs.
  • Developed comprehensive strategic plans focused on achieving short-and long-term goals in alignment with the organizations mission and vision.
  • Planned and implemented staff development and in-service training programs to enhance knowledge, skills, and social-emotional competencies to support a positive and responsive work environment.
  • Collaborated with executive director to analyze spending patterns and identify cost saving opportunities, providing input to improve resource allocation.
  • Represented educational programs in discussions with city officials and potential funders. Serving as liaison to strengthen community and financial support.
  • Observed teachers and students in classrooms to gather data and improve instruction.
  • Recruited, trained and mentored faculty and staff in best practices for instruction.
  • Managed program schedules and reporting by overseeing project timelines, developing updated schedules, and coordinating communications to ensure all stakeholders were informed and aligned.

Outreach Coordinator

San Francisco Circus Center
05.2013 - 11.2014
  • Engaged with successful alumni and current students to create compelling social media content that highlighted success stories and showcased exceptional training available through Circus Center's programs.
  • Collaborated as key member of leadership team to contribute insights from outreach and community engagement efforts to support data driven decision making that helped to pursue growth targets, analyze financial performance, and refine program offerings.
  • Served as only active circus performer and instructor on leadership team, allowing me to leverage my circus expertise in order to advocate for teaching staff and student needs, aligning program decisions with real-world classroom insights.
  • Collaborated on community workshops to enhance visibility of circus school and its offerings.
  • Managed hiring requests for circus performers, handling client communication, fee negotiation, event details, and contract drafting in order to ensure successful coordination.

Founder and Executive Director

Charm City Movement Arts
09.2011 - 01.2014
  • Founded thriving circus and movement school by researching and identifying community needs and developing unique programs that inspired and engaged students of all ages to go beyond what they thought they were capable of.
  • Created organizational mission and vision statement that aided in building positive organizational culture, fostering creativity, inclusion and community engagement.
  • Led financial management efforts such as budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow monitoring, ensuring schools financial stability and growth.
  • Improved operational efficiency, adopting new technologies that automated routine tasks.
  • Developed and executed comprehensive marketing strategy, enhancing brand visibility and attracting loyal student base through personalized outreach
  • Built and maintained strong, cohesive team by recruiting top talent and fostering supportive work environment.
  • Fostered vibrant community of loyal students by nurturing personal connections and creating programs that celebrated and strengthened collaboration.
  • Represented school at industry events, expanding community partnerships and positioning organization as leader in circus arts education.
  • Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with regulations.
  • Oversaw day-to-day operations including, but not limited to, scheduling, pricing, payroll, equipment maintenance, studio upkeep, marketing and advertising.
  • Championed diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within organization to create more inclusive work environment.

Senior Field Manager

Citizens Campaign For The Environment
06.2003 - 08.2006
  • Fostered positive work environment for all staff members by addressing concerns promptly and maintaining open lines of communication at all times.
  • Lead, trained, and managed field staff, ensuring team was effectively advocating for environmental issues such as clean water, renewable energy, and sustainable policies.
  • Developed and implemented strategies for grassroots campaigns, working closely with team to reach goals, engage community members, and raise awareness about key environmental issues.
  • Actively engaged with public, organizing outreach events, canvassing efforts, and community meetings to build support for environmental initiatives.
  • Was responsible for meeting fundraising targets through memberships and donations.
  • Tracked campaign progress, evaluated field efforts, and provided reports to ensure goals were being met and adjusted strategies as needed for increased impact.
  • Worked with senior leadership to align field activities with organizational goals, ensuring that field operations supported overall mission and advocacy focus areas of CCE.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Political Science And Dance

SUNY, Brockport
Brockport, NY
05.2001 -

Master of Arts - Social And Emotional Learning

National University
La Jolla, CA
09.2022 - 06.2023

Skills

Project management

Strategic planning

Inclusivity and Cultural Competence

Team Management

Project Coordination

Communication System Proficiency

Relationship Building

Public Speaking

Financial Management

Social Media and Website Management

Data Analysis

Recruitment

Team Building

Grant Writing

Systems Management

Meeting Facilitation

Emotional Intelligence

Additional Information

Former Internationally Performing Circus Artist (2006-2023): Demonstrating adaptability, teamwork, and an ability to engage diverse audiences.

Software

Excel, Google Sheets, Slack, Microsoft Teams,Asana, Canva, Word, Powerpoint, Google Workspace, Confluence,Zoom,Dropbox, Google Drive, Gcal, Wordpress, Imovie, Photoshop, Discord, OBS Studio, Restream

Timeline

Master of Arts - Social And Emotional Learning

National University
09.2022 - 06.2023

Education Director

Fern Street Community Arts
01.2015 - 07.2023

Outreach Coordinator

San Francisco Circus Center
05.2013 - 11.2014

Founder and Executive Director

Charm City Movement Arts
09.2011 - 01.2014

Senior Field Manager

Citizens Campaign For The Environment
06.2003 - 08.2006

Bachelor of Science - Political Science And Dance

SUNY, Brockport
05.2001 -
Erica SabenFormer Education Director With Project Management Expertise