Teacher Shantel is an educator, vocal artist, songwriter, and recording artist with over two decades of experience, having worked with notable and incomparable artists like Jean Carne, Dexter Wansel, Instant Funk, Howard Hewitt, and the late Bunny Sigler. Her album, Arize: It’s Time to Shine, recorded at Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Studios, was released through Universal Records.

She has graced many stages, most notably the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York; The Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona; and she has performed as a featured artist at the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival in Castries, Saint Lucia—her birthplace. With a vast musical repertoire which includes rhythm and blues, gospel, reggae, musical theatre, pop and jazz, Shantel’s vocal range and style paint a soulfully authentic picture with each of her performances.

She began her music career as a vocalist for Coffee, a cover band in Phoenix, Arizona. As one of the featured vocalists, she led the band while applying her authentic melodical style to the R&B and jazz music she performed. A fellow musician recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career as a professional vocal artist and put her in contact with Raymond Earl, famed Instant Funk bassist and producer. Teacher Shantel and Earl immediately recognized they were kindred spirits and partnered to create a project which showcased their unique ability to create classic music featuring mindful lyrical storytelling and organic musicianship.

As a seasoned teacher of English, Teacher Shantel has engaged and inspired many aha moments while teaching literature and composition. She’s noted saying that her favorite part of being a teacher is forming lasting relationships with her students and discussing literary works as an avenue for learning about the human experience. Two of Teacher Shantel’s favorite novels are Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.

“Hawthorne’s take on how a character can become ostracized and continue to persevere outside the confines of the societal structure is fascinating,” said Teacher Shantel. She was also deeply moved with Morrison’s protagonist, Pecola, whom she believes is a tragic character because of living existentially, never having the ability to seek internal guidance. Pecola’s story saddened Teacher Shantel so deeply, she couldn’t help but shed tears while reading Morrison’s prose with her American literature course students.

Teacher Shantel is indeed a reading advocate, committed to sharing her love of literature and the significance of reading for elevating the mind and helping to unify humanity.

As an educator and lyricist, Teacher Shantel has discovered a unique form of sharing her passion as a teacher and musical artist. She combines her love of singing, teaching, and learning by presenting audiences with interactive entertainment. While fans admire her uniquely smooth range and rhythmic lyrical style, they continue to be intrigued with her energy, positivity, personability, and pedagogical approach through song.

Shantel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and English from Temple University. She earned her Master of Education in the Reading Specialist program with English Language Learner (ELL) certification from Saint Joseph’s University. She is currently a student in the Literacy Studies doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania where she is focused on a practitioner study centered on music, literature, critical thinking, and identity. In addition to writing and performing her own lyrical content, Teacher Shantel continues to share her musical range as a lead vocalist for The Straight-Ahead Big Band, a 20+ member ensemble. She is the creator and musical director of the Social Justice band, and she is a teacher of English language arts and African American studies at an international day and boarding high school in Pennsylvania.