This study examined 16 male and female career switchers currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a teacher education program to investigate how they differed in their motivations and career experiences. Structured surveys investigated their career motivations, obstacles encountered, and salient factors that brought them to teaching. Results indicated that both males and females wanted to be in the classroom, felt they could make a difference, and expressed a commitment to teaching. They overwhelmingly wanted to teach at the secondary school level and were entering such critical shortage areas as science and math (as well as English as a Second Language and special education). More females than males planned to teach in urban schools. When they were undergraduate and graduate students, they had considered teaching an unintellectual and easy major with poor pay and lack of respect for teaching primary deterrents to teaching. Career switchers switched because they desired to make a difference and to pursue meaningful work. Many of the career switchers were inspired by a motivating teacher. Both men and women only slightly favored advancing gender balance in teaching. (SM)