"We had a Superintendent who was pushing for teacher empowerment and a union president behind teacher accountability," he said.

He spoke and acted forcefully to bring about more parent involvement, teacher empowerment, community support for the schools and earlier intervention on behalf of disadvantaged youngsters.

Marilee C. Rist, senior editor of The Executive Educator, asked several experts whether teacher empowerment was simply a labor-management dispute.

In regards to authentic instruction, student achievement, and teacher empowerment the results of PLCs can be tremendous.

Certainly, let's have plenty of local autonomy and teacher empowerment, but we need it in the context of national leadership on curriculum and pedagogy.

Seeds were sown earlier that day for growth, change and teacher empowerment.

The biggest barrier to teacher empowerment, however, is not at the national or state levels, but at the local school district level.

His work focuses on urban education, educational leadership and policy, and teacher empowerment.

"The contract is a blueprint for teacher empowerment," Mr. Cerra said.

But having said that, I sincerely hope that as we promote the concept of teacher empowerment, we also understand there has to be accountability.