sample cover letter for teacher leaving education

4 Tips to Write a Great Cover Letter for Teachers Transitioning Careers

First impressions are everything, and an effective cover letter for teachers transitioning careers (along with your resume) is key to a successful job search beyond the classroom . As one of the first things your potential employer will see, it's your chance to catch your employer's eye and make a positive first impression.

Your cover letter is your opportunity to be persuasive and sell yourself for a particular job. It’s also a great way to get clear on why you’re a good fit (and whether you actually want to do the particular job you’re applying for!).

While your resume is a way to show at a glance that you’re a match for a job, your cover letter gives you the freedom and space to make further connections and explain more. It can be helpful to think of your cover letter as a persuasive essay, providing a thesis statement (you’re the best person for the job) and key reasons to support why you’re an ideal candidate.

By thinking of your education cover letter this way, you can create a compelling narrative that showcases your value and highlights how you’re a match, making you more likely to stand out and land an interview .

Four Teacher Cover Letter Tips for Jobs Beyond the Classroom

Even if you’re very ready to leave the classroom, it can still be completely overwhelming to find a non-teaching job in education. If your only professional experience is working with students, it’s easy to feel like your skills and experience won’t help you stand out when applying to other jobs.

This is where a great cover letter comes in — helping you make connections between your existing skills and the job you want. Check out four valuable tips to craft a cover letter for teachers transitioning careers, so you can open doors to exciting opportunities beyond the classroom .

1. Customize your cover letter for each job you apply for.

By tailoring your cover letter to the specific position and organization, you’ll stand out from other applicants using generic, one-size-fits-all cover letters. This approach shows you are genuinely interested in the role and the organization you’re applying to. 

Creating tailored cover letters demonstrates that you’ve done your research and are enthusiastic about the opportunity. It also indicates your dedication and effort and that you’re not simply applying for any job, but you’re genuinely interested in being a part of the organization’s team and contributing to their mission.

Cover letters for teachers applying to different grade levels or different schools should be unique. And so should cover letters for online teaching jobs and other flexible careers.

2. Let your passion shine through.

Your cover letter should show your passion for the organization and the position. You’ll want to take the time to learn about the organization’s mission, values, culture, and products/services. Use their website and social media to research and gain insight. 

While skills are important, your genuine enthusiasm is equally as important in a cover letter for teachers transitioning careers. Through your cover letter, you’ll want to let your passion shine and show why you care and why you want to work there.

3. Make connections that explain why you’re an ideal candidate.

Through reading the job description, consider the organization’s needs and how your skills and experience align. Identify specific keywords and phrases used in the job description that show what they’re looking for. Take some time to consider how your expertise , skills, and experience are a match and how your contributions can positively impact their mission and goals.

Focus on your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this particular job. Use examples to demonstrate how you've successfully applied the skills the organization is looking for in your current or prior roles. 

The best cover letters for teachers transitioning careers not only explain how your experiences and skills align but also show how they will serve you in your new role. By doing this, the employer can more clearly see how you can add value to their organization and contribute to their success. 

4. Organize your ideas into 3-4 compelling paragraphs. 

While there’s no one “right” way to write an effective cover letter, using the following teacher cover letter template will ensure you cover everything:

1st paragraph: The first paragraph should express your enthusiasm for the specific position and the organization and provide an overview of why you’re a great fit. 

2nd (and 3rd) paragraphs: The body of your cover letter should describe your experience and skills and how they align, demonstrating why you’re the best person for this job.

Last paragraph: The closing should summarize how you’re an ideal candidate and reiterate your excitement for the opportunity. 

Above all, as you write your cover letter, remember that you’re an education expert any employer would be lucky to have. 

As a teacher, you have developed a wide range of transferable skills , strengths, and experience that can be applied to new, exciting career paths, whether in curriculum development , instructional coaching , online teaching , education consulting , or beyond. 

Writing a cover letter for teachers transitioning careers may seem daunting, but you have all the skills you need to land the flexible education job you’ve been dreaming of!

Get More Support In Your Search for Alternative Jobs for Teachers

If you want more support in your job search, sign up for the Educator Forever Network , where we’ve helped thousands of educators channel their passion for education into sustainable, joyful careers. 

By joining the Educator Forever Network , you'll gain instant access to our signature Beyond the Classroom course, where you'll discover your career possibilities, learn exactly how to find flexible jobs in education, and receive the support you need to land those jobs. 

You’ll also receive extensive exciting job leads, become part of an inspiring community, and get expert guidance to make your dreams a reality!

If you’re considering becoming a curriculum developer, Educator Forever’s Curriculum Development Foundations Program will give you the skills and the real-world experience you need to boost your cover letter (and resume!). 

You’ll learn how to develop engaging curriculum, stand out in the job market, and take your career to the next level. (You’ll also walk away with a top-notch portfolio of curriculum samples to submit for job opportunities!)

As always, feel free to reach out to Educator Forever with any questions! We’re here to support you on your career journey!

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

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25 Teacher Cover Letters Examples To Help You Get Hired

Your guide to a killer cover letter that will get you that interview.

Whether you are sending out resumes hoping to land your first teaching job or looking to shift to a new school or district, one fact remains the same: All the best credentials, experience, and passion will go unnoticed without a strong cover letter. The main rule? Sell yourself the way a publicist would. Cover letters aren’t a time for modesty. They’re a time to highlight your accomplishments and make your passion for teaching known. Below you’ll find our tips for creating the best cover letter possible and our top teacher cover letter and CV examples.

3 top tips for crafting a teacher CV or cover letter:

Keep it short and sweet..

You’ve only got about 30 seconds to capture a hiring director’s attention, so start with what we call “the elevator pitch.” Imagine you have the time between the elevators closing on one floor and opening again on another floor to sell yourself. Instead of rehashing everything on your resume, use the space to craft a paragraph or two that will convince them you are a standout candidate and are worth moving on to the next step.

Emphasize why you’re a great match.

Read the job description and find the overlap between the skills you bring to the table and the skills they need. If the job description calls for certain qualities or uses specific language, repeat them in your cover letter! The ultimate goal for your cover letter is to say, “You’ve got a problem? I’m the ideal person to solve it.” Be professional and use concrete examples.

Individualize!

Tailor each and every cover letter to fit the specific school, district, and job for which you’re applying. Research the school and its culture. That way, you can address their expectations and also use specific examples of achievements in your history to show why you’re the right candidate for the position.

Top teacher cover letter examples:

1. first-time teacher.

This letter is friendly and enthusiastic. It uses concrete examples and experiences related to student teaching while showcasing exactly why the applicant wants to become a teacher.

Learn more: First-time teacher at LiveAbout

2. Another first-time teacher example

This version of a cover letter calls out the specific skills the applicant has and hopes to bring to the table.

Learn more: Another first-time teacher example at OLAS

3. Experienced elementary teacher

Not every teacher stays in their job until retirement. If you’re looking for a new position, your cover letter should clearly state your experience. This example also makes it obvious that the candidate researched the new district and discusses why she would be excited to join. The candidate also includes references at the bottom of the cover letter.

Learn more: Experienced elementary teacher at Monster

4. Another experienced elementary teacher example

It doesn’t hurt to have additional examples! This teacher cover letter clearly showcases the school’s goals and addresses how this teacher specifically can help. She did her research!

Learn more: Another experienced elementary teacher at LiveAbout

5. Summer school teacher

As school lets out for summer, many teachers still need to earn an income. With competition tight, this cover letter stands out as the candidate states her qualifications as well as her ability to train other staff members.

Learn more: Summer school teacher at Cover Letters and Resume

6. Assistant teacher

With this letter, the applicant took a slightly different approach. The letter breaks down the most relevant accomplishments into bullet points. Those will jump out at the hiring manager, who will likely scan through a ton of applications.

Learn more: Assistant teacher at LiveCareer

7. Special education teacher

This letter is similar to a standard teacher cover letter, yet it also stresses the specific qualifications and experiences of a special ed teacher. For example, this candidate included how they modified the curriculum to meet the needs of a wide range of learners. In this particular cover letter example, the teacher was looking to move into a leadership role, so this serves as a template for someone looking to transition into management as well.

Learn more: Special education teacher at JobHero

8. School guidance counselor

This cover letter emphasizes the applicant’s academic achievements, especially with regard to the psychology education required for many counselor positions. It also talks about the characteristics that make this person the ideal candidate for this position.

Learn more: School guidance counselor at Great Sample Resume

9. Another school guidance counselor example

We liked this cover letter because it pulls specific metrics that are not in the resume—including the number of students the candidate worked with and the funding obtained for special needs programs.

Learn more: School guidance counselor at Zety

10. Library media specialist

This cover letter oozes confidence! As with any specialist position, the candidate hones in on how her specific skills and background make her qualified for this role.

Learn more: Library media specialist at LiveCareer

11. High school English teacher

This cover letter covers a lot of ground. It points out the candidate’s strengths for teaching and assessing knowledge in the specific subject. It also presents the special techniques the candidate uses to teach students at the high school level.

Learn more: High school English teacher at Great Sample Resume

12. Technology teacher

Taking a very professional approach to writing a cover letter shows that the contender is serious. This letter points out the specific skills that best prove why this candidate is a great fit for the position.

Learn more: Technology teacher at LiveCareer

13. Music teacher

A music teacher requires knowledge of multiple instruments and a love of music and music theory. This cover letter showcases the candidate’s background and why they feel music is an important part of the education experience.

Learn more: Music teacher at Best Sample Resume

14. Drama teacher

Drama teachers often go above and beyond just teaching a class. They host auditions and rehearsals for after-school productions. This cover letter shows the candidate’s knowledge of curriculum, directing a show, and even marketing efforts.

Learn more: Drama teacher at Great Sample Resume

15. Foreign language teacher

Foreign language teachers need to display their knowledge of the particular language as well as showcase how well they can immerse students in the culture. This cover letter discusses the teacher’s plans to incorporate curriculum as well as help facilitate the induction of students into the German Honor Society.

Learn more: Foreign language teacher at JobHero

16. Sports coach

This cover letter has a terrific opening line that sets the candidate apart from the get-go. It also clearly covers the candidate’s qualifications, from knowledge and experience to attitude and philosophy. This cover letter example also works well for PE teachers.

Learn more: Sports coach at JobHero

17. ESL teacher

Teaching English as a second language obviously requires a distinct skill set. This cover letter showcases key communication skills and lets the hiring director know the specific language fluency.

Learn more: ESL teacher at LiveCareer

18. Math teacher

Touching on the highlights of their resume without rehashing it completely (who wants to read something twice?), this candidate points out their qualifications and certifications as well as their versatility in teaching different types of students.

Learn more: Math teacher at A+ Resumes for Teachers

19. Pre-K teacher

Teaching pre-K takes patience, creativity, and flexibility. This cover letter effectively highlights the candidate’s communication and problem-solving skills as well as the personal qualities that make them great at their job.

Learn more: Pre-K teacher at LiveCareer

20. Business teacher

This cover letter provides excellent background about the teacher in a way that’s appropriate for business. It shares the necessary information clearly and concisely.

Learn more: Business teacher at LiveCareer

21. International school teacher

Working at an international school requires a certain skill set, and this letter highlights the teacher’s language skills as well as their ability to create effective lessons on relevant topics while providing students with the support they need to succeed.

Learn more: International school teacher at LiveCareer

22. Head teacher cover letter

Serving as a head teacher involves a unique blend of leadership and innovation. This cover letter showcases the candidate’s exceptional communication and leadership skills, essential for coordinating with staff, students, and stakeholders to cultivate a thriving educational environment.

Learn more: Head teacher cover letter example at QwikResume

23. Kindergarten teacher

A kindergarten teacher plays a foundational role in a child’s educational journey, blending creativity with core educational principles. This cover letter highlights the candidate’s proficiency in developing engaging lesson plans and materials tailored to young learners, ensuring the fundamentals of various subjects are delivered in a manner that is both enjoyable and educational.

Learn more: Kindergarten teacher at Kickresume

24. Secondary teacher

Secondary teachers help shape the young minds of students as they transition into adulthood. This cover letter exemplifies the candidate’s adeptness in crafting comprehensive lesson plans and teaching materials that cater to the diverse needs of teens, ensuring that the curriculum resonates with their evolving interests and capabilities.

Learn more: Secondary teacher at Resumaker

25. Art teacher

An art teacher embodies the intersection of creativity and education, nurturing students’ artistic talents and encouraging their expressive capabilities. This cover letter highlights the candidate’s proficiency in designing stimulating lesson plans that explore a wide range of artistic mediums and techniques, from traditional painting and drawing to digital art forms.

Learn more: Art teacher at Resume Genius

Do you have more great teacher cover letter examples? Share them in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the most common teacher interview questions and suggestions for how to answer them., you might also like.

Free Teacher Resume Template and Tips, Plus 21 Teacher Resume Examples

Make a great first impression! Continue Reading

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Emphasize Your Transferable Teaching Skills in Your Cover Letter

by Resume-Now Staff Writer | Career Advice Expert

Last Updated: July 25, 2022

Table of contents

How to make yourself marketable as a teacher

Getting started on finding your next role.

The time has come to move on from your current teaching job. If you want to use the skills and experience you built as a teacher to find a rewarding new career or parlay them into a new teaching or education administration role, you’ll need to communicate how those skills make you the right candidate for the new role.

To do that, you’ll need to learn how to write a cover letter that is direct and concise, and that highlights how your skills will transfer to the new position.

Related Guides & Tips

• How to Get a Teaching Job Using SchoolSpring
• How to Incorporate Must-Have Action Verbs for Teacher Resumes
• How to Write Your Education Section with Examples
• How to Write a Winning Resume for a Teaching Position
• Resume Formats: How to Prepare a Resume for a Teaching Job
• Technical Skills for a Resume [How to List + Examples]

Browse other popular samples

• Assistant Professor CV
• Assistant Professor Resume Example
• Assistant Teacher Cover Letter
• Early Childhood Development Manager Cover Letter Template
• Professional English Teacher Cover Letter Sample & Writing Guide
• Professional Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Sample & Writing Guide

One of the keys to getting noticed by a new industry is to show employers that your experiences as a teacher translate directly to your new industry. Not only that, but your teaching background makes you uniquely well-suited to thrive in their environment.

