Every day, principals across the country are taking courageous action to reform struggling schools and make a difference in students' lives. As the assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary education, the author has been fortunate to meet with school and district leaders and see some of those transformations firsthand. The author's experiences have affirmed what she learned to be true during the time she spent in school and district leadership positions: the most innovative, successful, and bold ideas for school reform come from the local level, from teachers, principals, and district leaders. In this article, she shares examples of schools that adopted reform. These schools are committed to the idea that all children can learn if they are taught well and if schools are adjusted to meet their needs. But most of all, these schools reveal the importance of leadership. The principals lead change, and if strong principal leadership and teacher practice receive the support of the school community, remarkable progress in student outcomes will follow.