This publication presents Montgomery County, Maryland's plan for empowering the educational community by organizing the necessary resources, knowledge, and skills to fulfill the promise of success for every student. The four main goals are: to ensure success for every student; to provide an effective instructional program; to strengthen productive partnerships for everyone; and to create a positive work environment in a self-renewing organization. This report describes the goals and challenges, then examines the following themes: thinking and learning about best practices through action research; the power of attitudes and impact of expectations; shared accountability for qualitative and quantitative performance excellence; and the challenge of learning and using inclusive, collaborative problem solving. It goes on to highlight several trend-benders (initiatives designed to bend a performance trend upward toward a specific goal), including: developing a system of shared accountability; planning to achieve early success; planning to improve workforce excellence; broadening the concept of literacy; reorganizing assets for school success; and creating family- and community-friendly partnerships. (Contains 54 references.) (SM)