Who gets placed in which courses and whether they succeed as a result is a major educational and racial equity issue for California’s community college students. […]
One out of every five students in California schools is currently an English Learner, also referred to as a multilingual learner (MLL). Despite progress in recent […]
After years of planning, the State Board of Education adopted the California Math Framework in July 2023. The Framework isn’t a mandate but does provide evidence-backed […]
Many people fortunate enough to take some type of parental leave wrestle with returning to work and reflect deeply on whether the thing we spend most […]
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. […]
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.