This joint publication of the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities and the National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education discusses the characteristics and roles of special education teachers. Topics include: why people become special educators; characteristics of special education teachers, including age, gender, diversity, education, and teaching experience; the kind of training special educators receive; state licensure and its role in the education and practice of special educators; the various duties of special education teachers, including direct teaching, paperwork, and collaboration, and consultation; the work settings of special education teachers, including public and private schools, self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, inclusive schools, residential schools, and special schools; shortages of special educators, including information on why special educators leave their profession; what special education teachers like about teaching; and the role of paraeducators. The digest closes with parent tips for working with special education teachers. A list of print resources is provided that address collaboration between special and general educators, in-service support and training, paraeducator resources, special educator preparation and certification, and special educator recruitment and retention. Video resources are also listed, along with a list of relevant organizations. (Contains 18 references.) (CR)