Table of contents
Whether you’ve devoted your life to the service of teaching or are a first year teacher, it shouldn’t be difficult to find your next role. However, sometimes a standout teacher resume isn’t enough on its own. To take your application across the finish line, you should write a cover letter that will help employers envision you in the position.
Here we will show you:
- Teacher cover letter examples.
- A teacher cover letter template that you can cut and paste.
- Writing every section of your application letter for a teacher in a few simple steps.
- More resources for crafting an attention-getting job application.
Ready to build your cover letter now? Use our Cover Letter Builder. Choose from one of our cover letter templates to skip the formatting and use the auto-generated text suggestions to craft a standout teacher cover letter in a matter of minutes.
Teacher cover letter example
What makes this a great application letter for teaching?
-
Uses an appropriate template for the role
This cover letter is written by an applicant for an art teacher role, making it entirely appropriate to use bold color in the resume’s header.
-
Offers a link to his portfolio
Since Leon is applying for a position as an art teacher, he used space in the header of his letter to prominently display a link to his portfolio, which is appropriate for a creative role. Other applicants might choose to link out to a LinkedIn profile instead.
-
Uses data and metrics
This cover letter expands upon information on his resume by using data and metrics to showcase the impact of his work. By mentioning wins in student engagement and enrollment numbers, he shows employers what he’ll bring to the table if he’s hired.
Related cover letter examples
Are you looking for a different teaching job title? Check out the related teaching cover letter examples below or browse our library of hundreds of cover letter examples:
Browse other popular samples
Related Guides & Tips
Cover letter template for teachers
Leon Salazar
Marquette, MI 49855
(555) 555 5555
example@example.com
May 16, 2024
Byron Lambert, School Principal
Northwest Education Services
6 North Peninsula St.
Marquette, MI 49855
Dear Mr. Lambert,
I am writing to express my genuine enthusiasm for the art teacher position at Northwest Education Services. As a passionate and results-oriented educator with a track record of fostering creativity and inspiring students, I am eager to contribute my expertise and enthusiasm to your esteemed educational institution. With over seven years of experience in art education and a demonstrated ability to drive tangible improvements, I am confident I can significantly impact your students’ learning experience.
During my tenure at Madison School District, I pioneered an art curriculum that saw a 25% increase in student engagement and a subsequent 15% rise in overall art program enrollment. I initiated innovative art projects that enriched the students’ artistic abilities and garnered accolades in regional art exhibitions, spotlighting the talent nurtured within our school. Furthermore, my commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration led to a 30% increase in cross-curricular projects, promoting holistic learning experiences for students.
In addition to enhancing the artistic achievements of my students, I am proud of my accomplishment in securing $10K in grants and donations, enabling the establishment of a state-of-the-art art studio. This facility empowered students to explore various mediums and technologies, resulting in a 20% improvement in artwork quality and a 10% increase in students achieving honors in art competitions.
As an art educator dedicated to providing an exceptional and transformative learning experience, I am excited about the opportunity to join Northwest Education Services. I look forward to contributing my expertise in art education and passion for fostering a love of creativity in students.
Thank you for considering my application. During an interview, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further how my skills and experiences align with your institution’s vision.
Portfolio upon request.
Sincerely,
Leon Salazar
Format your teacher cover letter
The formatting of your cover letter can make or break a cover letter. Especially for a teacher, who is expected to be detail-oriented, having formatting issues in your cover letter can be a red flag for potential employers.
Here is a quick list of formatting items to review before you send off your teacher cover letter:
-
Font
When formatting a cover letter, choose standard business-style fonts like Arial, Calibri, Verdana or Times New Roman and use it throughout the document. The font in your header can be different from the letter itself, but choose a font that is easy to read. And don’t forget that font size counts, too. Stick with 11- or 12-point fonts, which are easy for most people to read. -
Spacing
When formatting your teacher cover letter, use one space between lines of text and between words and two spaces between paragraphs. Double check that the spacing is consistent throughout your document. -
Margins and alignment
Always use 1-inch margins with the text aligned to the left of a document.
Choose a cover letter design
How to write a teacher cover letter
Since 83% of hiring managers say that they consider cover letters in the hiring process, learning how to write a cover letter should be a skill every savvy job seeker sets out to learn. So, whether you’re writing a preschool teacher cover letter or a substitute teacher cover letter, taking the time to craft one can help propel your job search forward.
Here, we break down the process into six simple steps, each of which should only take you a few minutes to complete.
