Transforming K-12 education systems to meet the new economic, civic, and cultural demands of global society requires a modern teacher workforce. Specifically, it requires a teacher workforce with the knowledge, skills, and systems of support to be successful in student-centered, competency-based, and diverse learning environments. This brief: (1) articulates a future vision for the teaching profession; (2) frames the role federal policymakers can play in advancing toward this vision; and (3) describes three federal policy priorities that can help transform teaching: diversifying pathways into the teaching profession; catalyzing innovation to redesign teacher preparation; and developing meaningful systems of assessments and evaluation. [This issue brief draws from "Moving Toward Mastery: Growing, Developing and Sustaining Educators for Competency-Based Education" (ED594174).]