Consider this list of transferable skills from teaching as you craft your cover letter for a new position:

• Leadership . A successful teacher is a strong leader. Use specific examples to show how you led your classroom or department and how those situations translate to the new role.
• Planning and organization . Teachers rely on their time and project management skills to make it through the school day. They juggle many competing priorities, deadlines and student/parent/administrative needs daily. Your planning and organization skills will be an asset in any industry, so be sure to highlight them.
• Resourcefulness . It’s well known that teachers are asked to do more with less year over year. You may have lost a planning period or had to buy your own classroom supplies when budgets were tight. Perhaps you had to take on a new class with little notice, forcing you to adapt your schedule quickly to become a subject matter expert for your students. Whatever the case, this adaptability is invaluable to employers. Use specific examples in your cover letter (which you can generate using a cover letter builder ) to show how you thrive in stressful situations.
• Passionate . Share why you’re committed to being a teacher and love impacting the development of young people. Or talk about making the choice to pivot from teaching and emphasize how this passion that led you to teach still applies to the new career upon which you are embarking.
• Detail-oriented . From drafting lesson plans and developing test prep to managing hundreds of students’ grades and juggling interpersonal relationships, a teacher must focus on intricate detail at the micro-level as well as keep an eye on the big picture. Cite examples of your comfort with context-shifting throughout a day, such as how you transition from teaching an English class to acting as a departmental representative in a staff meeting to lesson-planning and grading.

Customize and download a resume template today to enhance your job search.

If you already know what career you want to pursue , your next step is simple. Start looking for roles in your field of interest and define your process for how you want to write and submit cover letters and resumes.

If you’re planning to remain a teacher, leverage your connections to identify openings aligned with your interests and experience. Talk with trusted contacts about what you’re looking for and ask questions about their departments and districts. Leverage tools like SchoolSpring to jump start your search.

If you’re still searching for the right alternative to being a teacher , but you’d like to stay in the education industry, you might also consider teaching-related jobs outside of schools — such as being a corporate trainer or educational consultant. Whichever direction you choose, think about how you will convey your marketable and transferable life skills to your new field of choice.

As you begin curating your cover letter, study job postings carefully and look for words or phrases that speak to your skill set. Then include these words and phrases to your cover letter exactly. This step can help you get past the applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan and sort applications. It could mean the difference between being overlooked and being hired.

You’ll want to create a custom cover letter and resume for each position, and make sure you’re including those keywords and connecting your skills and experience with the job in the hiring manager’s mind.

Still not sure where to start? Our Cover Letter Builder can help. We’ll guide you through each section of your cover letter and help you highlight the teaching skills that will stand out to employers. And check out our Resume Builder to complete your professional application package.

Was this information about Transferable Skills For Teacher helpful? Let us know!

Resume-Now Staff Writer

At Resume-Now, we firmly believe that all jobseekers deserve access to the best expert knowledge and job-winning resume tools on the market today. To accomplish this, we’ve handpicked a team of diverse experts to offer advice for jobseekers from every imaginable angle.Our team of recruiters, human resources professionals, certified resumes writers, and award-winning journalists have pooled their knowledge to create a toolbox of tips and resources for today’s jobseeker. Together, they share their unbeatable wisdom to make resume writing effortless, and the job search a little less painful.Resume-Now offer help for entry-level workers, executives, and everyone in between. You can get the job you want with a little help from Resume-Now!

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Top Five Cover Letter Tips for Changing Careers to Teaching

Career changers have many different motivations for leaving the business world or other occupations and going into teaching. Some have been involved in business training and education and want to teach full time. Others have just seen their children off to school and are seeking full-time employment.

The career switcher almost always has related experience that has motivated the move into education. They may have worked as a corporate trainer and have no experience in a classroom or maybe they taught ESL part-time. Over the last 16 years, I am sure I have seen every type of career transition – surprise me with your career situation, if you can.

Whatever experience you bring to your new job search, the onus is on you to show how your past experience makes you well suited for the teaching position you are applying for. To help you make a convincing case and position yourself for your new career, I have compiled my cover letter tips for changing careers to teaching.

You may think you have no experience as a teacher, but you will have relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments once we start digging for them.

With more applicants than there are positions available, it's important to write teacher cover letters that get you noticed . The biggest mistake I see applicants make is sending a standard cover letter and resume and expecting the hiring manager to connect the dots. It is the teaching job applicant's responsibility to emphasize related education and work experience, highlight transferable skills, and demonstrate what other steps are being taken (e.g., courses, internships) to prepare for the job transition. 

Getting into teaching can be quite a challenge, if the career changer is not prepared. Whether you are looking for a new challenge, have always had a passion to teach, or just fancy a change, a newly focused teacher cover letter and resume that shows your readiness and enthusiasm for a teaching career will jump out of a stack of resumes.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter to Transition into Teaching

1. emphasize relevant career experience.

Many career changers I work with feel frustrated by a lack of relevant experience. More often than not, they fail to recognize solid teaching- related skills they possess. Relevant experience to teaching should take center stage in your teacher cover letter and resume.

I like to probe clients to survey their life experience, since many of us have played different teaching roles in various capacities, such as volunteer work and sports mentoring.

Begin your application letter with teaching-related experience. Cover letters do not have to follow chronological order like resumes, and thus provide more flexibility to position yourself for a targeted position.

An applicant with corporate training experience or ESL teaching during college years may want to bring forward this experience. Many careers share core skills with teaching:

• Nurse to teacher is a natural given the strong human relations skills required and experience instructing patients in health, post-operative care, and other areas.
• Corporate trainers, team leaders and project managers lead teams, mentor, instruct, and assess performance.
• Social workers and counsellors are experts in personal and professional development.

Many professionals seek to teach and share their area of expertise, such as:

• Accountants
• Computer programmers

Going back to school to sharpen teaching skills could be on your to do list to make a career transition to higher education .

Stay-at-home mothers who are re-entering the workplace have lots of fresh experience teaching and training their children. Over-relying on mommy duties in place of hard teaching skills, however, could weaken your teacher cover letter.

Examples of related experience worth mentioning would be running a daycare, volunteering to conduct reading help twice a week at you child's school, or teaching Sunday school or at the library. The school wants to know what behavioral management strategies and lessons you will use to engage individual students in a classroom.

2. Make a List of Transferable Teaching Skills

Matching transferable skills from your previous work experience to the targeted teaching job can help you identify skills and competencies valued in a teacher. To ensure you do not miss valuable transferable skills, compare teaching job ads with those of your profession.

Most managers today, for example, receive training in coaching, facilitation and mentoring – all valuable teaching skills that are often not mentioned in the cover letter.

Following is a list of core skills teachers should possess:

• Organization
• Mentoring and Training
• Program Development
• Making Presentations
• Multi-tasking
• Fundraising
• Collaboration
• Presentations
• Creativity and Imagination
• Problem Solving
• Team Building
• And the list goes on…

Many professionals find their love for teaching guiding the professional development of employees, so we have a lot of knowledge on making a career transition to a school teacher from a corporate trainer and other popular transition routes. Career switchers often also overlook many basic skills, such as working with training tools, videos, education software, and online learning apps.

3. Communicating Your Teaching Skills

Many career switchers transition to an education career using transferable skills . Showing how you apply these skills will help demonstrate how you will function in a classroom environment.

Videos of you in front a class training 30 employees will show you operating efficiently in a teaching context.  Make a point of describing, in your cover letter, the practical ways in which you have demonstrated and continue to develop these skills. Both hard and soft skills should be demonstrated.

If you require more experience, ask at your children's school for volunteer opportunities. Reference letters from schools will give your teaching skills real credibility.

Conduct an informational interview with teachers and principals. Many teachers will be happy to review your resume and provide guidance on how you can strengthen your application.

4. Show Contributions to Performance Improvements in Student Achievement

Like businesses, schools have to demonstrate their effectiveness by meeting academic performance standards. Your class' performance will not only measure your teaching effectiveness but will also become part of regional and national education performance rankings.

Demonstration of your ability to improve the performance of your students will be highly persuasive evidence of your teaching ability.

Examples of relevant teacher work experience to draw skills from includes:

• Grading of trainings, conferences and workshops you have developed. Participants are often asked to provide both quantitative (on a scale of 1 to 5) and qualitative reviews (remarks) of business training events.
• Quantitative evidence of the progress of students of your corporate trainings.
• Reviews of your performance by your superiors.
• Association and magazine rankings and rewards that reflect your performance, individually, or as part of a group or company.

5. Demonstrate a Commitment to Education

The last impression you want to give is as a job seeker who is chasing the hottest job trends. Schools want teachers with a passion for teaching, not a job seeker seeking a job in a recession-proof industry. In your teacher cover letter, communicate an awareness of current issues and trends in education. Join education associations and take teachings workshops.

Join social media groups. LinkedIn groups provide an opportunity to share information on targeted positions through groups for K-12 teachers, science and math teachers, special education teachers, and so on. Read education blogs and subscribe to education magazines.

Most importantly, research the school district and school and show knowledge of their educational curriculum and challenges, and how you can help address them. Your letter should convey someone who knows what's currently going on in education.

If you know someone who has previously transitioned into teaching, speak to them and find out if they can offer you any additional tips. Someone who has recently been through the application process can often offer valuable information about what is particularly important to include.

Seek out teachers who have made the transition into teaching. What challenges did they encounter? What tips can they offer?

Once you have developed a cover letter that presents your teaching skills and qualifications, proofread and reread your letter. Have others proofread it for you. Prospective teachers are expected to have excellent standards of literacy and numeracy.

Whether you are trying to transition from a business career to teaching or making a career transition from military to teaching , your cover letter should communicate your qualifications, related experience and preparedness.

To ensure you are ready for a teaching career, review 10 questions to ask if you are considering changing careers to teaching . The earlier you start evaluating you career transition, the sooner you can sign up for the courses, workshops and social media networks you need to sharpen your teaching skill set.

To present a convincing case for your career transition to teaching, review our resume and cover letter samples.

Need some writing assistance making an excellent professional career change resume, or CV curriculum vitae? Take the time to review and order one of our resume packages or individual services .

Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing my about me page . From that page, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.

Have questions, please connect by sending an email to Candace or call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.

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Teacher Cover Letter Examples for Experienced & New Teachers

Ready to get your desk situated in front of the blackboard and educate the next generation of students? Our guide will help you craft the best teacher cover letter to get there.

After scouring the classifieds, you’ve located the teaching job of your dreams. It looks custom-tailored just for you, and your resume paints a beautiful picture of the teaching skills, leadership abilities, and classroom competence required to make the school proud.

But there’s one last thing to do before you hand in your job application. And that’s writing a teacher cover letter that boldly underlines your talent like a Sharpie.

In this article, you’ll get:

• Two teacher cover letter examples: one for an experienced teacher and another sample cover letter for a first-year teacher.
• Step-by-step tips on how to write a cover letter for teaching positions that will land you more school interviews.
• A teaching cover letter template you can copy, adjust, and have ready in 15 minutes.

Save hours of work and get a cover letter like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 20+ cover letter templates and download your cover letter now.

Create your cover letter now

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I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your cover letter.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan  My previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George

If you're looking for a different cover letter sample for the education sector, here are several guides you may want to have a look at:

• Academic Advisor Cover Letter
• Academic Cover Letter
• Cover Letter for Faculty Position
• Cover Letter for Graduate School
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter
• ESL Teacher Cover Letter
• Library Assistant Cover Letter
• New Teacher Cover Letter
• Research Assistant Cover Letter
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter
• Tutor Cover Letter

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Good Cover Letter Examples .

Now follow the guide and check out these two teacher cover letter examples:

Teacher Cover Letter Examples

According to the BLS, the employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers will increase by 7% (124,300 new jobs each year), and high school teachers’ jobs will grow by 8% (77,400 new jobs every year) between 2020 and 2030. That means there will be more work opportunities for educators, but it also means more competition. And that’s why getting a great job offer depends on your teacher cover letter.

To start things off, we’ve got two cover letters for teaching positions . The first teaching cover letter is for a seasoned professional, and the second one is a cover letter for a first-year teacher with limited experience.

The first candidate’s name is Francine . She has several years of teaching experience already, and she’s now applying to a local school, as her family’s just relocated to Providence, RI. The teacher job description seeks a 4th-grade teaching candidate to instruct students in arithmetic, science, history, and language arts.

Let’s have a look at Francine’s cover letter for a teaching position:

Example of a Cover Letter for a Teaching Job (Experienced Candidate)

Francine Dubileaux

Elementary School Teacher

401-852-3697

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/francinedubileaux

Providence, August 10, 2019

Aaron C. Hoskins

Assistant Principal

Pleasant View Elementary School

50 Obadiah Brown Rd.

Providence, RI 02909

Dear Aaron,

As a recent Providence transplant hailing from Brooklyn, I hadn't heard much about Pleasant View School until recently. This all changed several months ago, as my partner, our children, and I moved to Rhode Island. Upon researching schools to send my daughters to, I finally settled on Pleasant View for its educational environment and teaching standards. At the same time, I came across an open position at Pleasant View. As a newly certified Rhode Island elementary teacher with 3+ years of experience teaching large classrooms of 30+ children, I am certain I would be a perfect fit for your faculty.

The job ad stated that Pleasant View seeks a 4th-grade teacher to teach English and language arts (ELA), math, social studies, and science. As a 3rd grade teacher at Brooklyn's School for Global Scholars (P.S. 748), I became quite adept at creating an inclusive class environment and managing large classrooms while providing individual care. During my time there, my classes saw an average increase of 20% in competency scores across all subjects. I could bring the same teaching styles and progress-centered approach over to Pleasant View.

I especially admire Pleasant View's "Panther Pledge," where you describe the 5 school values representing PRIDE: perseverance, respect, integrity, determination, and excellence. I would love to contribute to this fantastic school spirit and culture as the next 4th-grade elementary school teacher.

Could we schedule a phone call or a face-to-face to discuss how my teaching skills can help Pleasant View succeed and meet its goals in the coming school year?

How about that? Francine will surely be considered for an interview with this teaching cover letter. She presented her relevant experience and said what she’d do if given the position. Her letter feels professional and heartfelt at the same time.

However, not every teacher has the same level of experience as her. If you’re applying for an entry-level teaching position, you should take a look at our second example. It shows a cover letter for first-year teachers.

The next teacher cover letter example belongs to Nicole . She is fresh out of a university and eager to become a teacher for the first time. Though Nicole here hasn’t had any paid teaching experience, her entry-level teacher cover letter shows she’s got the drive, determination, transferable skills, and academic competence to be a great addition to the school’s teaching staff.

Sample Cover Letter for a Teacher (Without Experience)

Nicole Plumtone

222-333-4444

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/nicole.plumtone

Pleasant View School

As a recent graduate with a newly obtained Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, I was excited when I happened across your advertisement looking for a new 2nd-grade teacher at Pleasant View Elementary School. Having completed 120 hours of student teaching in a 1st-grade classroom, I was awarded Rhode Island’s Initial Educator Certificate. As a parent whose child has recently enrolled in your school for the next academic year, I am fond of Pleasant View’s teaching program and educational culture. I believe I would make a great fit within the staff as the new 2nd-grade teacher.

The teacher job description states you are looking for a candidate with “experience providing differentiated instruction, cultivating an environment allowing for independence, and supporting self-directed study.” Not only is this my own brand of teaching method, but I also admire a school that actively promotes such practice in its staff. During my certification period and throughout my student teaching hours as a teacher assistant, I further developed my educational skills, leadership abilities, and classroom knowledge. I would love the chance to help Pleasant View progress into the coming years while educating a new generation of young minds.