Step 1
Pick a template
All cover letters look best on a professional template and your cover letter template for a teacher role is no exception. Our cover letter templates come in a variety of styles that match the designs of our resume templates to help you create a cohesive job application package.
A rule of thumb for choosing a teacher cover letter template: It should align with the culture of the school you’re applying to. If you’re seeking employment at a strict religious school, you’ll want to choose a conservative design for your cover letter. However, for a position at an alternative school where the students call the teachers by their first names, a more colorful resume template is completely appropriate.
Step 2
Add your contact information to the header
Your cover letter header is easy to fill out. Just double check the accuracy of your information after you add it. After all, you won’t hear back from any application if your contact information is incorrect. Also, be sure that the information you include in your cover letter header is identical to the one in your resume header.
Your cover letter header should include your:
- Name
- City
- State
- Phone number
- Email address
- A link to your portfolio or LinkedIn, if applicable
Modern cover letters don’t require you to put your full mailing address in the header. However, be sure to include a professional email address. If your personal email address is cheeky or inappropriate, consider creating a new email address specifically for the job search.
Step 3
Greet the hiring manager by name
It’s always a good idea to address who’s in charge of hiring by name whenever you can. In some cases, the job ad might provide the name and email address of the person responsible for placing the ad.
For most teaching jobs, addressing the letter to the school’s principal is also acceptable as they will review your documents at some point in the hiring process.
If you don’t have access to the principal’s or hiring manager’s name, don’t worry! You can conduct a search to find it. Take some time to explore the school’s website, conduct online research, give the school a call or utilize LinkedIn to discover their name. Once you have it, you can greet them personally, which adds a nice touch to your communication.
Step 4
Introduce yourself in the first paragraph
When considering how to start a cover letter, think of it as a quick elevator pitch. The opening paragraph should be where you briefly introduce yourself to a potential employer. For a teacher, this means explaining who you are and why you’re applying for the role in a few sentences. When writing this section, do your best to make this small section engaging and positive.
Here are two examples of winning opening paragraphs for a teacher resume:
New teacher cover letter opening paragraph:
I am thrilled to submit my application for the assistant teaching role at Convent of the Sacred Heart. I recently graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in Education. In addition, I have completed extensive training in teaching methodologies and classroom management during my student teaching experience. As a dedicated and passionate individual, I am eager to embark on a fulfilling career in education, where I can leverage my innate ability to connect with students and my deep commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment.
Experienced teacher cover letter opening paragraph:
With over 15 years of dedicated experience in the field of education, I am excited to apply for the substitute teacher position at Central Middle School. Throughout my career, I have navigated diverse classrooms and dynamically adapted to various teaching environments. I have honed my ability to seamlessly integrate into existing curricula, ensuring continuity in learning for students. I am eager to bring my extensive expertise to your team, ready to provide exceptional instruction and support whenever called upon.
Keep your cover letter introduction to two to three sentences. It should be a concise introduction that leaves the details for later in the letter.
Step 5
Explain why you’re the best candidate for the job
The body of your cover letter is the meatiest part of the letter. This section of your cover letter should be no more than two or three short paragraphs. There are a few areas that you should consider covering when writing your cover letter body paragraphs:
- Describe specific aspects of your related experience: Devote a few sentences to describing one or two relevant areas of your teaching background that you want to highlight. These should relate directly to the role you’re applying for and the specifics outlined in the job description. Ideally, call out a professional achievement.
- Highlight your transferable skills: Whether you’re applying for your first job or for your next big role, hard and soft skills are a very important part of landing a competitive teaching role. When writing about your skills, do your best to find a balance between hard and soft skills since teachers require a mix of both to succeed. Focus on highlighting the skills you possess that would be specifically useful in the role you’re applying to.
- Explain gaps in your resume: If you have gaps in your employment history, your cover letter is the perfect opportunity to explain them. In just a sentence or two, explain that you were out of work due to a layoff or to raise children — whatever the reason for the gap in your work history.
Here are two examples of body paragraphs for a teacher cover letter:
Sample body paragraphs for an elementary teacher cover letter:
As an elementary teacher, my ability to create engaging and dynamic lesson plans has consistently resulted in improved student outcomes. I firmly believe in differentiating instruction to cater to diverse learning styles and needs, ensuring that each child receives the necessary support to thrive academically.
During my previous role at Marin Elementary School, I implemented project-based learning strategies that encouraged critical thinking and creativity, leading to a 20% average increase in standardized test scores across my class.
