“I believed then, and I believe now, that every child can learn to read when they are taught the right way. That conviction has never wavered.”

In a Title 1 district in Ohio, real literacy progress began when leaders aligned professional learning, instruction, and support around a single, evidence-based approach, showing what it takes to turn literacy strategy into lasting classroom practice.

Troy City Schools aligned its literacy instruction around a structured, evidence-based approach, helping English language learners build foundational skills, gain confidence, and achieve measurable reading growth.

Ahead of his keynote session at the IMSE Leadership Literacy Summit 2026, Kareem Weaver sat down with us for a Q&A about what it takes to bring the science of reading into every classroom.

As literacy expectations evolve, so should the approaches that support them. Not all OG-based instruction is the same. IMSE’s OG+ reflects a commitment to continuous improvement, helping districts implement Structured Literacy in ways that align with both research and real classrooms.