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:
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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:
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:
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:
Francine Dubileaux
Elementary School Teacher
401-852-3697
francine.dubileaux@gmail.com
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?
Thank you,
Francine Dubileaux
401-852-3697
francine.dubileaux@gmail.com
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.
Nicole Plumtone
222-333-4444
nicole.plumtone@email.com
linkedin.com/in/nicole.plumtone
Providence, August 10, 2019
Aaron C. Hoskins
Assistant Principal
Pleasant View School
50 Obadiah Brown Rd.
Providence, RI 02909
Dear Aaron,
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?
Sincerely,
Nicole Plumtone
222-333-4444
nicole.plumtone@email.com
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
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:
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.
Here’s how to write a cover letter for a teaching job:
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:
How long should a teaching cover letter be? Stay within one page to get that perfect length of a cover letter.
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:
[ 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 ]
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.
Here’s a fill-in-the-blank intro template for your use or reference:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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].
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:
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?
Sincerely,
[Full Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
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Here’s how to write a cover letter for teaching positions:
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!
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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.
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