In 1996, the Kansas City (Kan.) Public Schools, a largely poor, urban system, was facing a crisis. Talk at local and state levels was about closing a number of poor-performing schools. The author discusses how the district took matters in hand to make significant changes. Partnering with the local National Education Association leadership, administrators adopted a school reform model in which school-based staff development was a core component. District planners have their school-based staff developers pioneer a new educational paradigm highlighting conditions under which young people best develop and flourish. Planners identified six critical factors in training school-based coaches that can help any system looking at site-based reform. These six factors are described: (1) establishing trusting relationships and open communication; (2) understanding adult learners; (3) continually updating knowledge about subject content and instructional best practices; (4) mastering the art of coaching; (5) linking student work to data and assessments so teachers will modify instruction; and (6) networking with others who do the same.