Despite living in an era where an almost-incalculable amount of information is available at the entering of a smartphone passcode, any high school or college student […]
Sometimes measuring impact is tough, but when it comes to a diverse educator workforce, the benefits are clear. Research shows that when students of color are […]
Each year, California state leaders spend months proposing and refining the state’s budget, making decisions about programs and resources that directly impact students, schools, and colleges. […]
As California’s students and families of color grapple with the aftermath of remote learning and their disproportionately negative learning outcomes attributed to lost instructional time and […]
At The EdTrust—West, we’re dedicated to a more equitable California for the students who have been systematically shut out from opportunity. To make our educational systems […]
In 2017, EdTrust–West released the first in our “Hear My Voice” series of reports, looking at how K-12 districts, higher education institutions, and state leaders could […]
Question: You’ve been with EdTrust–West since 2017, but were just named Senior Director, Strategic Advocacy. What excites you about this new role? This is an exciting […]
Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.
Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.
Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.