This document describes the many benefits that arise when educators work together as a team to solve problems and share decisions. Although not a quick fix for problems in education, a team-oriented culture helps people feel better about themselves and their efforts, encouraging staff at various levels in the school district to work together for continuous improvement. This pamphlet discusses guidelines for implementing cross-functional teams in education, identifying the characteristics of teams that participate in problem solving. It offers seven steps to team success: team training; time; a true, balanced representation of groups; follow through on team recommendations; respect and trust; communication; and recognition. All these steps were derived from surveys and interviews of successful teams. It also describes the Team Empowerment Model in Education (TEME), which incorporates three basic support networks: team-support partnerships, internal district-support partnerships, and external client-support partnerships. Ten steps to starting a new team are described, as are strategies for facilitating team processes. Once a team is formed, it can employ the Quality Empowerment Survey for Teams, which can help it stay on track and can ensure that it remains a productive force. (Contains 14 references.) (RJM)