The policy reforms over the past 15 years have placed all the responsibility for reading achievement on teachers, with little, if any, support. What many have achieved is declining achievement in comparison with other countries. Moreover, there are increasing teacher shortages, as promising individuals choose other careers and teachers leave the profession. An oft-repeated reason why teachers leave concerns accountability pressures and poor working conditions. This article reviews what countries that perform at the top of the reading achievement scale measured by PISA are doing in their educational systems. Many of these countries are taking a systemic approach to educational reform focused on equitable access to great schools and excellent teachers. Ensuring that the best students are entering the teaching profession and then supporting teachers throughout their careers are cornerstones of this strategy. Countries could make great strides with literacy achievement by embracing teachers as a vital literacy resource.