Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz is a highly accomplished bilingual/bicultural school psychologist with more than two decades of experience working in inner-city school districts serving culturally and linguistically diverse student and family populations. In addition to her expertise assessing and supporting students' social-emotional and academic growth, she has collaboratively led initiatives supporting teachers and administrators in their efforts to optimize students' potential, work successfully with families, and use culturally responsive practices.Working in partnership with public school districts, Alvarez-Ortiz successfully pioneered innovative education reform initiatives targeted at improving opportunities and outcomes for students, schools, and districts deemed at risk of failure. At the center of Alvarez-Ortiz's work is the relentless pursuit of students', families', educators', and communities' strengths that empower them to capitalize on their potential.