resume format for teacher job interview

• Grades 6-12
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Free Teacher Resume Template and Tips, Plus 21 Teacher Resume Examples

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Whether you’re searching for your first teaching job or you’re ready for a change, you’ll need a solid resume. There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there on how to write a resume that will land you an interview, so it’s worth taking some time to review teacher resume examples first. We’ve rounded up examples for pretty much any kind of educator and assembled tips for how to write a strong modern teacher resume.

Best of all, we’ve got a free, fully customizable teacher resume template to get you started quickly and easily. Fill out the form on this page to grab your template, then use our tips to start building your resume today.

Teacher Resume Tips

Teacher resume examples.

Resumes have changed a lot in recent years, so do your research to find out what the latest trends are. For instance, while an “objectives” section used to be a resume standard, people often drop this section today in favor of more space to highlight their accomplishments. Start with these general resume tips, then get more advice for completing our free teacher resume template, section by section.

General Tips

• Keep it to one or two pages. Hiring managers don’t have time to read overly long resumes. Put the most important information up front, and remove anything that doesn’t truly strengthen your application.
• Be honest. While you want to highlight your strengths and achievements, don’t go overboard. If you exaggerate your experience but are unable to perform certain tasks, you may put your future job at risk before you even get started.
• Skip the gimmicks. Some people will tell you the way to make your resume stand out is to use fun fonts or a “creative” design. The fact is, people who are hiring want an easy-to-read, clear presentation that highlights your achievements and credentials. That’s what will land you an interview.
• Tailor your resume. Keep a standard resume document that you can customize for the specific job you’re applying for. That might mean moving sections around, highlighting specific skills or experiences, or deciding which parts of your career deserve to be placed up front. Take a close look at the job description, and tailor your resume accordingly.
• Don’t try to circumvent the system. Years ago, people would tell you to ignore requests to send your resume and instead show up in person. Our advice: Don’t do it! Application systems are nearly all online these days, and for good reason. This helps hiring committees by organizing information efficiently and ensuring they meet all anti-discrimination laws. So just send your resume and application using the method requested.
• Don’t forget a cover letter. A great cover letter really can help your resume stand out. Learn how to make your teacher cover letter special here.

Contact Information

On today’s resumes, your mailing address is optional. In fact, if you’re looking for a job outside of your current geographical area, it can sometimes be helpful to leave it off. This way, employers won’t worry about whether you’re willing to relocate for the job.

Email addresses are not optional. This is the way most schools will contact you today, so be sure to provide yours. You might want to take a look at your address to make sure it sounds relatively professional too. Ideally, it simply contains a version of your name (e.g., “[email protected]”); don’t forget you can grab a free email address from sites like Gmail if you need to. But other addresses are fine too, as long as there’s nothing questionable. “[email protected]” is fine. “[email protected]” is not.

Professional Objective/Summary

As mentioned earlier, resume objectives are used less and less today. Recent college grads or those transitioning to teaching careers might still decide to include a professional objective statement. Those with more experience have replaced objectives with a summary statement that provides an overview of their career. It’s also OK to delete this section altogether if you’d like more space in the Relevant Work Experience section.

Education and Certifications

Include your undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as any certifications or licensures you hold. Note: It’s up to you whether you include your graduation date. Some people worry it can open them up to age discrimination. You’ll likely be asked for this information if you continue in the hiring process, so they can verify your degrees.

Related Experience

This is the real meat of your teacher resume. You can list jobs chronologically starting with the most recent, or choose to place your most relevant experience first. Either way, include your employer’s name, dates of employment, and the position/s you held. Then, highlight your experience and achievements. Strive to make your statements measurable and quantifiable rather than just a listing of your job duties.

Weak statements:

• Taught fifth grade science and math
• Prepared students for standardized math tests
• Oversaw annual school science fair

Strong statements:

• Instructed 100+ students each year in fifth grade science fundamentals, including human anatomy, electricity and magnetism, and earth and space science
• Improved standardized testing math scores by an average of 8% over a period of five years
• Organized seven annual school science fairs by coordinating 200+ participants, finding qualified judges, and arranging for prizes donated by the community

New college grad? You should definitely include your student teaching or internship experience in this section!