Could we schedule a phone call or a face-to-face to discuss how my student teaching skills could translate to the elementary teacher position and help Pleasant View succeed and meet its goals in the coming school year?

Well, there you have it! This teacher cover letter example expresses enthusiasm and shows how Nicole’s academic experience helped her gain the skills and knowledge needed for this teaching job.

You’ve just seen two prime teacher cover letter examples for both experienced educators and entry-level instructors. Now, let’s go through, step by step, and see how you can write a teacher cover letter that earns a gold star sticker. 

Don’t have your teacher resume ready yet? Read our guide on teaching resumes here: Teacher Resume Sample

What to Include in a Teacher Cover Letter

Writing a teaching cover letter can be quick and easy if you know the right approach. First, let’s talk about what you should include there:

• Applicant’s contact information and the date of writing
• School’s address and the hiring manager’s (or principal’s) name
• Professional salutation, such as Dear Mr. Catsbrough
• Attention-grabbing opening statement
• Overview of your qualifications for the position
• Explanation of why this position is the best fit for you
• Closing statement and a proposition to meet
• Professional sing-off, such as Best regards , and your name
• Optional postscript

Follow the steps outlined below, and soon, you’ll have a professional cover letter for teaching positions to show off to prospective employers. Each section below has quick and easy fill-in-the-blank cover letter templates for teachers, teaching assistants, substitute teachers, and other educators.

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Teaching Job 

Here’s how to write a cover letter for a teaching job:

1. Stick to Business Cover Letter Formatting Rules

The principal’s office can be intimidating, whether you’re a student in trouble or a teaching job applicant. While a student only needs to break a rule to get sent there, your teacher cover letter must impress them thoroughly to get you called in. And before you put pen to paper, there are several rules to follow. These will ensure your cover letter for teaching positions earns a hmm! of approval rather than a harumph of derision.

Here’s how to format a cover letter :

• Align the contents of your teacher cover letter to the left.
• Apply single-line spacing throughout, except for a double space in between paragraphs.
• Use a 1” margin as a border around all 4 sides of your cover letter.
• Pick a standard cover letter font that is immediately legible (e.g., Calibri, Cambria).
• Stick to an 11pt or 12pt font size through the body text of your teaching cover letter.

How long should a teaching cover letter be? Stay within one page to get that perfect length of a cover letter .

2. Create a Professional Teacher Cover Letter Header With Contact Info

The first rule for preparing your teacher cover letter heading area ? Make it identical to the one on your teacher resume. Both the teaching cover letter and teaching resume header need to display your name and contact details. Your job title or branding statement is optional.

Since a cover letter for teacher jobs is a formal affair, add the date of writing, followed by the address of the hiring principal or school board member.

Use this template for the contact details part: 

Teacher Cover Letter Template: Header

[ Your First & Last Name ]

[ Job Title or Branding Statement ] (Optional)

[ Phone Number ]

[ Email Address ]

[ LinkedIn URL ]

[ Date of Writing ]

[ Asst. Principal or Principal’s Full Name ]

[ Their Position Title ]

[ School Name ]

[ School Street Address ]

[ City, State, Zip Code ]

3. Identify the Teaching Position to Which You’re Applying & Introduce Yourself

Whether you’re applying to be a substitute teacher, history teacher, or teacher assistant, the opening of a cover letter for teaching positions has to do one thing: satisfy the principal, so they’ll want to keep reading.

• Begin the cover letter by introducing yourself and stating the exact teaching position you’re applying for (e.g., kindergarten teacher, 2nd-grade teacher assistant). Also, give a quick summary of your qualifications , including your teaching skills and experience.
• Address them by name in the first paragraph. Research the school online to identify who the principal and assistant principal are.

Here’s a fill-in-the-blank intro template for your use or reference:

Teacher Cover Letter Template: Introduction

Dear [Principal’s Name]:

I was excited when I came across the job advertisement for the [Teaching Position] with [School’s Name]. As a [Teaching Position] with [# of Years] experience and being highly skilled in [Teaching Skills, Classroom Knowledge, Leadership Abilities, Etc.], I am certain that I am an ideal candidate for this teaching position.

This is a template for teacher cover letters with a bit of experience. If you’re writing a new teacher cover letter, follow our entry-level example at the beginning.

Expert Hint: Try to show you’re proactive as a teacher candidate. Have you learned novel teaching methods or frameworks (e.g., OECD Learning Framework 2030 )? Mention it in your cover letter for a teaching position to surely impress them.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

4. Highlight Relevant Educational Strengths & Teaching Skills

You’ve established your background in the first paragraph of the teacher cover letter. The following paragraph needs to refer to the teacher job requirements for the position you’re applying for.

Look at the job advertisement to locate particular skills and abilities they require. Explain to the hiring manager how you meet and exceed their expectations. Highlight an example or two of a past teaching accomplishment or how you faced a particular challenge.

You might use this template:

Teacher Cover Letter Template: Middle Paragraph

In the job ad, you stated you’re searching for a [Teaching Position] adept at [Particular Teaching Skill Mentioned in the Job Ad]. At my last position at [Former School’s Name], I successfully [A Few Responsibilities and Teaching Duties, Using Numbers to Quantify, Whenever Possible]. I know I can bring similar results over to [School’s Name].

Expert Hint : Teacher turnover is high throughout the United States. If you show the hiring principal or faculty member you’re in it for the long haul, you’ll put yourself far ahead of the other applicants.

5. Explain Why You Want to Teach at This School

The third paragraph of a teacher cover letter is all about compliments. Hiring a teacher who’s an effective educator is one thing. But, the principal and faculty also want to hire a teacher who is eager to teach at this particular school.

So… Compliment them. Congratulate their school’s values, team spirit, or academic standing. Let them easily picture you in the role. 

If you’re unsure, feel free to use this teacher cover letter template: 

Teaching Cover Letter Template: Your Motivation

I especially admire [School’s Name] for [Something You Hold in High Regard]. The school’s culture and value statement entirely mirrors my beliefs and values. Obtaining the teaching position at your school would be the ideal chance for me to progress as an educator and further develop my teaching skills, all while providing a pleasant, inclusive, and effective learning environment at [School’s Name].

6. Close It Out Using a Clear Call to Action and a Fitting Sign-Off

When ending a cover letter , ask for a meeting in person or a call. Emphasize your proposal, and request an appointment to discuss further how you can bring value to their teaching faculty.

Here is a sample teacher cover letter ending to use as a guide: 

Teacher Cover Letter Template: Call to Action & Formal Closing

Could we schedule a phone call or a face-to-face to discuss how my teaching skills can help [Name of School] succeed and meet its goals in the coming school year?

[Full Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

With ResumeLab’s resume builder you’ll write your resume in a flash. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 21 resume templates and get started now .

Here’s how to write a cover letter for teaching positions:

• Format your teacher cover letter as you would a formal business letter.
• Address the principal, assistant principal, or other hiring faculty member by name.
• Introduce yourself as a teaching candidate, state the teaching post you are applying to, and give them a brief run-through of your background.
• Underline relevant accomplishments, past teaching jobs, and academic skills to show them you can handle any teaching responsibilities they throw at you.
• Show that you’re motivated and dedicated to being a part of this school’s staff.
• End with a cover letter teacher call to action requesting a call or interview to discuss further.

Got any application letter questions? Need more assistance writing cover letters for teachers or cover letters for teacher assistant jobs? Head to the comments section below and leave a message. We’ll be happy to help!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Career expert who has been sharing his expert knowledge since 2017. His advice will guide you smoothly through all recruitment processes: from job hunting to getting a promotion. Christian offers comprehensive advice on career development and each step of the job search, from start to finish and beyond. His guides cover looking for new jobs, sending application documents such as resumes and cover letters, acing interview questions, and settling into the new position. Since 2017, he has written over 200 in-depth, meticulously-researched career advice articles in collaboration with the most renowned career experts in the world. Hundreds of thousands of readers visit Christian’s articles each month. Christian majored in Communication & Culture, Anthropology at the City University of New York. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and learning about cultures and traditions from around the world.

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2 Teacher Cover Letter Examples

Teachers are skilled at creating engaging lessons that inspire and educate, turning complex concepts into understandable knowledge. Similarly, your cover letter is your chance to transform your professional journey into an engaging narrative that enlightens recruiters about your skills and dedication. In this guide, we'll delve into the best cover letter examples for Teachers, helping you to craft a compelling story that resonates with your next employer.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start a Teacher cover letter is by directly addressing the hiring manager or principal, if their name is known. Then, introduce yourself and state the teaching position you're applying for. Immediately follow this with a compelling reason why you're interested in the role and the school. This could be something unique about the school's approach to education that aligns with your teaching philosophy. This not only shows that you've done your research, but also that you're genuinely interested in the school and the role. Remember, the opening of your cover letter sets the tone for the rest of the letter, so make it engaging and tailored to the position.

Teachers should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the position and expressing their eagerness to contribute to the school or institution. They should reiterate their key qualifications and how they align with the job requirements. A polite and professional closing statement such as "Thank you for considering my application" or "I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your team" is appropriate. It's also important to include contact information for easy follow-up. Lastly, they should sign off with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by their full name. This ending reaffirms their interest, highlights their suitability, and shows appreciation for the reader's time, which leaves a positive impression.

A teacher's cover letter should ideally be about one page in length. This is generally the standard for most professions, including teaching. The goal is to succinctly present your qualifications, passion for teaching, and how you can contribute to the school or institution. A one-page cover letter allows you to provide a detailed yet concise overview of your relevant experiences and skills without overwhelming the reader. Remember, hiring managers often have many applications to go through, so it's important to make your points clearly and efficiently.

Writing a cover letter with no experience as a teacher can seem daunting, but it's important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write a compelling cover letter: 1. Start with a Professional Greeting: Address the hiring manager by their name if it's available. If not, use a general but professional greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager." 2. Introduction: Begin by stating the position you're applying for. Mention where you saw the job posting and express your interest in the position. 3. Highlight Relevant Skills: Even if you don't have direct teaching experience, you likely have skills that are relevant to the job. Perhaps you've volunteered with children, tutored peers in college, or have experience in a related field like counseling. Highlight these experiences and explain how they've prepared you for a teaching role. 4. Showcase Your Education: If you're a recent graduate, emphasize your education. Discuss relevant coursework, student teaching experiences, and educational philosophies you've studied that you plan to incorporate into your teaching. 5. Show Enthusiasm for the School: Do some research about the school you're applying to and mention something specific that impresses you or aligns with your own teaching philosophy. This shows that you're not just looking for any job, but that you're interested in this specific position. 6. Conclude with a Call to Action: In your closing paragraph, express your eagerness to further discuss your qualifications in an interview. Thank the hiring manager for considering your application. 7. Professional Closing: End the letter with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best Regards," followed by your full name. Remember to keep your cover letter concise and to the point, ideally no longer than one page. Proofread carefully for any grammar or spelling errors. Your cover letter is your first chance to make a good impression, so make it count!

Related Cover Letters for Teachers

Teacher assistant cover letter.

Substitute Teacher Cover Letter

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How to Write a Teacher Cover Letter [with Template]

5 Resume Cover Letters for Teachers 

Start with structure: how to format your teacher cover letter, what else to include in your teacher cover letter, teacher cover letter faqs.

If you’re researching teacher cover letter tips and best practices, chances are you are either in the market for a new job or at least beginning to think ahead to your next opportunity.

As you’re well aware, your cover letter is a vitally important messaging document that must be thoughtfully crafted to A) catch the eye of potential employers/recruiters and B) entice them to learn more about you by reviewing your resume.

Well, you’ve come to the right place because — when it comes to teacher resume and cover letter advice — we’ve got you covered.

Designed to apply to both new and seasoned educators alike, this post serves as a guide to writing an effective teacher cover letter that will help you land your next job.

We’ll share key tips and best practices, along with several teacher cover letter examples that you can use for inspiration — plus, a downloadable template you can use to write an A+ cover letter!

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Download our template to start writing your best cover letter yet. 

LOOKING FOR TEACHING JOBS?

Before we get into any how-tos, it helps to know what the end result should look like. Below are five examples of winning teacher cover letters. 

1. This example offers guidance for the first-time teacher, since it can be difficult to write a cover letter without much experience to describe! This letter emphasizes volunteer work, student teaching and college experience. 

2. Here, the applicant listed out some of her experiences into bullet points. This is a wise formatting trick, since it’s likely the hiring manager looks at multiple cover letters a day, so the bulleted list makes it easier — and faster — to read.

3. Though it may not apply to every teaching position, some hiring managers like to see applicants back up their claims with hard data. This history teacher offers quantifiable proof of her abilities in her previous position.

4. What it lacks in volume it makes up for in succinct, to-the-point text. This cover letter says just enough while leaving the reader wanting to know more. Be careful with creating generic cover letter “templates” for yourself though — the content of this letter could apply to a wide range of roles and schools, so you’ll want to customize the details to each new position.

5. For a clearer breakdown of the essential parts of a cover letter, this example from Liveabout.com highlights where the applicant mentions her skill set, her unique value proposition and her desire for the position.

A teacher cover letter is much the same as a cover letter for any other position — the structure is fairly standard, with the content customized to the role and your experience. A cover letter should be one page, no more than four paragraphs, easily scannable and include the best way to reach you. The reader should not have to look very hard to find everything they need to know about you. 

The best teacher cover letters have the following components: 

• Your contact information: Provide your name, email address, phone number and where you live (just city and state is fine).
• The school’s contact information: Though you may not be sending your cover letter and resume by mail, this confirms your intention to apply to a specific school. 
• Date: The date you’re submitting your application materials.
• Salutation: A professional greeting that addresses the hiring manager by name. It’s customary to preface their name with “Dear.”
• Introduction: This is a one-or two-sentence statement that introduces you and expresses your intention to apply for the open position.
• Body paragraph 1: A brief paragraph describing your relevant professional experience, achievements, skills and education. 
• Body paragraph 2: A brief paragraph explaining your interest in and fitness for the role for which you’re applying.
• Closing paragraph: Once more, a brief closing statement that expresses your desire for further conversation and invites the hiring manager to contact you with any questions.
• Your signature: You may simply write your name or, for a more personal touch, you can add a real signature — hand-written or digitally placed. 

Why all the brevity? Hiring managers likely sift through dozens of applications a day, especially at competitive schools. You want your materials to stand out for their scannability, so that the reader can see whether you would be the right fit within just a few seconds. 

If you include all of the components above, you will have an excellent chance of capturing any hiring manager’s attention and (hopefully) starting a conversation with them. 

