This case covers the period 1993 to 2003. It tells the story of the challenges the Fort Worth Independent School District board faced when the state accountability system revealed extremely poor student achievement and a stark achievement gap. To address the problem, the board hired a dynamic superintendent, Dr. Tom Tocco, who initiated aggressive instructional changes, particularly around reading instruction. Throughout this time, Tocco worked closely with Gary Manny, longtime president of the school board, to maintain district and community support. Manny's death in March 2002 led to internal board turmoil and questions about the role of the board president and how board leadership should be selected. (Contains 3 figures, 1 table and 12 notes.)