Dr. Karen Herrera is a passionate career educator with over 35 years’ experience in education.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin where she specialized in vocal music. She then served the next thirteen years in the classroom, working at both the elementary and middle school levels in Lamar Consolidated ISD, Leander ISD and McAllen ISD. 

Karen received her master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Texas-Pan American (now the UT-RGV) and worked the next nine years as a campus assistant principal at both middle school and high school.   In 2013, she earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University with a Record of Study on Professional Development in Arts Integration for Classroom Elementary Teachers. 

Dr. Herrera has served the last fourteen years as a district level Fine Arts Administrator in both McAllen ISD and in Killeen ISD, which she took over in July of 2014.    

Dr. Herrera served many years as the TMEA Region 15 Elementary Chair and currently serves on the UIL Music Region 8 Executive Committee. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Fine Arts Administrators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Texas Art Educators Association, and the Texas Educational Theater Association.  She currently lives in Belton, Texas, and loves reading, gardening, and travel.  She is the proud mom to four grown children and has five grandchildren.