While most cover letters follow a similar format, with the introduction, body content and conclusion all containing relatively the same kind of information, the body paragraphs are where you can really highlight your uniqueness. The portion of your cover letter where you describe your skills and experience is your oyster — without repeating what’s on your resume, consider including any of the following elements:  

• Include teaching specialties such as subject expertise , special education curriculum design and even extracurricular responsibilities. 
• When it comes to your education, you’ll want to note whether you have your master’s degree in education . Having an MEd does not necessarily equate to teaching experience, but many schools will prioritize candidates with graduate degrees over those with only bachelor’s degrees . 
• Mention soft skills as well as hard teaching skills, such as organization, patience, adaptability, etc.
• Mention any relevant training or certifications. If you can point to a certificate in a specific teaching method or school leadership training , you may be considered for other open positions.
• Educational equity and inclusion is critical to school and student success. Even if you don’t have experience teaching units on disability activism or racial justice , expressing a commitment to learning about and teaching students of different backgrounds is a highly valued quality.
• Include related work you’ve done outside the classroom , such as tutoring, non-teaching work or volunteer experience that involves working with children.
• However, please note that teachers cannot freely share specific class or student data. It is your responsibility to adhere to school, state and federal restrictions concerning student privacy .
• Teachers are never done learning. Expressing a commitment to ongoing education and professional development in your cover letter will communicate that you are passionate about developing your craft. 

Each item should only take one to two sentences to explain. For scannability, you may want to format your skills and experience into bullet points.

Some teaching applicants include a postscript in their cover letters following their signature. While this is not necessary, it is a fine place to put something that doesn’t fit naturally into the body of your cover letter. However, only include a postscript if absolutely necessary ( “By the way, I remember competing against Sacred Heart’s epic debate club back in 1998 — if I couldn’t beat them then, joining them now would be the next best thing!” ). 

Your postscript should add value or personality, or be something the hiring manager absolutely needs to know, otherwise it can look extraneous and unprofessional. 

Tips to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

Think of your teaching cover letter like an elevator pitch. Pretend you have 30 seconds to “sell” your skills and enthusiasm for the role — how do you “hook” the reader? 

Before you set pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, be sure to research the school you’re applying to. It’s generally good practice to customize your cover letter for every job application, and that means knowing something about the school, department or role you’d be filling. It’s quite easy to tell if an applicant is just copy-and-pasting the same cover letter for multiple job applications. 

For example, is the school known for its competitive mathematics team? Does it have an award-winning drama department? Are its standardized test scores consistently in your state’s 90th percentile? If the role you’re applying for relates in any way to the school’s differentiating factor, be sure to acknowledge it in your introduction. 

Here are some other ways to bump your application to the top of the pile. 

• Keep it brief: No one wants to read your master’s thesis in a cover letter. Leave the longer explanations of your experience and teaching philosophy for your interview. 
• Accentuate the positive: Your application materials should not only convey why you want the position, but how your unique abilities and assets could benefit the school and its students. Emphasize why you’d be a great match with specific reasons — but don’t brag.
• Keep it personal: There are plenty of great cover letter templates and examples out there, but they should only serve as suggestions for what yours will be. This is your story to tell, not anyone else’s. Expressing your passion for teaching will position you as a dedicated, valuable asset to any school.
• Proofread: As a teacher, this should be a no-brainer — but don’t be the one teacher who forgets to proofread! Take your time, re-read and ask a colleague to give your cover letter a once-over before submitting your application. Many people treat their cover letter as an afterthought, but remember that it’s the cover to the rest of your application. 

To use another teaching comparison, remember that your cover letter counts for a significant portion of your “grade.” As Christian Eilers writes for Zety , “That means treating it like a crucial final exam instead of an inconsequential pop quiz.”

How long should my teacher cover letter be?

As a general rule, keep your cover letter brief — no one wants to read your master’s thesis as part of your application. Your cover letter should have a short intro, an explanation of your experience and skills, any significant accomplishments, awards or certificates, and a short conclusion summarizing your interest in the position. Always end with an invitation for the hiring manager to contact you, and sign your name (a signed letter is always a nice touch, even if it’s a digital signature). Leave the longer explanations of your experience and teaching philosophy for your interview.

How can I add data to my cover letter?

If you’re making any claims about your effectiveness in the classroom, try back them up with numbers. For example, you may want to say that you were responsible for increasing biology testing scores by 30%, or that attendance improved by 65% while you were a teacher. If you’re currently a teacher considering other schools, be sure to keep track of your own class’s performance so you can cite these metrics in future cover letters. Please note, however, that it is your responsibility to adhere to school, state and federal restrictions concerning specific student data and student privacy .

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Teacher Career Change Resume: Tips to Help You Land that Job!

TeacherCareerCoach

If you want to land that new job, you’ll have to work hard on your teacher career change resume. Remember, your teacher transition resume is your first impression. It’s all about showcasing those transferrable skills and highlighting why you’re the best fit for getting the job done.

If you need help leaving the classroom, check out the  Teacher Career Coach Course .  This step-by-step guide has helped thousands with a transition from teaching. Save time and get support with every step of picking a new path, rewriting your resume, and answering tricky interview questions.

It can be intimidating applying to jobs outside of the classroom, no matter how badly you want out! You may be having a hard time identifying the experiences to highlight on your resume. Maybe you’re struggling with how to write them in a way that applies to a job outside of the classroom. Anyhow, you’re about to break through that barrier! Here are some of my top tips from The Teacher Career Coach Course . These will help you put your best foot forward and land that interview! But first, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to start from scratch.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just a teacher,” it’s time to look closely at all you do on a daily basis as part of that role. Honestly, teachers are some of the most skillful and multi talented professionals I know. The truth is, many teachers battle with Impostor Syndrome , often overlooking their achievements and the value they bring to the table in many careers. Whether you realize it or not, the skills and accomplishments you have already achieved will make a stellar resume. (Trust me). 

You are an asset to your school, and you’ll be an asset wherever your career transition takes you next. First, identify your career accomplishments as a teacher. Then you can effectively apply them to the next chapter of your working life. Without knowing the specifics of your teaching experience, as a former teacher, I know you have desirable skills and valuable experience. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself. Your new career change resume should reflect your many achievements and in-demand teacher skills! 

Teacher Career Change Resume Resources

In this post, I gathered expert advice to help you master rewriting those resume skills. I want to help you avoid the most common mistakes teachers make when writing their teacher career change resume. Read on to learn how you can tweak your teaching-focused resume to highlight your skills and experience that apply jobs outside of the classroom.

You can also listen to my interview with HR and Resume-writing expert Alli Arney to learn how to effectively translate your teaching experience on your transition resume . 

Let’s get to rebranding your expertise, shall we? 

*But first a note!* Much of what you include in your resume and cover letter will be dependent on the job for which you’re applying. If you’re not sure what jobs you’re qualified for or even what’s out there, take a look at Best Jobs For Former Teachers . This post will give you an idea of what’s out there, who’s hiring, and what you need to qualify for a position.

Writing a Cover Letter for Your Resume

Every teacher career change resume needs a cover letter! Your cover letter introduces who you are and what you can offer in position X at company Y. A common mistake I see teachers make is creating a generic cover letter to send with all of their applications. 

Some hiring managers may approach your application with the assumption you’re willing to take any job outside of the classroom. Even if that’s the truth, you don’t want the hiring manager to know that. Use the cover letter and an opportunity to showcase why their job is a great fit for you and what you can bring to the table for their company. Hiring managers want someone qualified, excited about the position, and a good fit for the company culture. 

Make sure every cover letter is unique to the job and company you are sending it to. Add in specifics regarding what excites you about the role and how your experience will translate into the new responsibilities. Do research about the company and address how you are equally passionate about their core values and company culture. You will learn so much from a company’s website, including its mission statement and core values.

Get Started on you Cover Letter

First, start with an introduction paragraph. This will likely stay the same on every cover letter as you introduce yourself. Next, add five to six bullet points about why you are qualified for this specific position and reflect on your qualifying achievements. For example, I am constantly focused on collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships that advance the mission, vision, and goals of the organization. Last, add a closing statement about the position to which you’re applying, why it excites you, and how you will be able to effectively fulfill the role and responsibilities.

Add an Elevator Pitch to your Teacher Career Change Resume

An elevator pitch is basically highlights who you are,  your area of expertise, and your career intentions. It’s clear, concise, and is key to a teacher transition resume. Think about it like this: Imagine being on an elevator and only having about 30 seconds to sell yourself to the hiring manager. You should utilize your elevator pitch on your resume and when you get in front of a hiring manager at an interview. Just like your cover letter, this pitch should always be catered to a specific audience rather than being overly generic. 

Practice your elevator pitch so that it is second nature. It may sound silly but practicing your pitch in front of a friend or even a mirror helps. You can gain confidence in front of a hiring manager or an interview committee after practicing.

Again, an elevator pitch goes beyond your resume. Have your pitch handy at networking events, in job interviews, on any social bios, and in your resume header. Let’s say you are an experienced teacher looking for a transition into a Training and Development Manager position. Here’s an example of an elevator pitch you could use at a networking event or in your LinkedIn bio:

Elevator Pitch Examples

“I have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and various training methodologies, and I am currently looking to transition from the classroom to the corporate world. If you know anyone who is adding to their Training and Development Team, I hope you’ll send them my way.”

To adjust it to be more resume friendly, you could make the following tweaks:

” have more than 10 years of experience in training and development as a high school teacher where I have planned, directed, and coordinated various vocational programs. I am skilled in the ADDIE Model and a variety of training methodologies, and I am currently looking to make a transition from the classroom to the corporate world as a Corporate Trainer at Company X.”

While your elevator pitch is short and sweet, you should always be prepared for follow-up questions. Make sure you are comfortable with the different occupational terms and acronyms associated with any career path you seek. This shows your audience that you are knowledgeable and ready to move into that field of work.

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Formatting Essentials

When it comes to your teacher transition resume, we need to talk about the big F-word: Formatting. 

A whopping 75% of resumes NEVER GET OPENED or seen by a hiring manager. One of the biggest culprits? Formatting. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sift through applications before they even make their way to a hiring manager’s hands. Luckily there are a few formatting tips that can help you pass the test. 

Length, File Format, and Other Tips For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

When it comes to the length of your resume, it really depends on your experience. While one-page resumes were once a rule-of-thumb, most resumes are now one and a half to two pages. However, if you have 15 years of work experience, you shouldn’t shy away from your accomplishments. In that case, it’s totally acceptable to have a 2-page resume. 

Next, you want to focus on another F-word: file format. There are different platforms and software, but I recommend you send your resume as a Word document, unless otherwise specified. So, when you go to save your resume file, be sure it’s saved in the .doc or .docx format. ATS will reject files saved in Pages, Excel, or JPEG format. 

The last big resume formatting tip is about style . If your go-to is a creative and colorful template that landed you your job in the classroom, it’s time for a change. Simple, chronological resume templates are your best bet in the corporate world, listing your experience starting with your most recent job. This is the most popular resume style, and it’s best for ATSs. It also happens to be preferred by recruiters and HR professionals, so you really can’t go wrong here. 

A chronological resume should be written to include the following elements in the listed order: 

• Header (including your personal information and your keyword-rich elevator pitch) 
• Technology experience and expertise 
• Current volunteer experience (if applicable)

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Spill About Your Skills (The Right Way). 

As a teacher, you already have skills that can be utilized in the corporate world. It’s time to brag about them. Before you can do that, you have to move past any Impostor Syndrome you may be experiencing and acknowledge the value, experience, and expertise you have to offer. Trust me. You have a lot more to offer in roles outside of the classroom than you may think.

For example, your organization and multitasking skills can easily transfer to administrative tasks. Parent-teacher conferences give you the experience to handle customer service situations, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement. You’re no stranger to goat setting or data tracking and analysis. Think about any committees or after-school activities you’ve contributed to or helped organize as project management experience. 

Related Resources: Creating your Instructional Designer Resume

WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK 

It’s not just about identifying your transferable skills but how you translate them on your resume.

Here are three of my biggest tips to help you effectively translate your transferable skills and experience on your teacher transition resume. 

First, be specific by quantifying your accomplishments . 

Second, unless you transition into an education-based role, leave out the teacher-specific terminology, acronyms, or pedagogy.   One of the biggest mistakes teachers make on their transition resumes is not rewriting or translating their resume experience so that it is applied to the world outside of the classroom setting. 

Make sure you are showcasing your skills and experience in a way that translates into the new roles you are looking for. Hiring managers don’t want to see you as a teacher. They want to see you as someone qualified for and ready to take on the role you are applying for.  Depending on the role, managers don’t want to know about record keeping for 25 students, but that you managed a portfolio of 25 clients. They don’t want to hear about teaching pedagogy and lesson planning but about training strategy and training materials. The corporate world isn’t about grading and cumulative assessments but about data tracking and analysis. 

Go back to your career buckets. Figure out which teaching duties fall under each and then focus on translating the teacher-specific language into corporate-appropriate terminology.  Then you’ll have an already translated list you can easily pull from any time you need to tailor a resume for a new job. 

Do Your Research For Your Teacher Career Change Resume

Last but not least, do your research and include job and industry-specific language and keywords in your resume. These terms should be peppered throughout your elevator pitch summary and throughout your highlighted experiences throughout your resume. Not only will using the language make your experience and skills more relatable to the position you are applying for, but it will show the hiring manager that you have done the work and are fully committed to stepping into the role, rather than a teacher looking for any new job they can get. 

Insider tip? You can utilize job descriptions as a tool, looking for the keywords and experiences highlighted throughout. Find a way to incorporate the industry-specific language as you translate your skills and experiences. Just make sure you know enough to expand upon the ideas if asked in an interview.

If you don’t feel like you have experience in any of the major keywords that pop up, look them up before you write them off. You likely have more experience than you are giving yourself credit for. More often than not, teachers have the skills. They’re just used to calling it something else.

Acquiring New Skills for Your Teacher Change Resume

Even after translating all of your relevant experience, you might find that there are some areas where you are lacking and that’s okay. Depending on the experiences you had while teaching and the role you are looking to transition into, you might find that there are certain skills that would be beneficial to have to make you a more desirable candidate. 

The good news is you can work on new skills while you are still teaching in the classroom. There are a variety of online classes and tutorials you can take at home and add to your teacher transition resume. The added keywords will make it easier for you to find a new career and you’ll likely go into it feeling more confident and prepared. 

Developing your Teacher Career Change Resume: Final Thoughts.

I know that was a lot of information. Maybe you were already stressed about writing your career transition resume, and now you’re feeling even more overwhelmed. If that’s the case, start by taking a deep breath. (Right here, right now). You don’t have to write and send out a hundred resumes in one day, or even one week. 

In fact, you don’t have to write hundreds of resumes at all. 

A lot of teachers ask, “Do I have to create a million different resume templates for all of these jobs?”   Absolutely not. While you should tweak your resume to fit each specific position you are applying for, you can save time by creating a template for each general category of positions you apply to. For example, you might have one template for training-type positions and another for jobs that fall under curriculum writing and instructional design categories.  One final word of advice? When it comes to taking resume writing advice, please, please, please vet your source to ensure the information applies to the position and industry you are applying to.

