The purpose of this mixed-methods research study in Southeast Louisiana was to explore factors that impact certified public elementary school teachers' decision to remain in the education profession focused on how these factors contribute to teacher retention through job satisfaction or lead to teacher attrition through job dissatisfaction. Phase 1 of this study was an online survey to Prek-5th grade certified public elementary school teachers in the study district. The survey was used to quantify those factors that influenced elementary teacher retention and how those factors lead to job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Phase 2 of this study employed interviews of four teachers selected from the initial survey pool, to provide a data source for developing a deeper understanding about their decision to remain or leave the education profession. A sequential-explanatory mixed methods design was used to explore factors that impact certified public elementary school teachers' decision to remain in the education profession. The factors that could contribute to teacher retention through job satisfaction, motivating factors, included in the study were school culture and climate, mentoring support, school-level leadership, the teaching profession, and personal life. The factors that could lead to teacher attrition through job dissatisfaction, hygiene factors, included in the study were school and student accountability, student discipline, social and emotional stress, and teacher pay. It was found that the decision to stay or leave does not differ by teacher preparation pathway for next school year but does differ in the next five years. There are clear motivating factors for teacher retention and there are clear hygiene factors, but there are some factors that must be studied further to make that determination. The third conclusion from the study findings suggest that personal life is a high motivating factor for teachers of both pathways, alternatively certified and traditionally certified and plays a critical role in teacher retention. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]