“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.”

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.

To kickoff Dyslexia Awareness Month, IMSE is spotlighting Sarah Walters, District Instructor and Literacy Instructional Support Specialist at Troy City Schools. In this Q&A, Sarah shares how IMSE training is transforming instruction at Troy City Schools, the inspiration behind her book, and why raising awareness about dyslexia is so important for educators and families alike.

Jeanne Jeup, IMSE cofounder and CEO, reflects on the current literacy landscape: what’s working, what’s not, and where the movement is heading next.

Emily Hanford is a senior education correspondent at APM Reports, the documentary and investigative journalism group at American Public Media. She has been working in public media for more than two decades as a reporter, producer, editor, news director, and program host. For the past three years, she has been reporting extensively on early reading instruction.