Teacher Career Change, Beyond the Resume

Developing a professional teacher transition resume is just the first step on your journey to a new career. If you have more questions like: How do I get employers to notice my resume? What kind of jobs am I qualified for? What do I do after I get the interview?!?

I want you to know that if being in the classroom is no longer an option for you, there are many career options for teachers. As a former teacher who transitioned out of the classroom, I have been at that crossroads. I successfully moved from teaching into a new career that has left me happier, healthier, and more relaxed than I ever could have been in the classroom.

Next steps to a new career

One of the biggest mistakes that we see teachers make is that they try to  navigate this process alone . Often, they put off “researching” until the very last minute. Which sets them up for a very stressful application season. I want to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. To know EXACTLY what you need to do (and not do) in order to get your foot in the door. You don’t have to do this on your own. With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, I’ve created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom.  Tap the button below to learn more .

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Teacher Cover Letter Examples For 2024 (20+ Skills & Templates)

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Looking to land more job offers as a Teacher?

Crafting a strong cover letter is key. This comprehensive guide is packed with everything you need to know in order to write a job-winning Teacher cover letter , complete with effective strategies, essential skills, helpful templates, and real-life examples.

You can trust that all the insights and tips in this guide are based on data from coaching thousands of job seekers, just like you, who have gone on to secure positions at some of the world's most reputable companies.

Whether you're a seasoned Teacher or just starting out, reading this guide from start to finish can help you land your dream role. But if you're short on time and looking for specific information, here's a breakdown of what's included:

• What To Know About Writing A Job-Winning Teacher Cover Letter
• The Best Skills To Include On An Teacher Cover Letter

How To Address A Teacher Cover Letter

• 3 Teacher Cover Letter Examples

The 8 Best Teacher Cover Letter Templates

3 tips for writing a job-winning teacher cover letter.

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

Teacher Cover Letter Overview: What To Know To Write A Cover Letter That Wins More Job Offers

Wondering what school districts are looking for when they're hiring a teacher?

Districts want knowledgeable, skilled, and dedicated teachers that are highly qualified. That means they have the proper education, certifications, and experience along with mastery of their subject, strong classroom management, communication, flexibility, and commitment to student learning.  Professionalism, reliability, and punctuality are also key qualities.

Your resume should show the district that the your experience and personality combined encompass all of these things.

Additionally, there are a few best practices you want to follow to write a job-winning Teacher resume:

• Highlight your education and certifications:  emphasizing any relevant coursework or specialized training.
• Emphasize your teaching experience:  providing specific examples of your accomplishments and contributions to student learning.
• Include keywords from the job description:  ensure your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Showcase your skills and achievements:  including examples of your ability to manage a classroom, communicate effectively, and use technology.
• Provide references from colleagues:  or supervisors who can speak to your teaching abilities
• Proofread: Make sure to thoroughly proofread your cover letter for any grammatical errors or typos. A well-written, error-free letter can make a strong first impression. I recommend using Hemingway App to do this.

Let's dive deeper into each of these so you have the exact blueprint you need to see success.

The Best Teacher Skills To Include On Your Cover Letter

Keywords are one of the most important factors in your cover letter. They show employers that your skills align with the role and they also help format your cover letter for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

If you're not familiar with ATS systems, they are pieces of software used by employers to manage job applications. They scan cover letters for keywords and qualifications and make it easier for the employers to filter and search for candidates whose qualifications match the role.

If you want to win more Teacher interviews and job offers, you need to have a keyword-optimized cover letter. There are two ways to find the right keywords:

1. Leverage The 20 Best Teacher Keywords

The first way to find the right keywords is to leverage our list of the best keywords and skills for an Teacher cover letter.

These keywords were selected from an analysis of  real Teacher  job descriptions sourced from actual job boards. Here they are:

• Communication
• Collaborative
• Development
• Flexibility
• Performance
• Instruction
• Regulations

2. Use ResyMatch.io To Find The Best Keywords That Are Specific To Your Cover Letter And Target Role

The second method is the one I recommend because it's personalized to your specific cover letter and target job.

This process lets you find the exact keywords that your cover letter is missing when compared to the individual role you're applying for.

Here's how it works:

• Open a copy of your target Teacher job description
• Head over to  ResyMatch.io
• Select the “Job Description Scan” from the scan type selector in the upper right corner of the tool
• Copy and paste the Teacher job description into the field on the left
• Hit scan and review the results

ResyMatch is going to scan the target job description and show you the exact keywords and skills that are relevant for the role and that you should weave into your cover letter.

Here's a video walking through this whole process:

Personalization is what makes a cover letter stand out. That starts from the very first sentence where you greet the person reading your cover letter! There are two ways to do this well:

1. Use The Campus Principal's Name

The first, and best, is by including the campus principal's name. Let's say that you discovered the campus principal's name from a post on LinkedIn or via an informational interview.

This is the jackpot! All you need to do is use their name in the introduction, like this:

2. Use This Formula: To The [Department] Team at [Organization]

If you don't have the campus principal's name, no problem! You can address your cover letter to the team that you're applying to.

For example, if you're applying to for a Product Marketing Manager role at Discovery Education, you might start you cover letter like this:

This shows the reader that this letter has been written specifically for them and the content inside of it will support that.

It's much more relevant and personal than  “To Whom It May Concern!”

For more advice on writing a strong opening to your cover letter, check out this guide.

3 Teacher Cover Letter Examples For 2023

Now let's take a look at all of these best practices in action. Here are three cover letter examples for different situations from people with different backgrounds that are all applying for Teacher roles:

Teacher Cover Letter Example #1: A Traditional Background

Our first example is a cover letter written by a candidate with traditional Teacher experience. Here is what an example of their cover letter might look like:

Teacher Cover Letter Example #2: A Non-Traditional Background

Our second cover letter example comes from a candidate looking to transition from the healthcare industry into a teacher role. This cover letter illustrates how they identify and speak to their transferable skills:

Teacher Cover Letter Example #3: Landing An Elementary Teacher Role Despite Majority Experience in Upper Grade Levels

Our third example highlights a candidate with extensive teaching experience in middle and high school grades, looking to transition to the elementary classroom.

At this point, you know all of the basics you'll need to write a Teacher cover letter that wins you more interviews and offers. The only thing left is to take all of that information and apply it to a template that's going to help you get results.

We made that easy with  our CoverBuild tool . It has 8 proven templates that were created with the help of recruiters and hiring managers at the world's best companies. These templates also bake in thousands of data points we have from the job seekers in our audience who have used them to land job offers.

You're off to a strong start! But I've got a few more tips to help you take your cover letter to the next level:

1. Use ChatGPT To Write Your Cover Letter In <30 Seconds

All of these tips and best practices work, but you still have to implement them. Normally, that'd mean you sitting down and spending hours brainstorming ideas, typing, deleting, and typing again, and then feeling absolutely drained.

Now there's a way to work around all of that so you save your best energy for the writing and edits that matter most. Here's how it works:

• Head to ChatGPT (you'll need to create an account – it's free)
• Ask ChatGPT,  “Please write me a cover letter for an Teacher role. The role I'm applying for is [Job Title] role at [School District]. Here is the job description: [Paste Job Description]. And here is my resume: [Paste Resume].
• Watch ChatGPT write up a pretty darn good cover letter base!

Here's a video of me doing this with a real cover letter if you want to see the steps in action:

Note:  I  do not recommend or advise that you simply copy and paste the content from ChatGPT into your cover letter and submit your application. ChatGPT is great for doing 80% of the baseline work, but you still need to review, revise, and personalize the content yourself.

2. Include Measurable Metrics And Outcomes

Too many job seekers only focus on the actions that they took and not the outcomes that resulted from those actions. As a campus principal, it's impossible to differentiate between a dozen candidates who were all “Responsible For Creating a Safe Learning Environment.” 

If you want to win, your cover letter should speak to the specific outcomes that you drove in previous roles. That could be:

• The percentage by which your students' content mastery increased
• The average reduction in behavioral issues
• The average parent satisfaction rate
• The rate at which your student engagement increased from year to year

These numbers will show hiring teams what you're capable of and make your value crystal clear!

3. Match Your Cover Letter And Resume Design

They're the exact same car, down to the year, make, and model. The only difference is the way the product was presented. Like I said, quality impacts perceived value.

One of the best ways to boost the quality of your cover letter is to make it look clean, professional, and have it match your resume. That's why the resume templates in our resume builder tool match the cover letter templates in our cover letter builder:

If you use both tools to create your cover letter and your resume, your entire application is going to be top notch.

Key Takeaways To Wrap Up Your Job-Winning Cover Letter

You made it! We packed a lot of information into this post so I wanted to distill the key points for you and lay out next steps so you know exactly where to from here.

Here are the 5 steps for writing a job-winning Teacher cover letter:

• Start with a proven cover letter template from CoverBuild.io
• Use  ResyMatch.io to find the right keywords and optimize your cover letter for each Teacher role you apply to
• Start your teacher cover letter with a personalized greeting for the campus principal or Human Resources representative.
• Emphasize the measurable outcomes and value you drove in previous roles (include metrics!)
• Compare the draft of your teacher cover letter to the examples on this page to make sure you're on the right path
• Use a tool like  Hemingway App to proofread your cover letter before you submit it

If you follow those steps, you're going to be well on your way to landing more Teacher interviews and job offers.

Now that your cover letter is taken care of, be sure to check out my guide on how to write a job-winning Teacher resume (with examples!)

Laura Lorta

Laura is an Editor at Cultivated Culture. She transitioned from teaching into the world of content so she's no stranger to career pivots. She also has a bachelors in Entrepreneurship and a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction / Bilingual Education. She currently shares job search advice to help people like you land jobs they love without applying online.

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Teacher Cover Letter Examples

City, State, Zip Code

Home: 000-000-0000 | Cell: 000-000-0000

[email protected]

Iris Del Gato Company Name

City, State 000-000-0000 [email protected]

RE: “Grammar School Teacher for Hire” on Maria’s List

Dear Ms. Del Gato,

As an admirer of Company Name, I was really excited to see your posting for a 3rd grade teacher. Here’s why I’m an excellent match for the position.

In addition to having a Masters in Education and seven years of experience, I currently work as an enthusiastic 3rd grade teacher at the Red Barn School. In this role, I am responsible for 40 students in an inclusion classroom, which has allowed me to refine my skills in handling extreme behavioral issues while maintaining a focused class. I also prepare the children for challenging state tests and foster their leadership and problem-solving skills by having them collaborate in groups.

Additionally, my attached resume includes all of the other requirements given on your job listing. For this reason, I believe I would be a great addition to your organization.

I will make myself available to meet with you at your earliest convenience.

Madelynn Wilkinson

There are plenty of opportunities to land a position, but it won’t just be handed to you. Crafting a cover letter that catches the attention of hiring managers is paramount to getting the job, and LiveCareer is here to help you stand out from the competition.

View All Cover Letter Samples

Customize this Letter

When you are searching for jobs, your cover letter is one of the tools which can catch a hiring manager’s attention. Although writing cover letters may seem difficult to some jobseekers, there are practical strategies you can follow to gain success. See the tips below for a guide to common do’s and don’ts, and refer to the teacher cover letter example for an industry-specific guide.

• Do show that you have the experience the school is looking for. The phrases used in the job description can help you understand the school’s top priorities.
• Do not use a formal tone. Instead, let your enthusiasm for the position show in your wording and tone.
• Do ask a friend if your cover letter demonstrates that you are the best person for the position. This can help you understand when your cover letter is fit for a hiring manager’s eyes.
• Don’t tell hiring managers what you will gain from the position. Instead, explain the qualifications which will make you an excellent asset. See how our example goes into detail about his skills.

Teacher Advice

The cover letter examples below will help you create an effective cover letter for your education career. These professionally written samples are designed for teachers of all levels, from kindergarten through high school and beyond.

Cover Letter Tips for Teacher

Finding jobs as a Teacher will be easier if you apply your skills and look in the right places. Following these pointers can relieve stress and make it easier to find work.

Research your surroundings. Whether you are new to Education or have lived in the area for years, you should conduct some research to find who the biggest employers are. Doing so can help you find job leads that don’t show up in other places, and it can show you where the majority of local opportunities are.

Practice your interview skills. Once you have found a job lead that interests you and matches your skills, you have started the journey to landing a new job. If an interview seems intimidating, think about the kind of questions a potential employer would want to ask an interviewee and prepare some articulate answers that will demonstrate your knowledge.

Network with neighbors. Building relationships and pursuing connections can often provide unexpected job opportunities. Let your friends and family know what kind of position you are looking for, and ask them to pass any leads along.

Keep in contact with potential job leads. Once you have submitted a job application, it is up to management to decide whether or not you are a good candidate for the position. Reach out to the recruiter, hiring manager, or human resources department to remind them of your interest.

Be adaptable. Think of your abilities as the roots of all the things you can do. They are the beginning, not the end. Be open to jobs in other fields that can provide opportunities outside your field and expand your skillset.

Teacher Job Seeking Tips

Your cover letter is likely the first impression potential employers will have of you. You should make its contents relevant to the jobs as a Teacher and field you are pursuing, but regardless of specifics, there are a few general rules you should always follow.

Highlight your experience. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you want your skills to truly shine on paper. The only way to achieve this is to describe your prior experience in an engaging way. Use descriptive language to make your work experience sound enticing.

Be honest. It may be tempting to exaggerate your experience or embellish your skills, but this will disservice you in the long run. Instead of stretching the truth, be imaginative in your descriptions of prior work history.

Emphasize your versatility. Many people are faced with a shortage of jobs in their field, but if you are dealing with this, it does not mean you won’t find a great and fulfilling position. You should keep your options open and use your cover letter to highlight your versatility.

Keep it brief. Giving long-winded answers in an interview is never a good idea, and being excessively wordy on your cover letter isn’t either. While you may be verbose, limit your cover letter’s contents to the most essential information. You don’t want your qualifications to get lost in a sea of words.

Don’t go over a page. In some cases, you may have reason to include two pages on your cover letter, but in general, it is best to be concise and keep its contents to one page only.

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Teacher Cover Letter Examples + Templates

• 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
• 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡

Our customers have been hired at: * Foot Note

Teachers play a vital role in educating and shaping future generations. They work in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, colleges and universities and community organizations. Teachers have strong communication skills, patience and a passion for education. While the job can be challenging, teaching can be a rewarding career that makes a difference in the lives of students and communities.

When paired with a well-written resume , a strong teacher cover letter can help you highlight your exemplary behavioral management and interpersonal skills . With our example teacher cover letters and comprehensive guide to writing a cover letter , we’ll help you land an interview and secure your next role. 

