At Community Leadership High School, a pseudonym, graduation rates have consistently ranged between 95% and 100%. However, 35% to 40% of graduates, who come from low income families of color, lack the college and career readiness skills required to succeed after high school. The aim of this improvement science study was to increase the percentage of ninth grade students who graduate college and career ready. The theory of action predicted that enhancing the Grade 9 learning experience through the introduction of explicit and individualized reading instruction along with the use of specific literacy strategies in Grade 9 ELA would increase the percentage of students achieving college readiness scores upon graduation. A single six month Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle used a) focused and customized reading instruction, b) enhancing text comprehension through discussion techniques, and c) integrating literacy strategies into core instruction. The study showed the effectiveness of evidence-based implementation strategies, especially professional learning augmented by coaching and a networked improvement community. Students made substantial progress and teachers increased their ability to utilize explicit individualized reading instruction. Looking at the researcher's growth as a leader through the lens of Kotter's Organizational Change Theory, six key findings included the importance of a) remaining aligned with core values; b) resisting the urge to jump to immediate solutions; c) actively and intentionally build space to listen for understanding; d) taking time to rigorously adhering to Kotter's first three steps; e) using leadership power to cultivate and activate change; and f) using improvement science to reframe the problem. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]