Monique Boone's Approach to Literacy Education in Cleveland ISD

In this episode of Literacy Mindset, host Jeff sits down with Monique D. Boone, Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Cleveland ISD in Texas. With a powerful personal story—once a selective mute who struggled with reading—Monique takes us on a journey from her early challenges with literacy to becoming a passionate advocate for foundational reading instruction across all subject areas.

Monique shares her district's strategic approach to equitable Tier 1 instruction, the importance of high-quality instructional materials, and the science behind reading success. From her roots in English classrooms to her current leadership role, she brings a deep understanding of what it takes to support multilingual learners, leverage edtech tools with purpose, and align intervention strategies across grade levels.

Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or someone committed to shaping the future of literacy, this episode offers concrete strategies, heartfelt wisdom, and a clear-eyed look at the role literacy plays in every corner of a student’s life.

Key Moments

03:31 From Dyslexic Student to Literacy Leader

09:03 Improving Instructional Quality in Cleveland ISD

10:40 Challenges in Learning English

15:18 Everyday Literacy in Action

18:17 Integrating Literacy Across Curriculum

21:12 Maximizing Educational Tool Effectiveness

22:38 Critical EdTech Utilization Analysis

27:20 Embracing AI in Education

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

• Monique’s story is real, relatable, and powerful—a reminder that our personal challenges can become our biggest motivators.
• You’ll gain fresh insights into how rural, rapidly growing districts like Cleveland ISD are tackling literacy with intentionality and innovation.
• It’s packed with practical takeaways on building aligned instructional ecosystems, choosing edtech wisely, and supporting students with phonological gaps—especially at the secondary level.
• You’ll rethink literacy as a universal skill, not just the domain of ELA teachers, but something that should thrive in math, science, PE, CTE—and even band.
• You’ll hear a vision of the future, where AI and education can work together to prepare students not just for tests, but for life.

Connect with Monique D. Boone

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-d-boone-m-ed-201540241/

Website: https://www.clevelandisd.org/

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Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-pendleton-2a614b26/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindplayeducation

Company Website: http://MindPlay.com

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