The first two goals of "Teaching Our Way to the Top, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools" (CMS) Strategic Plan 2014,--Effective Teaching and Leadership and Performance Management--make clear that the district's top two priorities are ensuring excellent instruction districtwide and creating a performance culture organized on the principles of continuous improvement and accountability for results. Critical to reaching these goals is the commitment to evaluate and compensate all teachers in the system based on their performance as measured by classroom observations, student test scores, and additional metrics. This work is part of a larger effort to ensure equity and excellence for all students by shifting the district's focus from managing inputs--the amount of money and services provided to schools--to focusing on equity of outcomes: student achievement and graduation rates. Appended are: (1) Cycle of Continuous Improvement; (2) List of NC Standards and Sub-Standards; (3) Rubric Excerpt; and (4) Teacher Working Team Template. (Contains 5 footnotes.)