Diane Lapp is a distinguished professor of education at San Diego State University. She has taught in elementary and middle school, and is currently teaching English at an urban high school. Author of numerous articles, chapters, podcasts, webinars, and books, her major areas of research and instruction focus on issues related to struggling learners and their families who live and learn in low economic urban communities. Her many educational awards include being named as the Distinguished Research Lecturer from SDSU’s Graduate Division of Research, IRA’s 1996 Outstanding Teacher Educator of the Year, and IRA’s 2011 John Manning Award recipient for her work in public schools. She also is a member of both the California and the International Reading Halls of Fame.