Building a strong classroom community is a core aspect of my teaching philosophy. Throughout my career, I have fostered a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas. By establishing open lines of communication with parents and guardians, I have actively collaborated with families to ensure a unified approach to each student’s development.
Sample body paragraphs for a special education teacher cover letter:
As an experienced special education teacher, I possess a unique set of skills that allow me to cater to the diverse needs of neurodivergent students. My extensive experience in creating individualized education plans (IEPs) and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams has proven instrumental in helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.
After dedicating over a decade to teaching, I took time away from the profession to focus on raising my children, during which I continued to volunteer at local special needs organizations, reaffirming my commitment to supporting neurodivergent learners.
Despite my hiatus from the classroom, I remained actively engaged in professional development opportunities, attending workshops and conferences related to special education advancements, ensuring I am up to date with the latest best practices.
Don’t be afraid to show a little personality in your cover letter. While the tone should be professional, cover letters are meant to give employers a glimpse of who you are as a person. Use descriptive language and action words to show them what makes you unique.
Step 6
Write your cover letter closing
Your cover letter closing is where you reiterate your interest in the role at hand, thank the reader for the time they spent reviewing your credentials and invite them to contact you to discuss the opportunity. Your closing should be upbeat and reinforce your interest in the role.
Here are two examples of closing paragraphs for a teacher cover letter:
Sample closing for a substitute teacher cover letter:
I would be thrilled to bring my enthusiasm and expertise to your school as a substitute teacher. I am eager to discuss further how my background and qualifications can benefit the students and staff at [School Name]. Thank you once again for your time and consideration.
Sample closing for an art teacher cover letter:
I would be delighted to have the opportunity to further discuss how my skills and passion for art education can benefit the students at [School Name]. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute my expertise to the art program and inspire the next generation of young artists.
Avoid sounding pushy or desperate in your closing. The last few lines of your letter will linger in the mind of the reader so keep them positive and respectful.
Step 7
Sign off
The very end of your cover letter is where you politely sign your name. Some tried-and-true professional signoffs include “Sincerely,” “Thank you,” and “Respectfully.”
Avoid overly familiar signoffs, like “Love” or “Cheers.” These should be reserved for personal communications and are not appropriate for business letters.
Add a matching resume
Every job application requires a resume. Now that you have found a cover letter template you love, why not create a resume to match? Having your application materials look cohesive helps you look professional and put together and help move your job search forward.
If you already know how to write a resume, start writing using our library of resume examples for inspiration.
Or if you need to apply for a teaching role quickly, try our professional Resume Builder, which offers pre-written text suggestions for every section of your resume. You’ll have a well-written, perfectly formatted resume on the resume template of your choice finished and ready to go in a matter of minutes.
Key Takeaways
-
Study cover letter examples for teaching jobs
Using our teacher cover letter examples as a guide when writing your own cover letter is a great tool. Use them for inspiration to create a strong cover letter.
-
Pull keywords from the teacher job description
Pulling critical keywords out of the job ad will help you zero in on the specific information the employer is looking for in its next teacher hire. Customize your cover letter to address the specifics of the job description.
-
Choose an appropriate teacher cover letter template
If you’re applying to a conservative school, make sure your resume template is simple and straightforward. For more casual learning environments, a colorful resume template is appropriate.
-
Keep your introductory paragraph brief
While this section of your letter should be compelling, it shouldn’t be more than a few sentences long. Make the reader want to continue reading, but save the nitty gritty details for later in the letter.
-
Write detailed body paragraphs
This section is where you should match specifics from your background to the requirements outlined in the job description. If you have special skills or gaps in your employment history, this is also the place to briefly explain them.
-
Check the formatting on your cover letter
Review the font, spacing and margins to make sure your letter looks terrific. Even the best cover letter can sink your job search if it contains formatting errors.
Resources to help prepare for your interview
Was this information about Teacher Cover Letter Examples, Templates & Writing Tips helpful? Let us know!
Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.
More resources
What Should a Resume Look Like in 2025? [+ Example]
A good-looking resume will always use simple fonts and an easy...
How to Write an ATS Resume in 2025 + Templates
The rise in applicant tracking systems (ATS) means resumes nee...
Resume Design Templates: Ideas to Enhance Your Resume
Explore our list of the top 15 resume designs and learn what s...
Electrical Engineer Cover Letter Examples
Create an electrical engineer cover letter that showcases your...
Top Government Resume Examples & Writing Tips for 2025
Use our expertly crafted government resume examples and writin...