Teacher Cover Letter Example and Template

Having a professional cover letter can improve your chances of being hired. If you're just beginning your job search, reviewing resume templates and cover letter samples can inspire you to craft your own application materials successfully. In this article, we discuss what details are important to include in your cover letter, provide tips to help you get started and share two teacher cover letter samples you can reference when creating your own. Key Takeaways:

Your teacher cover letter should include your academic background, relevant work experience with notable achievements, and your career goals, emphasizing how they align with the school's mission.
Carefully review the job description to identify key skills and incorporate them into your cover letter to demonstrate how your experience aligns with the hiring manager’s needs.
Create a simple outline before writing your cover letter to organize key skills, work experiences, and achievements and ensuring you stay on topic.

Eliza Green
Alvada, Ohio
771-555-0199
eliza.green@email.com March 10, 2023 Mr. Dennis Hill
Fairfield Elementary School
7878 Melody Lane
Alvada, Ohio 44802 Dear Mr. Dennis Hill, I'm writing to discuss the available second-grade teacher position at Fairfield Elementary School. As a recent graduate of ASCU University, I'm prepared to use the skills and knowledge I acquired while pursuing my bachelor's degree in early childhood and elementary education to create a positive learning environment for students. I believe my ability to communicate effectively, adapt lesson plans based on individual learning styles and effectively manage a classroom would be beneficial to the school. I also recognize that I could learn a lot from the experienced staff members and look forward to collaborating with them. In the description of the job position I found on Fairfield Elementary School's website, you mentioned that you're looking for a candidate who has previous classroom experience and a thorough understanding of elementary-level academic subjects, such as social studies, mathematics, vocabulary, reading, writing and science. Throughout my academic studies and during the internship I completed at Rockland Elementary School, I've demonstrated my capabilities in these areas by:

Maintaining a GPA of 3.9 in all of my teaching courses at ASCU University
Preparing lesson plans in all subjects for the first and second-grade teachers at Rockland Elementary School during the first semester of my internship
Teaching science, social studies and mathematics classes to first and second-grade students at Rockland Elementary School during the second semester of my internship

I've also obtained my teaching license through the state of Ohio and received excellent scores on the Elementary Education Praxis exam. During my undergraduate program, I completed a minor in child psychology, and at this time I'm pursuing additional certification to teach special education classes so I can continue to improve my communication skills and better serve my students. As you can tell, I'm a dedicated and passionate teacher who cares about my students. Thank you for taking the time to review my application materials. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you and learning more about this opportunity. Sincerely,
Eliza Green To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

What to include in your teacher cover letter

While each professional's cover letter varies depending on their unique skills and experience, there are some basic details that are important to include. Understanding what specific information hiring managers typically look for can help you understand how to write an effective cover letter. Here are some key details you can highlight throughout your cover letter to impress potential employers:

Academic background

The exact requirements to become a teacher may vary depending on the state you live in and the role you apply for, highlighting your academic background can show hiring managers you've completed the necessary coursework to excel as an educator. Mention the highest degree you've obtained in your cover letter and briefly discuss any additional coursework that may be relevant. If you're a new teacher, discussing what you learned during your academic studies is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. You can also discuss additional teaching certifications you've earned. Related: Types of Teaching Degrees To Consider

Relevant work experience

Use your cover letter to expand on your relevant work experience by discussing some of your primary job duties in your current or previous teaching roles. Highlight any awards or achievements that showcase your teaching capabilities, and, if possible, quantify them with numbers, statistics, or facts. For example, if your students' test scores increased after you implemented an after-school tutoring program, share how much they increased by so hiring managers can fully understand the significance of this achievement. You can also highlight relevant volunteer and internship experience throughout your cover letter. Related: How To Become a Teacher in Training

Career goals

Share why you want to work for the school you're applying to and what excites you about the job opening. Discuss your values as a teacher and highlight how they align with the school's mission or reputation. Demonstrating how this career opportunity fits into your career goals as a professional educator can help hiring managers relate to you on a more personal level, which may improve your chances of being hired. When you're ready, upload a resume file or build an Indeed Resume to start applying for teaching jobs.

3 tips for writing a teacher cover letter

Here are three tips to help you craft a compelling teacher cover letter:

1. Review the job description to identify key skills

Take the time to review the job description for your desired teaching role carefully to identify what key skills the hiring manager is looking for when reviewing candidates. Consider how you can demonstrate these skills throughout your cover letter. For example, if the job description states that the hiring manager is looking for candidates with experience teaching advanced physics, you might highlight that you minored in physics in college and have five years of experience teaching a wide variety of math and science courses. Including these key details can help you customize your cover letter based on the hiring manager's needs. Related: 8 Qualities of a Good Teacher (And Tips for How to Develop Them)

2. Create a simple outline

Before you begin writing your cover letter, spend a few moments creating a simple outline. Consider what skills, work experiences, academic accomplishments and professional achievements you want to highlight. Then organize these details in a logical order. As you craft your cover letter, use your outline as a guide to make sure you stay on topic and include all of the most important details. Related: 8 Teacher Certifications (With Benefits and FAQs)

3. Proofread carefully

Once you've finished writing your cover letter, make sure you proofread it several times. You can also use a third-party writing application to help you identify potential grammar or spelling errors. Before submitting your cover letter, have a friend, family member, or trusted colleague review it to ensure it looks professional. The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.