Transforming K-12 education systems to meet the new economic, civic, and cultural demands of our global society requires a modern teacher workforce. Specifically, it requires a teacher workforce with the knowledge, skills, and systems of supports to be successful in student-centered, competency-based, and diverse learning environments. This brief: (1) articulates a future-ready vision for the teaching profession; (2) frames the role state policymakers can play in advancing toward this vision; and (3) describes state policy priorities that can modernize teaching, including: convening a state task force to craft a unifying vision and roadmap; increasing diversity of the educator workforce; preparing teachers for learner-centered, competency-based, equity-oriented education; redesigning teacher licensure and credentialing; and building balanced systems of assessments that enable learner-centered, competency-based, equity-oriented teaching.