Additional Experience

You can use this section to include jobs you’ve held that aren’t quite as relevant to the one you’re applying for. If you’re new to the working world, it’s OK to include non-teaching jobs here. For those with longer careers, it’s probably not necessary to list every job you’ve ever had. Just highlight any experience that helps support your application or fills any employment gaps.

Professional Honors and Leadership

If you’ve received awards or honors related to teaching, share them here. The same goes for any leadership roles you’ve held in educational professional orgs.

Professional Affiliations

If space allows, you might want to include a short list of respected professional organizations you belong to. You should definitely include them if you play a very active role, have been invited to speak as an education expert at a conference, etc. Otherwise, this section is optional.

Other Teacher Resume Sections

Here are some sections you might consider adding if you have space, and a few to skip altogether.

• Professional skills: Don’t include this section if your skills are simply those expected of any teacher. But if you’ve built up any unusual and relevant teaching skills through experience or professional development, you could include them here. (Fluency in multiple languages, for example.)
• Community involvement or volunteer work: If you’ve been heavily involved in community organizations that work with children or education, consider highlighting those achievements on your resume.
• Publications: Have you published articles in an educational or professional journal, or had your work featured on a trusted, well-known website? Include any relevant articles and links.

Here’s what you don’t need on your resume:

• Hobbies or “unique” unrelated skills (like “juggling” or “Cordon Bleu chef”).
• Any information about religious or political affiliations, or your marital status, gender, race, or age. These could lead to potential bias or discrimination in the hiring process.
• References: Most people leave this section off their resume these days, as job applications or hiring committees will ask you for them separately. Line up your references and gather their contact information, but hang onto them until you’re asked to provide the info. You don’t even need to put “References available upon request,” since hiring managers already assume that.

As you complete your teacher resume template, use these examples for ideas about what to include and how to word it.

1. First-time teacher

This is a great resume for teachers with little to no experience.

2. Another first-time teacher example

Here’s one more example of a great teacher resume for those with limited experience.

3. Experienced elementary teacher

This one allows you to showcase your skills in a compact, visually appealing design.

4. Another experienced elementary teacher

This is one of those teacher resume examples that work best for those with some experience but who are still early in their career. (Note: Click the link above and scroll down to find it.)

5. Summer school teacher

Use this resume to highlight the unique skills of summer school teachers who work with students who are either repeating a course or trying to get ahead for the following school year.

6. Assistant teacher

Applying for an assistant teacher job will be much easier using one of the five fantastic teacher resume examples through this resource.

7. Special education teacher

As a special educator, your responsibilities may change from minute to minute and your skills need to adapt. This template helps you simplify your experience in a one-page resume.

8. School counselor

This resume will help you showcase your excellent mentoring, counseling, and leadership skills.

9. School guidance counselor

As a guidance counselor, your role is to guide students through academic development as well as personal growth. Use this template to show you how to highlight your unique talents.

10. Library media specialist

Showcase your ability to collect and maintain the valuable resources needed to foster a strong learning environment for students.

11. High school English teacher

Use this guide to create a great English teacher resume that will highlight your communication, interpersonal, and planning skills to edge out the competition.

12. Technology teacher

Emphasize your commitment to the ongoing professional development necessary to continue integrating the latest technology into the existing curriculum, and coming up with new lesson plans for today’s classrooms.

13. Music teacher

Share and showcase your love of introducing music to students with this straightforward teacher resume.

14. Drama teacher

This resume example is simple but perfect for drama teachers who want to emphasize their experience as well as their knowledge of acting techniques and production.

15. World language teacher

Establish yourself as the ideal candidate by demonstrating teaching skills, language proficiency, communication, and organizational skills.

16. Sports coach

As a coach, this template will help you demonstrate your ability to manage teams and sports programs as well as encourage academic performance.

