Contrary to what many people assume, writes Stewart, a high-quality teacher workforce is not the simple result of some traditional cultural respect for teachers that exists in some countries. Rather, it requires deliberate policy choices. In a tour of seven countries that traditionally score high on international tests of student performance (Singapore, China, Japan, U.K., Finland, Canada, and Australia), Stewart describes many ways in which policymakers support effective teaching. Examples include recruiting the most able candidate into the teaching profession; providing time and structure for meaningful professional development; modernizing teacher preparation programs; and improving teacher evaluation and compensation.