Kerrel has worked with the NSW Department of Education since graduating ‘Approxime Assessit’, Diploma of Teaching (Primary) from University of New England in 1989. Her first teaching appointment was a Merit appointment as a permanent teacher in 1990 at Armidale City Public School. She has taught in a variety of regional, rural and remote schools throughout her career. She became a principal in 2005 and was successful in leading three schools until 2017 when she became Director, Public Schools in the Mid North Coast area.  This position transitioned into Director, Educational Leadership in 2019 at which time Kerrel completed the Professional Certificate in Instructional Leadership from Melbourne University, gaining first and second class honours.

Kerrel began working with Charles Sturt University in July 2022 as Coordinator, Mid-Career Transition to Teaching; supporting industry professionals to retrain as teachers of mathematics, science or technological and applied studies.