17. ESL teacher

This teacher resume example allows you to highlight your classroom management skills, as well as your commitment to empathy, patience, and cultural awareness. (Note: Click the link above and scroll down to find it.)

18. Math teacher

This clean resume template showcases a math teacher’s ability to break down complex math concepts through patient, meaningful engagement with students.

19. Pre-K teacher

It takes a special person to be a great pre-K teacher. Working with young children while creating lesson and activity plans, monitoring progress, and providing quality supervision takes patience and kindness.

20. Business teacher

Put your best foot forward with this business teacher resume that emphasizes teaching methods and a commitment to ongoing professional development.

21. International school teacher

Use this resume to let hiring managers know that you’re not only motivated to help students learn but uniquely qualified. Be sure to highlight any experience living or traveling abroad as well as foreign language skills.

Get Your Free Teacher Resume Template

Just fill out the form on this landing page for instant access to a free Google Doc featuring a fully customizable teacher resume template.

Plus, check out tips for teacher job fairs and the most common teacher interview questions.

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Teacher Resume Example for 2024 [w/ Free Template]

You’re a teacher. You teach and inspire the next generation.

You help children to learn.

But when it comes to writing your own resume , you need advice from someone else.

What does a good teacher resume look like, anyway?

In such a competitive industry, you can’t leave any questions answered. 

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

• A job-winning teacher resume example
• How to create a teaching resume that hiring managers love
• Specific tips and tricks for the teaching job industry

Here’s a teacher resume example, built with our own resume builder :

Follow the steps below to create a teacher resume of your own.

How to Format a Teacher Resume

Before you can educate the recruiter on your skills and experiences, you need to choose the most suitable resume format for teaching.

You see, even the best applicant needs a resume format that is easy to read and follow. 

With “ reverse-chronological ” being the most common resume format , we recommend this format for teachers. It highlights your most recent work experience first, and then works back through your history and skills.

You could also try the two following formats:

• Functional Resume - This format focuses on your skills, which makes it the best format for teachers that are highly-skilled, but have little in the way of classroom experience. 
• Combination Resume - This format mixes both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological” formats, which means it focuses on both your teaching skills AND teaching experience. 

Stick to a one-page teacher resume. This shows that you’re able to information brief and precise. Feel free to check out our one-page resume templates for inspiration.

Use a Teacher Resume Template

As a teacher, you will likely work with Microsoft Word on a daily basis. 

However, this is not one of those times.

The program is best avoided if you want to avoid formatting issues. 

Use a teacher resume template for a resume that stays structurally strong. Any of the following templates can be easily tailored for a teacher application.

What to Include in a Teacher Resume

The main sections in a teacher resume are:

• Contact Information
• Work Experience/Teaching Experience

For a teacher resume that stands out from other applications, add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification
• Volunteer Experience

Interests & Hobbies

Keep reading to find out how to ace each of the above sections.

For an in-depth rundown on which sections to use, check out our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Write Your Contact Information Section

When grading papers, you know that every word or digit matters. This is also true with your contact information section. Any mistakes made in your phone number or email can render your whole application useless. 

For your contact information section, include:

• Title – Align this to the job title , which is “Teacher”
• Phone Number – Ensure there are zero errors
• Email Address – Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected]), and not your 6th grade email address ([email protected])
• Location – Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location
• Optional - relevant social media profiles.
• Rose Hunt - English Teacher. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Rose Hunt - English Language Guru. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Teacher Resume Summary or Objective

Here’s a question for the class:

How long do you think recruiters spend reading through the average resume?

If you said less than a minute, you would be correct.

This means your resume needs to really impress within this short timeframe. 

The nest question is, what can you do to make the most important easy to see and consume?

Simple: use a resume summary or objective .

These are punchy paragraphs that go on top of your resume, just under the contact section. 

The main difference between the two sections is that:

A resume summary is a short summary of your teaching experiences and achievements. It is the best option for teachers who have taught for multiple years.

