Since Natalie (she/her/hers) joined EdTrust-West in 2014, she has supported the organization’s policy research, analysis, and position development, primarily in K-12 equitable funding and accountability. Natalie’s […]
Melissa (she/her/hers) joins EdTrust-West with a background in education research and policy advocacy across the birth through the postsecondary continuum. As the Director of P-16 Research, […]
At a young age, Dr. Mayra A. Lara (she/her/ella) immigrated to the United States from Mexico with her parents and sister, and they made Los Angeles […]
At EdTrust-West, Lange Luntao (he/him/his) works closely with his colleagues to drive high-impact campaigns that achieve meaningful policy victories for students of color and students living […]
Denise Luna (she/her/hers) is the Director of Higher Education Policy at EdTrust-West. As a daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and the first in her family […]
Daisy Ruiz-Purcell (she/her/hers) joins EdTrust-West as a fierce advocate for education equity. As a first-generation college graduate who is also the child of immigrant parents from […]
Brian Rivas (he/him/his) has been working to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged students in California for nearly twenty years. His career in education policy began in […]
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.