During our 2023 summer convening Equity Forward: Education Equity in Los Angeles County, we led participants through a Data Equity Walk to dig deeper into the […]
As California invests in early learning and care, the state is also moving forward with a long-overdue plan to build a statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) […]
Research shows that students derive both social-emotional and academic benefits from a diverse educator workforce. The state has taken notable steps to prioritize a more diverse […]
Cal Grants are the most critical state financial aid investments to promote college access and affordability for Black, Latinx, and Native American students and students from […]
Explaining dual enrollment to students and families can be challenging. Because of this, we’re sharing a new set of resources to help. We’re excited to announce […]
California’s education system, like many government institutions, was not developed to serve Black students. The tough truth is that it still doesn’t: only 30.3 percent of […]
How does dual enrollment pave a smoother path to college for Black and Latinx Students in California? Dual enrollment has the potential to be a powerful […]
The pandemic demonstrated what so many of us already knew – normal wasn’t good enough before, and it’s certainly not good enough today. As California’s schools, […]
The insights of students into their lived experiences of remediation must shape how legislators and community college leaders make effective decisions about remedial education reform. To […]
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.