• Passionate English Teacher with a focus on American literature seeks a permanent position at XYZ School. Highlights from five years of teaching experience include improving college admission success rate by 40% at ABC High School. Excited about leveraging 5000 hours of teaching experience to give an inspiring classroom experience for your students.

On the other hand, the resume objective focuses on your professional goals and aspirations. It is ideal for entry-level teaching candidates or individuals who are seeking a change in their professional career. 

• Motivated English Literature graduate seeking the role of English teacher at ABC High School. Experience includes supervising classes at XYZ Middle School for 60 days over a 3 month period. Skills include classroom management, grading to strict time restraints, and utilizing whiteboard technology. 

So, which one is best for you? 

Well, a summary is suited for teachers who have a lot of classroom experience, whereas an objective is suited for those who are new to the world of teaching (student, graduate, or switching careers).

How to Make Your Teaching Work Experience Stand Out

The best way to prove your worth as a teacher is with your previous work experience .

Sure, the recruiter will want to see that you have lots of subject knowledge, but nothing builds confidence more than your professional experience.

Follow this layout in your experience section:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Elementary School Teacher

Hinchley Wood School

04/2017 - 01/2021

• Kept pass rates above 80% from 2017-2020
• Improved attendance by 12% in the first school year
• Graded classroom papers for 12 classes of 30+ pupils

As you may notice, the above example focuses on the candidate’s best achievements.

So, instead of saying:

“Taught children for three years”

“Kept pass rates above 80% from 2017-2020”

The second statement goes into specific details that show you’re a great teacher.

Use the job description to help you. Look to see if there is anything in the job description that matches your work history. If there is, include it in this section.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a graduate who hasn’t worked before?

Or maybe you want a career change?

Whatever your situation, there are options. 

The main option is to use a portfolio. 

Here are several ways to build a teaching portfolio (and get paid for it):

• Use a freelance platform (e.g.: UpWork ) to pick up some private tutoring gigs
• Use social media to offer your teaching services to friends & acquaintances 

For the students reading this, you’ll enjoy our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Teaching Resume POP!

Look through a pile of teacher resumes, and you will see these words repeated again and again. 

Do you want your resume to look like all the rest?

Of course not! 

This is why we recommend using some of these power words instead:

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to List Your Education Correctly

The next section in any good teacher resume is the education section.

Now, there’s a few different paths you can follow to become a professional teacher. 

All you need to do in this section is describe your educational path to date. 

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and other relevant achievements 

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education

Boston State University

2015 - 2018

Relevant Courses: Foundations of Education, Early Childhood Development, Physical Sciences, Computer Literacy, Classroom Engagement & Development

Right, let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions:

What if I’m still studying?

• Whether or not you’ve passed all of your teaching exams, you should always mention every year that you have studied to date.

Should I include my high school qualifications?

• Only include your highest form of qualification. If that’s a qualification from high school , then go for it.

What comes first, education or experience?

• If you’re an experienced teacher, your work experience should come before your education.

If you still have questions, you can check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 10 Skills for a Teacher Resume

Every great teacher has a certain set of skills.

It’s these skills that the recruiter wants to see when short-listing applicants.

You may be the best teacher in the world, but it’s vital to make your skills clear to see on your resume. 

It will depend on the specialist subject, but a teacher should have some of the following skills:

Hard Skills for Teachers:

• Computer Skills
• Literacy skills
• Disciplinary action

Soft Skills for Teachers:

• Classroom management
• Time management
• Organization

Want the most comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 100+ must-have skills .

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

If graded, your resume should now be able to pass the test…

But what if the other applicants have scored top marks?

Add additional sections for an A+ resume that can’t be beaten.

When competing against an experienced field, the following sections may be the deciding factor… 

Awards & Certifications

Do you hold Coursera certifications?

Were you awarded during your studies?

Whatever the recognition, awards and certifications make the difference.

