Teacher Cover Letter Example and Writing Tips

Image shows a man at his desk fantasizing about becoming a teacher, and he's typing on his computer: "Dear hiring manager, I am writing to express my interest in the teaching role you posted..."

Theresa Chiechi / The Balance

By Alison Doyle
Updated on 05/17/22

Are you applying for a job as a teacher? An outstanding cover letter can mean the difference between getting an interview and not getting a response to your application.

Use your cover letter to highlight relevant experience and past achievements. Your priority in this cover letter is to connect your work history and accomplishments to the job description. You’re not trying to recreate your resume here. Instead, you want to show the employer, at a glance, how you're qualified for the position.

The goal is to introduce yourself and showcase the skills and qualifications that make you stand out from the competition.

What to Include in a Cover Letter for a Teaching Job

Whether you’re fresh out of college or an experienced teacher, these tips and cover letter examples will help you convince the hiring committee that you’re the best candidate for the job. 

Emphasize your achievements. Include examples of your accomplishments in past jobs as a teacher. For example, if your students earned high state test scores, or if you received a teaching award, mention these successes. 

Describe your experience. While you do not want to copy your resume, it's helpful to include details on your experience. Quantifying them can help—for example, mention how many years you've taught. If you're new to the career, include details on your student-teaching experience.  

Mention any training or certifications. Many teaching jobs have specific training and certification requirements. Use your cover letter to demonstrate that you have what’s required for the job.

Include related work outside the classroom. If you have non-teaching work or volunteer experience that involves working with children, you can highlight this in your cover letter as well. You especially might want to do this if you have limited teaching experience.

Cover Letter Writing Tips for Teachers

Customize your cover letter. Be sure to tailor each cover letter to fit the specific school and job listing. One way to do this is to research the school and mention why you think you’d be a good fit for that specific location. 

Take your time. Many job seekers treat cover letters as an afterthought, but these letters are so much more than a cover sheet for your application. A boring, slapdash letter won’t help your candidacy, and it could hurt your chances.

Proofread and edit. Quality is also important: a cover letter filled with typos and grammatical errors will not inspire the hiring committee to give you a call. Proofread your letter carefully before you send or upload it.

Cover Letter Example for a Teacher

This is an example of a cover letter for a teacher. Download the teacher cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Screenshot of a teacher cover letter example

The Balance

Cover Letter Example for a Teacher (Text Version)

Alissa McIntire
87 Washington Street
Smithfield, CA 08055
555-555-5555 (h)
123-123-1234 (c)
alissa.mcintire@email.com

May 17, 2022

Mr. John Doe
Smithfield Elementary School
Main Street
Smithfield, CA 08055

Dear Mr. Doe,

I am interested in applying for an elementary-level teaching position in your school district. As a 2022 graduate of Amplesmith College, I have student teaching experience on the third- fourth-, and sixth-grade level, in both suburban and urban school districts. I believe my teaching experience and passion for community engagement make me an ideal candidate for a teaching position at your school.

I have experience teaching elementary-level students in a variety of settings. I am currently teaching third-grade children at an inner-city charter school. As a former education coordinator at a local museum, I also have experience teaching fourth-grade students in a small suburban school system. Your school emphasizes its unique position as a school that caters to both inner-city and suburban students, so I think my varied experiences would make me an asset to your program.

Your school also strives to engage students in the larger community. I have lots of experience incorporating community service projects into my classrooms. For example, as a student teacher, I led a unit for third-graders on plant life, and we volunteered at a local community garden. I would love to find ways to integrate service learning into my lesson plans.

It is my goal to combine my range of experience with my ability to be a compassionate, enthusiastic, intelligent teacher who will make a positive contribution to your school district and larger community. I would welcome an interview and hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Alissa McIntire

Tips for Using a Cover Letter Template

A cover letter example helps you with the layout of your letter and what elements you need to include, such as introductions and body paragraphs.

Along with helping with your layout, cover letter examples can show you what kind of content you should include in your document and what type of language to use. For example, a sample might show you the action words you should utilize in your own cover letter.

Use a cover letter example as a guide to your own letter, but do not simply copy the text provided.

You should tailor your cover letter to fit your own work history and the job for which you are applying.

More Education-Related Cover Letter Examples

Review cover letter examples for many different types of education jobs and get templates you can use to write your own letters.

Also review resume examples and resume writing advice for teachers.

Key Takeaways

  • A well-written cover letter will highlight your relevant experience and past achievements, and connect them to the job for which you're applying.
  • It's important to tailor each cover letter you write to fit the specific school and job listing.
  • If you don't have teaching experience, mention volunteering or non-work activities that are related to working with children.

 

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