The Anatomy of a Teacher’s Cover Letter

No one likes writing a cover letter. They like getting the job. But to get one, you have to do the other. Writing a cover letter for a teacher can be especially challenging when you’re more accustomed to writing lesson plans or coloring with crayons than touting your professional accomplishments. 

Don’t sweat it. Whether you’re an elementary teacher or secondary education teacher, we’ll show you how to write a teacher cover letter. Your resume is a formal way to highlight your professional experience. A cover letter helps shed light on your personality and soft skills. Here’s a teacher cover letter template that will do just that.

Cover Letter for a Teacher Example 

Before we dissect exactly what goes into a cover letter for a teaching position, we thought we would show you a template example and a "real-life" example to get you familiarized with what it could actually look like. 

[HIRING MANAGER],


Throughout my [YEARS OF EXPERIENCE]-year teaching career, I’ve been passionate about [PASSIONS]. As [SCHOOL]’s philosophy on educating students is closely aligned with mine, I was thrilled to learn of the open position for a [POSITION]. As a graduate of [COLLEGE] with a [DEGREE] and [CERTIFICATIONS], I would love the opportunity to become a part of the [SCHOOL] community.


[A BRIEF STORY ON WHY YOU WANTED TO BECOME A TEACHER]


The mission statement of [SCHOOL] resonates with the work I aspire to do every day and my passion for teaching. Working together with the [GRADE LEVEL]-grade team, I would bring [PASSIONS AND SKILLS]. My teaching philosophy [DETAILS ON TEACHING PHILOSOPHY].


I would love the opportunity to discuss the [POSITION] position with you and how my experience would benefit the students of [SCHOOL]. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [CONTACT INFO]. Thank you so much, and I hope to hear from you soon! 


Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Here’s a cover letter for an educator filled in with more context and color. 

Ms. Principal,


Throughout my five-year teaching career, I’ve been passionate about fostering connection in the classroom and educating the future of tomorrow on key skills necessary to succeed. As ABC School’s philosophy on educating students is closely aligned with mine, I was thrilled to learn of the open position for a Fifth Grade Teacher. As a graduate of XYZ University with a Master of Arts in Elementary Education and a certified teacher in the state of California, I would love the opportunity to become a part of the ABC School community.


I’ve wanted to be an elementary teacher since the fourth grade. As a child of a broken home, my elementary teacher, Mrs. Smith, had an enormous impact on my school experience. She provided a safe and nurturing community in the classroom that allowed me to focus on my education while also making learning fun. Her unique approach to learning sparked my interest in math and science that I still have today. As an educator, if I can have a sliver of the impact on a child’s life that Mrs. Smith had on me, I’ll have done my job.


The mission statement of ABC School resonates with the work I aspire to do every day and my passion for teaching. Working together with the fourth-grade team, I would bring this passion to lesson planning and preparation to provide the best experience for your students. My teaching philosophy has been developed and tailored to provide students with an environment to learn and be creative while allowing them to be a part of a team that cares about one another. I understand how unique and special every child is, and I adapt my lesson plans to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed. 


I would love the opportunity to discuss the Fifth Grade Teacher position with you and how my experience would benefit the students of ABC School. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (123) 555-4567 or youremail@domain.com. Thank you so much, and I hope to hear from you soon! 


Sincerely,

Danielle Doolen

What to Include in Every Teaching Cover Letter 

A teacher cover letter is your chance to showcase your personality and who you are as a teacher. It’s your chance to explain to the hiring manager why you stand out from the other candidates and why they should contact you for an interview over the other applicants. It’s essential to customize your cover letter based on the position and school you’re applying to, but at a minimum, every cover letter should include:

5 Skills Every Teacher Should Include in their Cover Letter 

Your resume will detail your formal experience and technical skills. Use your cover letter as an opportunity to shed light on your soft skills—like communication, listening, leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making. Explain to the hiring manager what you bring to the table beyond your experience and education.

Communication 

Communication is key in any role. It promotes collaboration and creates efficiencies. Explain your communication style and how you connect with students, other teachers, administrators, and parents.

Time Management

Teaching isn’t a typical nine-to-five position. There’s a lot to do in what often feels like not enough time. Highlight your time management techniques and how you plan to get it all done.

Teamwork

Most jobs require teamwork, but teamwork amongst a grade level and fostering teamwork amongst students is imperative. A teacher cover letter should showcase why you’re a team player. 

Organization

Between multiple classes, subjects, and energetic children, organization is essential. Do you have a unique organization style for your classroom? Sharing it in your teacher cover letter is even more important than it would be for other non-teaching positions.

Leadership

Leadership takes multiple forms. A teacher cover letter can detail how you lead your classroom, how you take the initiative with your team or grade level, and how you present yourself as a leader at your school. Being a leader adds value to your school beyond your traditional job responsibilities.