ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Karen
Guided by Experience, Grounded in Service:
Meet Karen Hartley-Nagle
Karen Hartley-Nagle’s journey has never followed a straight line—because life rarely does. Her story is one of perseverance, passion, and purpose, all grounded in a lifelong commitment to serving others. From the arts to advocacy, from motherhood to public office, Karen has always sought to make her corner of the world better for families, children, and communities.
She began her academic journey at Moore College of Art on a scholarship as a Fine Arts major, later transferring to Delaware Technical and Community College and then Wilmington University to study K–12 Education with a minor in Reading. While just one step away from completing her student teaching, Karen’s third child was born and experienced nine long months of colic. At the time, changes in state education certification would have required her to restart all of her coursework if she paused—so she made the difficult decision to put her dream on hold for her growing family.
But Karen never stopped learning. She returned to school to pursue a degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Political Science and continues to take courses in leadership, local government, and computer science—including at Harvard online and the Biden School of Public Policy. She believes education is a lifelong journey, not just for students—but for leaders, too.
Karen served as Executive Director of a nonprofit advocating for children and seniors, and later on the New Castle County Board of Adjustment. From 2016 to 2024, she was elected President of New Castle County Council, leading the legislative branch and working across all areas of local government—public safety, land use, economic development, and more. She founded the Civic Leader Roundtable, brought together community voices, and worked every day to put people first.
She’s also a proud mother of four—each a graduate of Delaware public schools. Her daughters earned college degrees, and her son, a U.S. Marine, went through a union apprenticeship to become a skilled electrician. Her middle daughter, a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School, is now earning a second degree from the University of Delaware. With a third grandchild on the way, Karen’s commitment to public education has only deepened.
Today, she founded a small business providing business services and continues her lifelong public service through organizations like the Lions Club, NAACP, League of Women Voters, and the Delaware Coalition for Open Government. Karen shares her home with two retired greyhounds, Apollo and Aria, who are always by her side.
Why Now, Why Me, Why It Matters
“I’m running for the Brandywine School Board because I believe every child deserves a quality education, every teacher deserves respect and resources, and every family deserves a voice.
Our children’s future is shaped not just in classrooms, but in the decisions we make as a community. I’ve spent my life fighting for fairness, advocating for children, and working to make government more responsive, transparent, and compassionate. Now, I want to bring that same commitment to the school board.
As a former Education major, mother of four public school graduates, and a lifelong learner myself, I know firsthand how powerful a great education can be—and how devastating it is when the system doesn’t meet a child’s needs. I’ve led complex budgets, created policies that protect communities, and stood up for families across our County.
But this work isn’t about politics. It’s about people—our children, our teachers, our future.
Brandywine students deserve more than test prep and statistics—they deserve opportunity, support, creativity, and a school system that meets them where they are and lifts them up. I want to help make that happen.
Together, we can make Brandywine a model of what public education can and should be.
Let’s build something great—for them, for us, for tomorrow”.
– Karen Hartley-Nagle