This study identified factors that contributed toward the decision of 57 special educators from one metropolitan region of a southwestern state to initially pursue special education careers in addition to influences that contributed toward their decision to remain on the special education career path. Participants surveyed also provided recommendations that school districts could take to effectively recruit and retain special educators. Although participants surveyed responded positively that school districts took deliberate efforts to effectively recruit special educators, perceptions regarding special educator retention efforts were less favorable. Measures to be taken by school districts to retain special educators, as recommended by those surveyed, included providing more administrative support, increasing financial incentives, and increasing training opportunities to effectively serve students receiving special education services. (Contains 9 tables.)