Inertia created by the 15 years of teacher quality reform leading up to Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), coupled with a renewed focus on innovation and flexibility under ESSA, might provide a recipe for establishing new ways to recruit, develop, and retain teachers in rural schools. Many hope that the development of complex and tailored staffing solutions in this area could lead to real and measurable positive change. Certainly the proponents of local control have much to smile about with the passage of ESSA and the increased latitude it will offer in this regard. But with great power comes great responsibility; now is the time for states and districts to work collaboratively to promote the best teaching possible throughout America's diverse rural schools.