A case study of three linking agents in the National Institute of Education's Research and Development Program is presented. The study was based on interviews and project documentation. The Consortium Project employed six staff members known as linking agents. Each agent worked with five schools over a three-year period, helping them to select and implement new programs in response to identified needs for improvement. This case study, focused on three of the project's linkers, analyzes their prior experiences, documents their work on the projects, and attempts to explain how they became important partners in the school improvement efforts of 12 schools. (Author/JD)