More Cover letter examples for the next step in your teaching career

• Adjunct Professor Cover Letter
• Assistant Teacher Cover Letter
• Elementary Teacher
• Graduate Assistant Cover Letter
• Instructor Cover Letter
• Kindergarten Teacher Cover Letter
• Master Teacher Cover Letter
• Preschool Teacher Cover Letter
• Student Assistant Cover Letter
• Student Teacher Cover Letter
• Summer Teacher Cover Letter
• Teaching Assistant Cover Letter
• Tutor Cover Letter
• Teacher’s Aide Cover Letter

Teacher cover letter (text version)

Jennie Williams

Newark, NJ 07101

(555) 555-555

[email protected]

Jan. 02, 2024

Caroline  Vance,

Newark Public Schools

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: (555) 555-5555

E-Mail: [email protected]

Dear Caroline Vance,

Upon learning about the teacher posting with Newark Public Schools, I was eager to contact you with my interest. When reviewing the job description, I was excited to see how well my experience aligns with your school’s needs and position requirements. From reading your website, I feel your core mission and culture suit what I offer as a professional.

As an adept elementary teacher, I have a well-rounded skill set in group and individual instruction and honed talents in lesson planning and classroom management, making me an ideal fit for the teacher position. Further, I am a recognized expert in communication and team collaboration. 

In my previous role, I had the opportunity to develop and execute an innovative project-based learning curriculum that received recognition at a regional education conference, showcasing student work and achievements. This initiative not only boosted student creativity but also contributed to a 25% increase in positive feedback from parents.

During my tenure, I served as the coordinator for the Elementary English Olympiad, guiding students to multiple victories at the district level. Also, I collaborated in a successful after-school tutoring program targeting 100 struggling students, leading to a 30% improvement in their academic performance. This program received a commendation from the school administration for its positive impact on student achievement.

I am excited at the prospect of bringing my talents to Newark Public Schools. I look forward to hearing from you, at your earliest convenience, to discuss how my experience and qualifications will prove valuable in the teacher role.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

How to format a teacher cover letter

A cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself to the hiring manager. It allows you to expand on your resume skills , connect with the hiring manager and show them why you’re the one for the job. Your cover letter should highlight your patience, resourcefulness and passion for education. 

Teachers use their knowledge and creativity to design lesson plans, engage students and assess learning outcomes. An effective teacher cover letter will include measurable achievements that exemplify how you’ve effectively communicated with students, parents, teachers and school administrators in your prior roles. 

That’s a lot for one page, but we’re here to help! It all starts with using the correct cover letter format . Start by editing these cover letter examples for teachers or explore our collection of 200+ cover letter examples to find the best match for you. 

Use the business format for your teacher cover letter

A cover letter is a business letter, so use the standard business letter format. Take a look at our example cover letters for teachers to get started. 

Use 1-inch margins on all sides, single space and left alignment on your one-page document. The length of your cover letter should not exceed one page. 

As our example cover letters for teaching positions show, your cover letter must also include:

• A header with your name, city, state, ZIP code and telephone number. 
• A greeting like “Dear Alice Walters” or “Dear Hiring Manager.” 
• A simple closing, like “Best regards” or “Respectfully.” 

Using a cover letter template is the best way to ensure your cover letter is formatted correctly and can pass most application tracking systems (ATS) . 

Plug it into our Cover Letter Builder and we’ll do the work for you. We’ll offer ready-made content ideas for your cover letter that target essential skills such as organization, classroom management and curriculum planning. In minutes, you’ll have a professional cover letter for a teaching job to pair with your resume. 

How to write a teacher cover letter

Start with a compelling introduction.

Hiring managers spend only seconds scanning job applications, so you must immediately hook them with your teacher cover letter. Think of your cover letter introduction like an elevator pitch and be clear, concise and direct.

Begin by explaining why you’re writing and which position you’re applying for. Express your interest in the position and why you are excited about the opportunity to work at the school or organization. 

This can be a great place to showcase your passion for teaching and your commitment to student success. Highlight your relevant qualifications and experience that make you a strong candidate for the position.

This may include your education, certifications, teaching experience and any other relevant skills or achievements that you want to mention right away. 

Use accomplishments to explain why you’re a great fit for the role

The body of your teacher cover letter should paint an in-depth picture of your career while providing insight into your interests and values. In one or two paragraphs, show the potential employer what you can do. 

Use action verbs to describe your unique accomplishments and keywords from the job description to explain your hard skills and soft skills . Highlight the skills and qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the position, such as experience with curriculum development, classroom management or technology integration. 

Explain your teaching philosophy and how it aligns with the mission and values of the school or organization. Provide details about your teaching experience, including the grades and subjects you have taught, any special projects or initiatives you have led, and any successes or challenges you have faced. 

Close with an invitation

Just like our cover letter examples for teaching jobs, use the final paragraph to thank the hiring manager for their time and reiterate your interest in the job. Close by inviting them to contact you to learn more about your teaching qualifications. 

Pair your teacher with a matching resume

How do you write a cover letter for a teacher position.

To make a good cover letter, use a standard business letter format, include your contact details and the potential employers’ contact information, address the hiring manager if possible and explain how your job qualifications match the job.  

A cover letter for a teacher position should highlight relevant skills such as lesson planning and classroom management. Here are some things hiring managers or principals may be looking for in a teacher candidate:

• Patience: In order to find success in education, aspiring teachers must be patient with young learners.
• Resourcefulness: With reduced budgets and more teacher requirements, educators must show resourcefulness in their personality.
• Strong ability to communicate: Teachers must demonstrate strong communication skills when writing or speaking.
• Professional attitude: To show how serious a candidate is, he or she must maintain a professional attitude at all times.

Do I need a teacher cover letter?

Yes. A cover letter is an essential piece of a job application. While a resume provides a snapshot of your professional career, a cover letter fills in the blanks. Cover letters tell hiring managers who you are and why you want the job. 

Additionally, cover letters provide the opportunity to explain career gaps, recent moves to another geographic location or a career move. You can use an AI cover letter generator like My Perfect Resume to create a polished and compelling teacher cover letter in a matter of minutes. 

Remember to tailor your cover letter to the specific position and school you’re applying to. Use specific examples and language that demonstrate your fit for the job, and avoid generic or overly formal language. 

Get prepared for the next steps by reviewing what to expect during an interview and practicing common behavioral interview questions . 

How long should a cover letter be?

Your cover letter for a teacher job should be half a page to one page long. Aim for about 250-500 words.

Remember to emphasize your student-centered approach to teaching and discuss how you create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students. 

Learn exactly how long your cover letter should be to make a memorable impression on potential employers with our expert guide.

Who do you address a teaching cover letter to?

Ideally, you should address a teaching cover letter to the hiring manager or the person responsible for reviewing applications. This information is typically included in the job posting or can be found on the school or organization’s website. 

If the job posting does not include the name of the hiring manager or recruiter, you can address the letter to the school principal, department head or the hiring committee. Avoid using general salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern” as they can come across as impersonal. 

If you’re unable to find the name of the hiring manager, you can address the letter to the school or organization itself. For example, “Dear [School Name] Hiring Team” or “Dear [School Name] Human Resources Department.” 

Remember to use a professional tone throughout your cover letter, regardless of who you are addressing.

Best practices

• Address the recruiter or hiring manager directly.
• Explain what attracted you to the school in one or two sentences. For instance, the school’s commitment to inclusion and diversity. 
• Customize your teacher cover letter for the job. 
• Include keywords from the job description throughout. For example, “curriculum development” and “technology integration.” 
• End with a clear call to action. 
• Proofread your cover letter more than once. 
• Write a generic teacher cover letter. Instead, include specific examples of your lesson planning and instructing skills. 
• Write more than one page. 
• Use generic salutations, like “To Whom It May Concern.”
• Regurgitate your resume. Expand on your resume with detailed accounts of how you create a positive and inclusive learning environment.  
• Rely on automatic grammar or spell-checkers. 
• Write a fan letter, even if it is your dream job. 

Resume examples for the next step in your teaching career

• Assistant Teacher Resume
• Master French Teacher Resume
• Teacher Resume
• Summer Teacher Resume
• Adjunct Professor Resume
• Homeschool Teacher Resume
• Early Childhood Teacher Resume
• Preschool Teacher Resume
• High School Social Studies Teacher Resume
• Retired Teacher Resume
• Piano Teacher Resume
• Early Childhood Assistant Resume
• Foreign Language Teacher Resume
• Spanish Teacher Resume
• Language Professor Resume
• Nurse Educator Resume
• Public Health Advisor Resume
• English Teacher Resume
• ESL Teacher Resume
• Tutor Resume
• High School Teacher Resume
• Middle School Teacher Resume
• Elementary Teacher Resume

CV examples for the next step in your teaching career

• Adjunct Professor CV
• Arabic Teacher CV
• Assistant Professor CV
• Beginning Teacher CV
• Chinese Teacher CV
• Driving Instructor CV
• English Teacher CV
• Entrepreneur CV
• French Teacher CV
• Fresher Teacher CV
• Graduate Assistant CV
• Fourth Grade Teacher CV
• Nurse Educator CV
• Physics Professor CV
• High School Teacher CV
• Teaching Assistant CV
• SAT Tutor CV
• University Professor CV

How we reviewed this article

Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process .

• Indeed. Article. Redfield, Melissa. What’s the Job Outlook for Teachers in 2023  
• Point Loma Nazarene University. Article. What’s the Job Market Like for Teachers Today?
• Teachers of Tomorrow. Article. 10+ Teacher Skills You Need on Your Resume in 2023

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Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW

Career advice expert.

Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.

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5 Teacher Cover Letter Examples & Templates for 2024

• Teacher Cover Letter
• Elementary Teacher
• Art Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• AP English Teacher
• Writing Your Teacher Cover Letter 101

Teachers’ duties extend far beyond the 8 to 4 school day, encompassing lesson planning, grading, parent communication, faculty meetings, and guiding student extracurriculars.. 

The challenge of finding a new teaching position and the requirement to write a cover letter in addition to your teacher resume can seem daunting given your already full schedule.

We’re here to assist you in your job hunt with five teacher cover letter examples and a comprehensive guide. While it’s impossible to highlight every accomplishment, our resources, which include a free cover letter generator , are designed to help you effectively showcase your strengths and demonstrate to principals and departments why you’re the ideal candidate for the position.

Teacher Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Block Format

Level up your cover letter game

Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifiting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Example

Art Teacher Cover Letter Example

Why this cover letter works

• Metrics bring your accomplishments to life, painting a vivid picture of your effectiveness for the role. For instance, Kaito reports a 12% increase in foot traffic to his mural projects.

Special Education Teacher Cover Letter Example

• Passion equals commitment and even success. Not only does this align with the role she seeks, but it’s also an excellent trick to captivate the recruiter reading your piece.

AP English Teacher Cover Letter Example

AP English Teacher Resume

Need a resume to pair with your AP English teacher cover letter?

or download as PDF

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Teaching Job

The key to writing your teacher cover letter can be distilled into two main points: don’t be generic and don’t let it become a repeat of your resume. 

Step 1: Don’t skimp on researching the teaching role

Just as you want to tailor your resume to the school where you want to work and to its accompanying  teacher job description , you should do the same with your cover letter. Sure, this requires extra research, but what’re 20 or 30 minutes when this effort can pay off in dividends? Not only will research ensure your cover letter is relevant—not vague and generic—it’ll also prepare you well for common  teacher interview questions .

Additionally, leverage your research to demonstrate a real interest in the role you’re applying for as well as in the school itself.

• Discuss how your commitment to standardized testing has improved students’ performance at other schools.
• Share how Google Classroom has transformed your STEM projects.

Step 2: Go beyond your teaching resume

Addressing the specific needs and concerns mentioned in the job description will have the desired effect  as long as you go beyond what you included in your resume . Mentioning that you’re a rock star at using Google Classroom isn’t enough; principals have  already  gathered that from your resume bullet points and  skills section .  

This is your opportunity to specifically share what you’ve done with Google Classroom. Many teachers set up Google Classroom for their students but don’t get around to using it. What have you done that sets the standard for every teacher following you? This is when quantifying your experience becomes exceptionally valuable. 

• Demonstrate how this resource has decreased late submissions by 53 percent.
• What did you do exactly to accomplish such a feat? One-on-one tutoring, an after-school club, unique teaching methodologies?

Step 3: Convey the right message

Beyond specific and descriptive paragraphs in your teacher cover letter, keep your document  at  or less than a page. Eliminate wordiness and avoid pleasantries. Be sincere and gracious, but, really, no one likes a teacher’s pet.   

So, consider your tone of voice. Be professional, avoiding clichés, contractions, colloquialisms, and the like. Remember you’re applying for a teaching position, not a quirky tech startup.

Consider your tone. Remember you’re applying for a teaching role, not a quirky tech startup.

And when you think your cover letter is ready to go, hold up! You’re, indeed, almost at the finish line, but what is it you tell your students to do before they submit an essay (which they inevitably  never  do)? 

Yep—it’s time to practice what you preach. Invite a few people you trust to review your cover letter and offer constructive criticism while your eyes and brain rest. Then, return to your work, consider the feedback, and scour for any last content issues and spelling and grammar errors. Make revisions, save your document, and send your best teacher cover letter to the principal and hiring department with your resume, application, and any other requested materials.

Your Teacher Cover Letter Format & Outline

Now, if you’re staring at a blinking cursor on a blank document, not sure how to make the examples and steps work for you, don’t fret. It’ll come together beautifully like a perfectly executed lesson plan.

You just need a comprehensive outline that breaks the cover letter for a teaching position into distinct sections, making it easy to understand what to include in each part.

How to start a teacher cover letter

Your contact info: If you’re using a template, fill in the letterhead to suit your needs. Just ensure you replace all filler text and don’t accidentally exclude critical information like your name, email, and phone number. 

• Formatting:  If you write a block business letter rather than use a template, including your address is standard. Additionally, while your name will be prominently displayed on a letterhead on a template, a basic but professional block letter should omit your name (the principal will find your name easily in your signature line).

Date:  If you write your cover letter today but don’t submit it until next week, edit the date, to reflect the day you submit the letter and other career documents for the specific teaching role. 

• Formatting:  Write out the full date, e.g. January 12, 2023.

Inside address:  This is the contact information for the principal or hiring department at the school. Name the specific person; then, include the school and position title, e.g., Ryan High School Principal. Complete this section with the school’s address.

• Formatting:  Each piece of the inside address should be on a new line. You’ll want a double space between the inside address and the greeting. 

Kyndra Marque Ryan High School Principal  5101 E McKinney St Denton, TX 76208

Greeting:  Your goal is to start on the right foot with your principal, so avoid issuing a generic greeting, also known as a salutation, like:

• Dear Principal,
• Dear Hiring Department,
• To Whom it May Concern:

While it can take some sleuth skills to track down the name of the hiring manager for some jobs,  most, if not all,  schools have staff listings on their website. You’re already researching the school to help you write an amazing cover letter, so take a couple of extra minutes to put a real name to the greeting:

• Dear Mr. Thatcher:
• Dear Ms. Li:
• Formatting:  Err on the side of caution and use a colon at the end of the greeting. A comma is more casual while a colon denotes professionalism, which will likely serve you best for a teaching role.  

