Professor Kara Ireland D'Ambrosio holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of New Hampshire, a Master of Music Education Degree with a Kodaly emphasis from Holy Names University in Oakland, a Graduate Certificate in Orff-Schulwerk from Mills College, and a Graduate Certificate in Music for the Unborn from Silver Lake College in Wisconsin. In 2004, Kara earned her National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Music Education. Kara is currently a doctoral student at Boston University where she is studying music education research and completing her dissertation. She also is a mentor/support provider for the National Board Resource Center at Stanford University for many subjects including music, art, PE, and Take One!

Ms. Ireland D'Ambrosio also teaches grades K-8 at Woodside School, where she won a Grammy Gold in 2002 for Excellence in Music Education. Woodside has also won national recognition every year from 2002 as one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America." Kara has served for four years (2006-2010) on the Bay Section CMEA Board as the Special Representative for Classroom music where she volunteered to coordinate excellent professional development workshops for Bay Area music teachers.

Recently, Kara has been recognized for her work in music education by the California Music Educators Association by being awarded the CMEA Peripole-Bergerault General Music Educators Award 2011 and by the Bay Section CMEA organization with the Outstanding Classroom General Music Award 2012.