Awards & Certificates Examples

• Learning How to Learn – Coursera Certificate
• Motivating Gen Z Learners – Coursera Certificate
• Educating Deaf Children – Teaching Lab

Now, you may not be teaching Spanish, but it can be good to know another language.

Whether or not the teaching job requires you to speak a second language or not, it is still an impressive skill that you may want to include on your resume. 

Order the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, you may be wondering, “why is my weekly book club worth mentioning when applying for teaching jobs?”

Well, because it says more about who you as a person.

It shows that you have a life outside of teaching. 

You’re someone who the other teachers could relate to.

If you want some ideas of hobbies & interests to put on your resume, we have a guide for that!

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

Oh no, more writing!?

We feel your pain, but it’s for great reason.

Cover letters still play a vital role in the application process.

This guide has taught you how to build the best teacher resume possible, but even that may not be enough to secure your dream position.

By not writing a cover letter, you are simply missing out on an opportunity to communicate with more depth and personality. 

Even better, the recruiter will know that you want this position at this school .

Just like with the resume, the cover letter needs to be structured correctly. Here’s how to do that:

And here’s what goes in each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, and location

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

It’s important to hook the recruiter with a powerful introduction. With this in mind, mention:

• The specific teaching position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and top achievements

With the recruiter wanting to know more, you can go through the rest of your work history and personal background. You may want to delve into:

• Why you want to work at this specific school
• Anything you know about the school’s culture
• What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job
• If you’ve worked in similar industries or positions before

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

• Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
• Thank the recruiter for their time
• End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to further discuss how my experience as an X can help the school with Y”

Formal Salutations

To keep everything professional, use formal closing, such as “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”

Creating a cover letter is a craft. But don’t worry, you can call on our how to write a cover letter for guidance.

Key Takeaways

*Rinnnnnggggg!!!*

There goes the bell to end today’s lesson.

We hope that the advice in this guide was taken onboard. If so, you’re now in the perfect position to create a job-winning teacher resume. 

Before you go, let’s quickly summarize what we have learnt:

• Select the correct format for your teacher resume. Use a reverse-chronological format, and follow the best layout practices to keep everything clear and concise.
• Use a summary or objective to capture attention to your resume
• Focus on your achievements, rather than your responsibilities.
• Match your teacher resume with a cover letter that follows the best practises 

Suggested Reading:

• How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Strength” [4 Samples]
• CV vs Resume - What is the Difference? [+Examples]
• How to Write a Cover Letter - Full Guide

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22 Teacher Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

• Teacher Resume
• Teacher Resumes by Grade Level
• Teacher Resumes by Subject
• Teacher Resumes by Type

Writing Your Teacher Resume

Teachers are the backbone of society. You spend more time with the children you educate than their parents do! And effective teachers like you are compassionate, intelligent, and organized, among hundreds of other things.

It can be difficult to highlight all your experience and skills on your teacher resume, and you’ll want to save some for your  teacher cover letter .

These 22 teacher resume examples are helping teachers with varying levels and types of expertise land jobs in 2024 . They’re a great place for you to get started building or  updating your resume .

Please note that this guide is geared toward educators in the K-12 space. If you’re applying to teach at the college level, you’ll likely need to  write a CV . 

Teacher Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• When listing your student teaching experience, focus on what you contributed instead of your responsibilities. 
• Since you want to make the resume reviewer’s job as pleasant as possible, clearly state the subject and grades you taught in a resume bullet.
• When you go to make a cover letter , this is your ticket to dive deeper into how you helped your students achieve greater success in the classroom.

Daycare Teacher Resume Example

• If you’re a pro at integrating play-based learning like building blocks or water play into your daycare environment, do more than list it in your skills section. Use your work experience to show your skills in action.

Elementary Teacher Resume Example

• Include licenses or certifications in a dedicated “Certifications” section on your elementary teacher resume. Our  user-friendly resume templates  and  Google docs resume templates  let you add a section just for certificates and licenses.
• For example, “Improved students’ passing rates on the statewide annual exam by 13%” effectively shows competency through an estimate.