How to write your teacher cover letter

Body:  The body of your teacher cover letter should be three to four brief paragraphs that state your interest, demonstrate your teaching credentials, and convey enthusiasm for further discussion. Let’s break it down further: 

• Formatting:  The body of your teaching cover letter should be single-spaced although you’ll need to double-space between paragraphs.

Opening paragraph:  The goal is simple—state your interest in the position and your overarching credentials that reflect your research for the specific role. While the goal is simple, the execution often leaves little to be desired. Too many teacher cover letters start the same way.

I found your posting online and am interested in filling the English III position. 

No. Just no. Bore the principal and the English department right out of the gate, and they’ll wonder whether you’ll hold the attention of your students. Instead, try:

With 12 percent of Ryan High’s student population slotted to graduate with honors, I am eager to lead the initiation of the English Advanced Placement program as stated in the job description. With seven years of experience teaching AP courses, I am confident that Ryan High’s students will excel in my classroom and beyond.

Not only does this signal that you’ve done your homework and researched the school’s unique standing and areas for growth, this opening paragraph hooks the reader. Clearly, you’re interested in the role, offer valuable experience, and with phrases like “lead the initiation” and “excel in my classroom,” there’s no doubt you’re confident and capable.

Paragraphs 2-3:  If you can squeeze in the third paragraph, we recommend it as each paragraph is an opportunity to demonstrate indisputable evidence of the credentials and qualifications you boldly state in your opening paragraph. 

Each paragraph should not be a repeat of your resume; rather, each paragraph should hone in on  one  clear accomplishment, be it the results of your teaching methodology, values, or something else. Don’t try to tackle multiple topics in a paragraph. Be detailed, specific, and quantify your results when possible. 

Closing paragraph:  Clench an interview with this final paragraph. Now’s not the time to lay your head on your desk and call it a day. Don’t let this be your closing paragraph:

I believe I am the perfect candidate for this teaching position, and I look forward to hearing back from you soon. 

At best, it exudes laziness. At worst, no one will believe you’re actually interested in the job but just need something to put beans on the table. 

Instead, demonstrate that your unique values and qualifications align with the school’s needs, which will indicate a genuine interest in the role— even if you are  desperate to put beans on the table.

Finally, add a call to action that anticipates a follow-up or interview. With the following closing paragraph, it’s clear that teaching is far more to you than just a job:

Solving students’ pain points is more than acknowledging their existence. To me, pain points are a starting point to discovery. I firmly believe that some of the most challenging endeavors have the power to yield the most fruitful results. If these results speak to you, I am eager to share more of what my non-traditional classroom looks like and what you can expect from Belleville’s students and from me as their geometry instructor.  

How to end a teacher cover letter

Signature:  While you can include your gratitude at the end of the closing paragraph, you can also express thanks when you sign off. Keep it professional, and use your real name here just as you will on your resume and application form. 

• Formatting:  Typically, you’ll send your cover letter to the principal’s email; however, if you deliver your career docs in person or—gasp—by mail, be sure to quadruple space and sign your name in blue or black ink between your closing line and typed name.

Thank you for your consideration,

Marcus DeWitt 

Enclosure(s):  This is important, and most job seekers, including teachers, fail to include it. “Enclosure(s)” means that more documents follow your cover letter.

What information would that be? Well, hopefully, your  teacher resume , likely the school’s application, potentially your teaching license, also your college transcripts, and maybe even a reference letter or two, depending on the requirements detailed in the  teacher job ad . 

After your signature, you’ll include “Enclosure(s),” followed by the exact documents in order of appearance. 

• Formatting:  Use the singular form of “enclosure” if you’re only including one document. Also, include each additional document on a new line. 

Enclosures: Resume Application 2 letters of recommendation

See, including this final section is literally easier than writing your own address. Include it, and automatically set yourself apart from other teachers vying for the same role. 

Finish Strong with Your Teacher Resume

Now, that you’ve got the tools to confidently wow principals and departmental heads with your teacher cover letter, have you considered the current state of your resume? Maybe you’ve already updated and polished it, and if that’s you, kudos to you—you’re ahead of the game! 

If you’re blowing out an exaggerated breath because you’ve relegated your resume to the nether regions of your mind, we get it. But teacher resumes are judged more harshly than most. Hiring teams don’t cut a lot of slack when they’re looking for talent who will teach their students to communicate, read, and write well.   

So, if it’s time to think seriously about re-writing or, let’s face it,  writing  your resume  from scratch, take a page from us (literally) and get inspired with our  free resume templates  and  teacher resume examples  like the one below.

Elementary Teacher Resume

Need a resume to pair with your elementary teacher cover letter?

Your career documents are a pain in the tush, we know, but think of us as your biggest cheerleaders. With our  resume builder ,  Google resume templates ,  Word resume templates , and expert-approved guidance, your teacher resume and cover letter are sure to win you interviews and secure your next role, where you just might earn Teacher of the Year at your next school. 

Every school you apply to will likely have slightly different teaching styles, cultures, and objectives they would like to achieve throughout the year. You can use your cover letter to connect your previous experiences to their mission and goals. For instance, if you volunteered for an early-age reading program, that would be a great experience to connect when applying to a K-5 position where the school wants to improve student reading scores.

Ideally, you want to match your tone to the feel of each school’s job description. Does the school have a very formal and knowledgeable tone in the description? Then being more formal and factual about your knowledge and experiences in different teaching styles they emphasize would be a great idea. For example, citing factual information about how you used hybrid learning to create 75% higher material retention in math subjects would work well in this instance.

Try to address your cover letter to a specific person in the school. Typically, this will be a principal, superintendent, or human resources hiring manager that would be reviewing teacher resumes . Check through the job description to see if a specific name is listed who will be reviewing applications, or review the school’s website for this information. If you can’t find anything, you can simply address it to “[Name of school] hiring staff” or something similar.

Teacher Cover Letter Example [10 Point Guide]

The education job market is an incredibly competitive landscape for both aspiring teachers and those seeking new roles. With limited openings and rigid qualifications, those in the job hunt are always looking for new ways to stand apart from fellow applicants. Thankfully, there is no better way to effectively represent your abilities and earn yourself an interview than with a well crafted teacher’s cover letter.

However, a cover letter for a teaching position isn’t usually structured like cover letters for general career applications. There are a series of different sections to include, and best practices to follow to help your cover letter stand out. Here is a quick guide to writing your teaching cover letter.

How to Write a Great Teacher Cover Letter

When drafting — and editing and redrafting — your cover letter, there are few things to keep in mind. First, think of a cover letter as the teaser for your resume. It shouldn’t just summarize everything that’s included in the resume, but instead should hook the reader and make them want to know more about you. A cover letter is the opportunity to paint a more complete picture of who you are as a person and an educator, rather than just a laundry list of experience and education. Here are the essential ingredients of a high quality teacher cover letter.

• Header: The header should contain all of your important personal information, including full name, email address, phone number and sometimes physical address. If possible, maintaining the same header design across both the cover letter and resume can really help your materials stand out.
• Date: Date the letter for the day you will be submitting your materials.
• Address of School and Hiring Manager: Include the full formal address of the hiring manager and the school you are applying to, just as you would address an envelope. It’s also helpful to include the phone number and email address for the hiring manager to demonstrate your attention to detail.
• Greeting: “Dear ______,” is the default greeting for all cover letters, so it’s a good one to stick with. if you are unable to find a specific person to address the letter to, “To Whom It May Concern,” is a safe backup plan.
• Body Paragraphs: The main body of the cover letter should include a series of paragraphs detailing the relevant information your potential employer should know about you. While this does include your teaching experience, relevant skills and educational philosophy, it should not just reiterate everything included in your resume. Use these sentences to illustrate your personality, passion for the field and your goals for this position. 
• Closing: The final paragraph should concisely wrap up your letter and include a brief thank you, reiterate your interest in the position and include a reference to your resume and list of references.
• Signature: Try to include your actual signature. If you’re submitting a physical copy that won’t be a problem, but if you’re applying digitally you can use Adobe Acrobat to insert your signature.

Beyond the must-include sections of an education cover letter, there are also a few pro tips that will help you stand apart from the other standardized letters:

• Be concise: Hiring managers are likely reading countless cover letters for the same position, so using flowery language and lengthy sentences won’t be effective. Finding a way to concisely state all of your best qualities without coming across as braggadocious will help leave a good first impression with hiring managers.
• Tailor each letter to each role: Odds are that you’re applying to multiple teaching jobs at once. And while it can be time consuming to edit and re-edit your letters for each job, this is an essential step. Hiring managers can sniff out a letter that has been created to be vague enough to work for multiple jobs, and that’s an easy way to get disqualified quickly. Go the extra mile and tailor each letter for each job you want — you’ll thank yourself in the long run.
• Show, don’t tell: Don’t just say that you helped your students meet the standard for reading proficiency — explain the specific steps you took and highlight relevant proof points or statistics to support your claims. This is much more effective than simply stating an accomplishment.

5 REASONS WHY CONTINUING EDUCATION MATTERS FOR EDUCATORS

The education industry is always changing and evolving, perhaps now more than ever. Learn how you can be prepared by downloading our eBook.

Cover Letter Example Template

Here is a teaching cover letter example to help you get started.

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]

[123 School Address]

[School’s City, State, Zip Code]

[Hiring Manager’s Telephone No.]

[Hiring Manager’s Email]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to express my deep interest in the open elementary-level teaching position in your school district. As a 2020 graduate of the University of San Diego, I have student teaching experience in the third grade in a suburban school district. I believe my teaching pedagogy, classroom experience and passion for school engagement make me an ideal candidate and a perfect fit for your school community.

As an aspiring elementary teacher, I acknowledge that my classroom time is limited. However,  I’ve found that my passion for (and commitment to) teaching have only grown with every experience. The feeling of getting through to that student who just wasn’t “getting the hang of it,” or helping students achieve their goals, never gets old. 

In my teaching experience, I have taught in a third-grade classroom where I was relied upon to lead English instruction for 23 students throughout the term. This challenged me to adopt distinctive teaching methodologies, document all lessons, organize healthy group discussions and mentor troubled students. I had also previously volunteered as an education coordinator at a local museum, where I was able to create interactive lessons for a wide variety of age groups. 

It is clear that your school strives to engage the whole school community, a mission I would seek to support through my out-of-classroom initiatives. I have lots of experience incorporating service projects into my curriculum. As a student teacher I led a unit for third-graders on plant life, and we volunteered to build a community garden for our school that was harvested for school lunches.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with you personally how my skills and strengths can best serve your institution. Please contact me at (123) 456-7895 or [email protected]

FAQs About Getting a New Teaching Job

How do i prepare for a new teaching job.

One of the best ways to stand apart from other applicants is to demonstrate your ongoing commitment to improving your craft. While many schools offer varying professional development opportunities, you can also pursue continuing education courses for educators . These courses cover a wide variety of topics — from classroom management to restorative justice to Google classroom — and can really help a resume stand out.

How can I improve my chances of getting a teaching job?

Aside from having robust experience and demonstrable teaching skills, there is no replacement for a well written cover letter, resume and letters of recommendation. Schools want to hire a person, not just a list of accomplishments. Make sure your application materials highlight your strengths and show the hiring manager who you are. This will help you stand apart from other applicants. Secondly, consider reaching out to teachers already working in that school or district. They may have tips that will help you put your best foot forward with that particular hiring director.

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Crafting an Effective Teacher Cover Letter: Tips and Examples

Table of contents, introduction:.

A teacher cover letter is a crucial document that accompanies your resume when applying for teaching positions. It serves as your introduction to potential employers and allows you to highlight your qualifications, experiences, and passion for education. In this blog, we will discuss essential tips for creating a standout teacher cover letter that will catch the attention of hiring managers. Additionally, we will provide examples of teacher cover letters to inspire your own writing. Let’s dive in!

Understand the Purpose of a Teacher Cover Letter:

A teacher cover letter serves as a personalized introduction to your resume and provides insight into your teaching philosophy, classroom management skills, and educational background. It should demonstrate your enthusiasm for the teaching profession and showcase why you are the ideal candidate for the position.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Job Description:

To make a strong impression, customize your cover letter for each teaching position you apply to. Carefully read the job description and highlight the key requirements and qualifications sought by the school or district. Incorporate these points into your cover letter to show that you are a perfect fit for the role.

Start with a Strong Opening:

Begin your cover letter with a compelling opening paragraph that grabs the reader’s attention. Mention the specific teaching position you are applying for and briefly explain why you are interested in the opportunity. Consider sharing a personal anecdote or a passionate statement about your dedication to education.

Showcase Your Qualifications and Experience:

In the body paragraphs, focus on highlighting your relevant qualifications, certifications, and teaching experiences. Emphasize your accomplishments, such as improved student performance, successful classroom management strategies, and innovative lesson plans. Use concrete examples to illustrate your teaching skills and show how you can contribute to the school’s success.

Demonstrate Your Knowledge of the School:

Research the school or district you are applying to and incorporate that knowledge into your cover letter. Mention specific programs, initiatives, or values of the institution that align with your teaching philosophy. This demonstrates your genuine interest in the school and your commitment to its mission.

Highlight Your Soft Skills:

Apart from technical skills, emphasize your soft skills that make you an effective teacher. These can include excellent communication, adaptability, problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy. Employers value these skills as they contribute to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Address Potential Concerns:

If there are any potential concerns in your application, such as a gap in employment or lack of experience in a specific area, address them proactively in your cover letter. Provide explanations or showcase transferable skills that make you a strong candidate despite any limitations.

Teacher Cover Letter Examples:

Example 1: elementary school teacher cover letter.

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Job Title] [School Name] [School Address] [City, State, ZIP]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Elementary School Teacher position at [School Name]. As a dedicated and passionate educator with a focus on nurturing young minds, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the academic and personal development of students at your esteemed school.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and have completed my student teaching experience in a diverse elementary school setting. My experience has equipped me with the necessary skills to create engaging lesson plans, foster a positive and inclusive classroom environment, and differentiate instruction to meet the unique needs of every student.

During my student teaching experience, I implemented innovative teaching strategies to enhance student engagement and promote active learning. I utilized technology, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning opportunities to create a dynamic and stimulating classroom environment. Additionally, I worked closely with parents and fellow educators to ensure open lines of communication and to support the holistic development of each student.

I am particularly drawn to [School Name] due to its reputation for providing a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. I am impressed by the school’s commitment to fostering a love for learning, promoting creativity, and instilling a sense of community among students, staff, and parents.

