About Karla

Karla Bell is a veteran music educator, honorably and unapologetically serving Black and Brown K-12 music scholars for more than 16 years. She serves as a middle and high school Choral Director at Early College School at Delaware State University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Comprehensive Music Education K-12 from Delaware State University and a Master of Education degree in School Leadership from Wilmington University.​ She is pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Delaware State University.

Karla is a mentor and teacher’s teacher. Using equity, healing-centered, and restorative lenses, she facilitates graceful learning communities for scholars and empowers fellow educators to do the same. She believes in the brilliance, genius, and joy of scholars, and it shows in her grassroots student leadership programs. Karla leads and serves on climate and culture teams and facilitates professional development at the school, district, and state levels.​ 

Her professional memberships and affiliations include the National Education Association, National Association for Music Education, Delaware State Education Association, and Delaware Music Educators Association. ​

In Christian ministry, Karla specializes in teaching discipleship principles for practical life application. She is often called to Biblically align and transform Music departments and Christian Education programming. She holds a Master’s Degree in Ministry from Christian World College of Theology and serves as an adjunct instructor at their Delaware campus.

Karla is a native of Dover, Delaware. She enjoys traveling, live performances, reading, and days at the beach. She is happily married to her husband Calvin and they have one daughter.

Karla believes in the gifting and potential of every person she encounters. She is a catalyst. Her passion lies in removing barriers to uninhibited access to opportunity and laying a strong foundation of learning and growth for present and future generations.