Jeff Zwiers, Senior Researcher, Stanford University - Jeff supports the Understanding Language Initiative and collaborates with teachers, instructional coaches, and school systems to improve the education of academic English learners. He co-directs the Academic Language Development Network, which focuses on accelerating students' literacy, language, cognition, and conversation skills. He has also written books and articles on these topics. His current work, supported by a National Professional Development Grant, focuses on developing teachers’ practices for fostering students’ academic language and literacy across disciplines.