Middle School Teacher Resume Example

• Including a  career objective  can help explain why you’re a strong candidate if you have limited work experience or if you’re undergoing a career change.
• Certifications are typically required qualifications for teachers, so it’s best to list any relevant certificates you’ve acquired. 
• Projects can be a great place to highlight experiences not technically work-related but still highly relevant to your passion for teaching. 
• An activities section is the spot for interesting, quirky experiences or  hobbies on your resume ; just be sure you can explain  why  they’re relevant when you get an interview! 

First Year Teacher Resume Example

• Succinct, to-the-point, and intriguing are everything your career objective should be-it should be two to three sentences summarizing your teaching career goals and demonstrating your readiness to help the hiring institution attain its objectives. Weaving in mentions of past relevant experiences like a teaching internship can leave a solid impression that gets you hired.

High School Teacher Resume Example

• The “Education” section of your  high school teacher resume  should list the degree you’ve earned. No need to list high school since that’s a given.
• For example, instead of saying, “Prepared students for standardized exams,” say, “Helped improve standardized testing performance by 3%.”
• If you list “collaboration” as a skill, then somewhere in your resume’s work experience bullet points, it should be clear that collaboration is part of your repertoire.

PE Teacher Resume Example

• Save a small section on your resume’s side column for role-relevant tertiary educational background, much like how Amanda flaunts her bachelor’s degree (Physical Education) from the University of Central Florida. It’s about showing you’ve put a great deal of work into amassing the necessary knowledge and skills.

Science Teacher Resume Example

• You see, few other things piss off hiring managers as much as a resume littered with grammatical mistakes, from typos, punctuation errors to awkward phrases. And that brings us to the essence of staking the time to meticulously proofreading yours before hitting the send button. Better yet, involve a second pair of eyes, be it a friend, family member or career coach.

Math Teacher Resume Example

• Such unique achievements make your math teacher resume shine and grab the attention of your dream employer. Identify such feats in your career and let them take center stage in your application.

Art Teacher Resume Example

• Your also have to prove that you go beyond the curriculum to offer students more opportunities such as through showcasing their work to the world.

Social Science Teacher Resume Example

• Ask a friend, colleague, or even a co-worker to proofread your resume. If you’re low on time, invest in a spell-check system like Grammarly or run your resume through our  resume checker  to catch any typos or comma errors. 
• All our example resumes include the essential sections, and you can add your own sections to customize your template to your specific needs.

English Teacher Resume Example

• Summaries are two to three-sentence paragraphs that can be thought of as a recap of your best self on your resume. 
• Purely optional, you can include one if you have years (10+) of experience in your field.
• Summaries work best to showcase your tried and tested years in the education field and any specializations you’ve honed, such as teaching AP-level courses.

Foreign Language Teacher Resume Example

• Why?  Hard skills are more specific to your profession and easier to demonstrate throughout your resume. Plus, they show school admin that you’ve already got some technical know-how for the job. 
• Aim to include six to eight specific skills, emphasizing hard skills (like “bilingual” and “lesson planning”) over soft skills (like “organization” and “caring”).
• If you’re hoping to switch from teaching German to teaching history, you don’t need to include many details on your strategies for teaching verb conjugation, for example.

Experienced Teacher Resume Example

• It’s perfect time to turn to your technology skills and how you’ve tapped them to solve everyday teaching challenges. Show how you’ve leveraged Zoom and Google Classroom for virtual teaching, Quizizz for tailored tests that improved average students score, and so on.

New Teacher Resume Example

• Also, show how it has been a lifelong process for you, and how you are ready to bring in your set of pedagogical skills in the learning environment.

Student Teacher Resume Example

• Schools know you have to start somewhere, so what they’re really looking for is that you show the promise and potential to step inside their classrooms and successfully manage and teach a class.
• If you’ve volunteered as a teacher after school, provided tutoring or homework help, or even assisted in a teacher’s grading load, you have valuable experience to add to your resume.