I am confident that my passion for teaching, strong communication skills, and ability to build meaningful relationships with students will make a positive impact at [School Name]. I am dedicated to creating a supportive and stimulating learning environment where students can reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm for elementary education align with the goals of [School Name]. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the chance to speak with you further.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Your Name]

Example 2: High School English Teacher Cover Letter

I am writing to apply for the High School English Teacher position at [School Name]. With a deep passion for literature, a strong command of the English language, and a commitment to fostering critical thinking and effective communication skills in students, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the academic success of high school students at your renowned institution.

I hold a Master’s Degree in English Education and have [number of years] of experience teaching English at the high school level. My teaching philosophy revolves around creating an engaging and inclusive classroom environment where students feel empowered to express their ideas, explore diverse perspectives, and develop their literacy skills.

In my previous role as a high school English teacher, I implemented student-centered instructional strategies that promoted active learning and critical analysis. I incorporated a variety of texts, both classic and contemporary, to expose students to a wide range of literary genres and styles. I also integrated technology tools and multimedia resources to enhance student engagement and facilitate meaningful discussions.

I am particularly drawn to [School Name] due to its reputation for academic excellence, commitment to fostering a love for literature, and dedication to developing well-rounded individuals. I am impressed by the school’s emphasis on promoting creativity, encouraging student voice, and preparing students for success in college and beyond.

I am confident that my passion for English education, strong pedagogical skills, and ability to create a positive classroom environment will make a positive impact at [School Name]. I am dedicated to nurturing students’ love for literature, improving their writing skills, and instilling in them a lifelong appreciation for the power of words.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm for teaching English align with the goals of [School Name]. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the chance to speak with you further.

Example 3: Special Education Teacher Cover Letter

I am writing to express my interest in the Special Education Teacher position at [School Name]. As a dedicated and compassionate educator with a strong background in supporting students with diverse learning needs, I am excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of students at your esteemed school.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and have [number of years] of experience working with students with varying abilities and disabilities. My experience has equipped me with a deep understanding of individualized education plans (IEPs), differentiated instruction techniques, and effective behavior management strategies.

During my previous role as a special education teacher, I collaborated closely with students, parents, and fellow educators to develop and implement personalized learning plans that addressed students’ unique strengths, challenges, and learning styles. I utilized multisensory approaches, assistive technology, and visual aids to facilitate learning and promote independent thinking. Additionally, I provided social-emotional support to help students develop self-confidence and fostered a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

I am particularly drawn to [School Name] due to its commitment to providing inclusive education, fostering a supportive community, and ensuring equal access to quality education for all students. I am impressed by the school’s emphasis on individualized instruction, collaboration among educators, and creating a safe and nurturing learning environment.

I am confident that my passion for special education, strong collaboration skills, and ability to tailor instruction to meet individual needs will make a positive impact at [School Name]. I am dedicated to advocating for students, helping them reach their full potential, and celebrating their unique abilities.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and dedication to special education align with the goals of [School Name]. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the chance to speak with you further.

Example 4: STEM Teacher Cover Letter

I am writing to apply for the STEM Teacher position at [School Name]. With a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and a commitment to fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills, I am excited about the opportunity to inspire and empower students in the field of STEM at your renowned institution.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in [relevant field] and have [number of years] of experience teaching STEM subjects at the [grade level] level. My teaching philosophy revolves around creating an interactive and hands-on learning environment that encourages inquiry, creativity, and collaboration among students.

In my previous role as a STEM teacher, I designed and implemented engaging lesson plans that integrated real-world applications, project-based learning, and the use of cutting-edge technology. I facilitated student-driven investigations and experiments to foster a deep understanding of scientific concepts and develop critical thinking skills. Additionally, I encouraged students to work in teams, fostering effective communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.

I am particularly drawn to [School Name] due to its reputation for academic excellence, commitment to STEM education, and dedication to preparing students for success in the ever-evolving fields of science and technology. I am impressed by the school’s state-of-the-art facilities, emphasis on hands-on learning, and commitment to promoting innovation and creativity.

I am confident that my passion for STEM education, strong instructional skills, and ability to foster a love for inquiry-based learning will make a positive impact at [School Name]. I am dedicated to equipping students with the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st-century workforce and contribute to advancements in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm for STEM education align with the goals of [School Name]. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the chance to speak with you further.

Example 5: Music Teacher Cover Letter

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Music Teacher position at [School Name]. With a deep passion for music and a commitment to fostering creativity, self-expression, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts, I am excited about the opportunity to inspire and educate students through music at your esteemed institution.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and have [number of years] of experience teaching music at the [grade level] level. My teaching philosophy revolves around creating an inclusive and engaging music program that encourages students to explore different musical genres, develop technical skills, and express their emotions through music.

In my previous role as a music teacher, I implemented a comprehensive music curriculum that incorporated a variety of instruments, music theory, composition, and performance opportunities. I facilitated ensemble rehearsals, directed musical productions, and organized community performances to provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents and develop their confidence as musicians.

I am particularly drawn to [School Name] due to its reputation for excellence in the arts, commitment to providing a well-rounded education, and dedication to nurturing students’ artistic abilities. I am impressed by the school’s state-of-the-art music facilities, dedication to fostering creativity, and commitment to integrating music into the broader curriculum.

I am confident that my passion for music education, strong pedagogical skills, and ability to inspire students to explore their musical potential will make a positive impact at [School Name]. I am dedicated to creating a supportive and stimulating environment where students can develop their musical talents, foster a love for music, and explore their own artistic voice.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm for music education align with the goals of [School Name]. I am available for an interview at your convenience and look forward to the chance to speak with you further.

FAQs about “Teacher Cover Letter examples”

A teacher cover letter is a formal document submitted along with your resume when applying for a teaching position. It introduces you, highlights your qualifications and teaching experience, and explains why you’re a strong candidate for the role.

A cover letter allows you to expand on the information in your resume, showcase your passion for teaching, and provide insights into your teaching philosophy and methods. It gives you an opportunity to connect with potential employers on a personal level.

A teacher cover letter should include your contact information, a proper salutation, an introduction indicating the position you’re applying for, a discussion of your teaching experience and qualifications, a description of your teaching philosophy, and a closing expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Yes, customizing your cover letter for each application is recommended. Highlight your relevant teaching experience, alignment with the school’s values, and how your skills match the job description.

Templates can provide a structure, but make sure to personalize the content to reflect your own teaching experiences, philosophy, and genuine interest in the specific school.

Highlight teaching skills such as classroom management, curriculum development, lesson planning, student assessment, communication with parents, and the ability to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment.

Yes, mentioning your teaching methods, strategies, and approaches can provide insights into your teaching style and how you engage students in the learning process.

Absolutely. Discussing your experience with special education, English language learners, or diverse student populations can demonstrate your adaptability and commitment to inclusive education.

Yes, if you have participated in extracurricular activities, workshops, or professional development related to teaching, it’s worth mentioning as it shows your commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Express your passion for teaching by discussing your motivation to make a positive impact on students’ lives, your dedication to fostering a love of learning, and your enthusiasm for creating meaningful educational experiences.

Conclusion:

Crafting a compelling teacher cover letter is essential for standing out in a competitive job market. By following the tips outlined in this blog and using the provided examples as inspiration, you can create a teacher cover letter that showcases your unique qualifications, experiences, and passion for education. Remember to customize your cover letter for each application and optimize it with relevant keywords to enhance its visibility to potential employers. Best of luck with your teaching career!

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• Cover Letter Examples
• Education Cover Letter: Example & Full Writing Guide

Education Cover Letter: Example & Full Writing Guide

Our customers have been hired by:

You’re a top-notch educator. You connect with children, and your empathy and communication are Mason-Rice-worthy.

But school administrators won’t know that until they read your application. This education cover letter sample will show you how it's done.

This guide will show you:

• A sample cover letter for education jobs better than 9 out of 10 others.
• Ten education cover letter examples that outscore other templates.
• How to write a cover letter for education jobs administrators will notice.
• Why choosing the right educational achievements will secure the interview.

Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from  20+ professional cover letter templates  that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.

Create your cover letter now

Sample cover letter for a resume— See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here .

Were you looking for education cover letter for specific positions? See:

• Teacher Cover Letter Example
• Graduate Assistantship Cover Letter Example
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Example
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Example
• Teaching Assistant Cover Letter Example
• Peraeducator Cover Letter Example
• School Counselor Cover Letter Example
• Academic Cover Letter Example
• Academic Advisor Cover Letter Example
• Admissions Counselor Cover Letter Example
• Biology Cover Letter Example
• Psychology Cover Letter Example
• Postdoc Cover Letter Example
• Librarian Cover Letter Example
• Library Assistant Cover Letter Example
• Research Associate Cover Letter Example
• Coaching Cover Letter Example
• Volunteer Cover Letter Example
• Tutor Cover Letter Example
• Nanny Cover Letter Example
• Art Teacher Cover Letter Example
• Formal Cover Letter Example

Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career:  Best Cover Letter Examples for All Education Jobs.

Now, this education cover letter template is 10 out of 10:

Education Cover Letter Sample

Job Title (Teacher, Administrator, etc.)

Your Mailing Address

Your Phone Number

Your Email Address

Hiring Manager’s Name

Manager’s Title

Business Name

Mailing Address

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

Receiving the Elementary Teacher of the Year Award for 2019 at Desert Trails Elementary School was a high moment in my career. The award came in recognition of my passion for teaching, coupled with skills in classroom management, leadership, and empathy.

I'm excited to apply for your open 4th grade elementary school teacher position because I think the educational philosophy at Joaquim T. Phillips Middle School is the perfect complement to my love of teaching. I know you need a teacher with 2+ years of experience and skills in communication, lesson plan creation, and tech integration. I have 4+ years of experience, plus these matching accomplishments:

• Communication.  Improved communication with students and parents to achieve 32% increase in student pass-rate in one year.
• Lesson plan creation.  Created 3 yearly lesson plans and 400+ daily lesson plans with 20% boost in student engagement.
• Tech integration.  Introduced students to computer programming and robotics through 25 directed tech lessons.

I'd love to discuss how my skills in physical science, social science, and classroom engagement can help your students succeed.

Best regards,

[Your Name], [Job Title]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email]

PS—I'd also be happy to discuss how I sped up the grading process for papers, tests, and quizzes by 30%, saving 3 hours per week.

A cover letter for education jobs like that would convince Albus Dumbledore.

Send your educator cover letter with a curve-blowing education resume. See our guide: Education Resume: Sample & Complete Guide

Now, here’s how to write education cover letters that get jobs:

1. Use the Right Education Cover Letter Template

Let’s give a head start to your cover letter for education.

Use this cover letter outline to get started.

It puts your summative moments in the proper order.

Sample Cover Letter for Education—Checklist

• your address and contact info
• the school’s contact info
• Dear (principal or administrator name)
• First paragraph: your top education job achievement that fits the opening
• Second paragraph: excitement + accomplishments that show skills
• Third paragraph: your call to action
• Best regards + your name and title
• P.S. and something they want

Pro Tip: Is there something about the school you love? If not, find something—by talking to faculty and staff if necessary. You need to show passion for this school to get hired. 

What’s the right way to format an education cover letter? One inch margins? 12-point font? See our guide: Cover Letter Format: A Complete How-To Guide

2. Start Your Education Cover Letter Right

Will the school’s administrators read your resume?

They will if your cover letter for education jobs excites them.

So—start with a Maria-Montessori-level fact.

These education cover letter examples show how:

Education Cover Letter Examples [First Paragraph]

Let’s say the job ad asked for classroom management, leadership, and empathy.

Head of the class.

Why does that education cover letter example make the grade?

Because it:

• Touts education skills the school is looking for
• Shows a clock-stopping educational accomplishment

But this sample cover letter for education jobs drops out:

That lists teaching skills, but doesn’t catch the principal’s imagination.

But—what about a cover letter for education positions with no experience?

Sample Cover Letter for Education [Entry-Level]

In entry-level cover letters —

Find educational achievements in:

• Non-education jobs
• Your school history
• Freelance work or volunteer work
• Internships
• Certifications

Or begin your cover letter for education jobs with:

• Something that conveys your passion
• Someone you know inside the school
• Something about the school that excites you
• A big win for the school mentioned in the media

See the next of our education cover letter examples with no experience:

• My most unforgettable moments have involved helping a child succeed.
• Congratulations on being singled out as the top school in ASAD #37.
• Getting a 4.0 GPA during my BS in Elementary Education at the University of Louisiana was tough, but rewarding. In the same way...
• Susan Kinney, one of your second grade teachers, encouraged me to apply. She said my skills in classroom management were the right fit for...

All those example cover letters for education jobs are better than, “I’m writing about your opening...”

Pro Tip: You don’t need a street address in a cover letter email for education jobs. Email and phone are plenty, plus the town if you’d like to prove you live nearby.

Need intel on how to start an education cover letter that excites administrators? See our guide: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide

3. Write an Exemplary Education Cover Letter Middle

Don’t lose focus.

Your cover letter for education jobs started great.

Now follow through.

Give a lesson on your past to win their hearts.

Do that with a Salman-Khan-level second paragraph.

• The reason you like this education position
• Evidence you understand the job
• Examples of the skills they’re looking for

See these education cover letter examples:

Education Cover Letter Examples [Middle]

The first of these education cover letter examples races to the top. It has liking , understanding , and examples .

High marks.

That’s a standards-based sample cover letter for education positions.

The next of our education cover letter examples is skipping school:

Thanks, but no thanks.

That hits the wrong skills. It lacks job knowledge and passion.

Pro Tip: Don’t put salary requirements in your cover letter unless you’re asked. It’s safer to discuss it in the interview.

Your cover letter for education jobs should be more than half a page, but less than a full page. Not on board with that? See our guide: How Long Should A Cover Letter Be? Sample & Guide

4. End Your Education Cover Letter with Punch

It’s graduation time.

Let’s land the interview.

To do that, offer the school something in your cover letter for education jobs.

Follow the first of these education cover letter examples:

Cover Letter Examples for Education [Ending]

Flying colors.

That education cover letter sample promises:

• More of the education skills they want
• A time-saving tip that could help their school

But this example is throwing spitballs:

That’s as generic as a bad school lunch.

Pro Tip: Want your education cover letter to stand out like the Marva Collins? Use a PS. Even if the principal is in a rush, the PS will slow her down and get her reading.

Need more samples for your cover letter for education jobs last paragraph? See our guide: How to End a Cover Letter [+Examples]

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a  professional resume template here for free .

When you’re done, our online resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Key Takeaway

Here’s how to write an education cover letter:

• Start with the 3-paragraph education cover letter format. It can sing your praises like Toru Kumon.
• Hook them fast. Put your highest-order accomplishment in the first paragraph of your cover letter for education jobs.
• Reel them in. Add a few examples of your work to your middle paragraph.
• Finish strong. Your cover letter for education jobs last paragraph should offer something they want.

Not sure how to start your education cover letter? Want to write a cover letter for education positions that gets props like Maria Montessori? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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