Karla Beard-Leroy

Karla Beard-Leroy is an experienced music educator with a comprehensive background in early childhood music education, having served at the Catherine Cook School since 2008. Karla has designed and implemented a progressive Orff-Schulwerk based music curriculum for preschool to 3rd grade, integrating diverse educational philosophies and promoting initiatives around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Previous roles include Guest Musical Director at Percy Julian Middle School, where Karla directed and choreographed major productions, and General Music Instructor/Choir Director at the Merit School of Music, instructing over 400 students weekly. With degrees from Erikson Institute and VanderCook College of Music, Karla is committed to fostering safe learning environments and mentoring both students and educators in the arts.