The Common Core State Standards, adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia, raise the bar for what students need to learn at each stage of their K-12 education. The goal is to better prepare students for college and careers. The most important thing that education leaders can do to help the Common Core succeed is to support teachers in improving their practice. While not all field leaders are grasping the opportunity presented by the Common Core to transform teaching and learning, three exemplars--Kentucky, Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida, and Center for Inspired Teaching--are using the new standards to change the daily work of teachers and students. The type of systems change the Common Core requires is no easy task, but it is a critical one. The three case studies shared in this paper illustrate how leaders within the system can take steps to empower their best resource--teachers--to seize the opportunity of the Common Core to greatly improve teaching and learning nationwide.