Laila Fahimuddin is the Principal and Owner of LMF Strategies. With over a decade of experience working in K-12 education policy, research and advocacy at the state and local level, Laila has a track record of success in navigating complex policy issues impacting historically marginalized communities.

Laila led multiple policy initiatives during her tenure as Policy Director for the California State Board of Education. She was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve under Board President Mike Kirst, and continued to serve Governor Newsom through his first term under Board President Linda Darling-Hammond.

Laila came to state government with deep roots in the non-profit research and advocacy sectors. As a researcher with SRI International, Laila evaluated the impacts of systemwide district reforms, school finance, teacher preparation, social/emotional learning, and college/career readiness. These evaluations were generously supported with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Justice, and foundations including the Hewlett Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation. Prior to joining SRI, Laila was a community organizer with the ACLU of Northern California, where she led the affiliate’s work on education equity, freedom of expression, biased policing, and training youth advocates.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Laila is the eldest daughter of immigrants from India and Pakistan. A product of California’s public education system, Laila obtained her B.A. from UCLA, where she was supported by Pell Grants, Cal Grants, work-study, myriad scholarship funds, and the loving support of her immigrant and Muslim communities.