Heidi Goertzen is a senior research associate at RMC Research Corporation. She currently leads the Region 7 Comprehensive Center (R7CC) Alabama Improving English Learner Student Achievement project and serves as Deputy Director for R7CC. She is also the Partnership Manager on the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southeast Alabama Improving English Learner (EL) Outcomes project. Prior to her current role, she served at state and district levels, including director of ESL services, federal programs, and student assessment. Early in her career she taught English as a second language in Texas, Indiana, and Alabama.