Martha Hernandez and Laurie Olsen

Martha Hernández, the Executive Director for Californians Together, leads a coalition that advocates for the educational success of California’s 1.1 million English learners. Martha’s current focus involves the expansion of biliteracy programs, implementing the California English Learner Roadmap, the state’s English learner policy, and spearheading the National Committee for Effective Literacy to promote effective literacy for emergent bilingual and English learner students; Laurie Olsen, Ph.D., is the founding Director of SEAL, a P-5 model of English learner centred language and literacy education. Dr. Olsen has published dozens of books, videos and articles on English Learner and Dual Language education, and has spent the last five decades researching, writing, and providing leadership development and technical assistance on educational equity with an emphasis on English learner and dual language education,