Lorenza Lara, Secondary Literacy Coordinator for the Denver (CO) Public Schools, specializes in secondary English Learner (EL) education. According to Lorenza, EL research has shown that educators often confuse youths' regular development in a second language with literacy difficulties. This research also has demonstrated the individuality of second language learners, the relationship between language development and cultural background, and the ways teachers can maximize youths' transfer of knowledge and skills from their first languages to English. Lorenza advocates professional development that moves teachers from surviving to thriving as they take up instruction that best supports students' as well as their own learning. Her own research has increased her focus on helping teachers connect language, literacy, and content during subject matter instruction. She believes that educators who continually question the effectiveness of what they are doing in classrooms are the ones who become master teachers.