Jamila Espinosa

Educator Engagement Associate

Jamila Espinosa (she/her/ella) is an Educator Engagement Associate at EdTrust-West. Jamila’s commitment to education equity and research has taken her to classrooms across Brazil, Portugal, and back to her native Bay Area. Despite disparate cultural contexts, she observed a common thread: students navigating educational inequities. These realities, coupled with her own experiences as a first-generation student, have fueled her dedication to advocating for equitable educational experiences, particularly for BIPOC youth facing discrimination or other forms of marginalization. The resiliency of students and educators particularly inspires her. Most recently, she completed The Russlynn Ali Educator Engagement Fellowship with the Educator Engagement Team at EdTrust-West. Jamila holds a B.A. in Sociology and Latin American Studies from Pomona College and a M.S. in Child Development from the University of California, Davis. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, and sewing in her spare time.

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  • Oakland, CA
Curriculum & Instruction
Technical Assistance to Schools and Colleges
School & District Improvement

Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

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.