As teachers use their professional knowledge and pursue leadership opportunities, their lives are enriched
and energized while their students learn more (Barth, 2001; Danielson, 2007). Through a shared commitment to
student learning, teachers embrace opportunities to provide and accept instructional coaching and mentoring and
become teacher leaders. Through PLCs and other operational strategies, teachers build partnerships. A key to these
partnerships is empowerment, which is discussed in the next section.