Teacher Assistant Resume Example

• Instead of vaguely stating, “Worked with assistants and teachers,” give concrete details, like “Worked with 2 assistants and teacher to provide instruction to 60+ 2nd graders with IEPs.”
• An objective is valuable if you’re light on experience and need to fill some white space, but it loses its value if it’s not customized.
• Tailor your objective by mentioning the target school by name and sprinkling in some keywords from the  teacher job description , so long as they honestly describe you!

Substitute Teacher Resume Example

• If you’re a certified substitute teacher (or teacher) in your state, include that in a dedicated “Certifications” section on your substitute teacher resume. This will help you stand out from other applicants, as this is not required in every state.
• Any prior subbing experience should highlight maintaining a disciplined classroom. One of the toughest aspects of being a sub is commanding a classroom, so demonstrating your strength will increase your chances of getting an interview.
• Another way to impress is by  formatting your resume’s  work history in reverse-chronological order; it lists your most current and relevant experience first, so the admin can glimpse your best stuff first.

Collaborative Teacher Resume Example

• Choose one or two key areas, such as section titles or your header, to include a pop of conservative color.
• Use two contrasting fonts on your resume template . Just don’t pick anything hard to read—remember, recruiters scan resumes within seconds, so it has to be understood at a glance.
• Even if your projects aren’t teaching-related, highlight skills you used or developed, like working with kids, collaborating with co-workers, or taking a leadership position.

Special Education Teacher Resume Example

• Does your resume take up the entire page?
• Does it have half to one-inch margins? (Either half an inch or one inch is fine.)
• Does your resume include separate sections for contact information, education, skills, and work experience?
• Start each bullet point with action words, like “spearheaded” or “brainstormed.” 
• Either end all bullet points with a period or none at all. Be consistent with punctuation.
• Write your work experience in the past tense.
• Avoid using personal pronouns like “me” or “I” on your resume. We’re pretty sure the employer already knows you’re writing about yourself!

Assistant Teacher Resume Example

• Consider a certifications section in which you proudly spotlight credential like Child Development Associate (CDA), just as Matthew does. Of course, a proven understanding of early childhood education best practices is sure to get a nod from the hiring manager reading your piece.

Teacher Aide Resume Example

• Begin by spotlighting your most recent, senior position (paired with key quantified achievements and relevant tool applications) and backtrack through your junior roles. This technique is golden for illustrating your career progression in a resume and should show an increment of responsibilities and wins as you go up.

Related resume guides

• Teacher Assistant
• Preschool Teacher
• Elementary Teacher
• Substitute Teacher

Formatting Your Teacher Resume

Formatting ensures your teacher resume is readable, logical, and complete. Imagine understanding a book without chapter headings or margins and no discernable organization. It would be a nightmare to parse out any information when nothing follows a clear structure and doesn’t lend itself to being read correctly. It’s an extreme example, but it proves the necessity of formatting. 

Just as you create lesson plans to help your class learn best, format your resume so your qualifications are conveyed and understood. We’ll cover three important formatting elements in the following sections: resume formats, your contact header, and resume readability for ATS.

Three resume formats

The most popular  resume formats  for 2024 are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid. Here are some of the pros and cons of each:

• Reverse-chronological : This format highlights your career progression in an easy-to-scan list, making it ideal for recruiters and ATS. However, this format exposes time gaps and can be repetitive if you’ve held the same position at multiple schools.
• Functional : This format focuses on your skills, ideal for limited teaching experience or gaps. However, it’s commonly known to confuse potential employers and ATS.
• Combination/hybrid : This leverages an in-depth skills section and a small experience section to accurately summarize why you’re the best candidate for the job. However, it’s easy to structure this poorly, and it can look like you’re hiding a lack of work experience.

We advise the reverse-chronological format for your teacher resume because it proves you have practical knowledge and a steady career. This format tells the story of your teaching career in under  six seconds , which is how long recruiters will take to read your resume.

Include the right details in your contact header

Your contact header should be easy to locate and read. Some suggest not adding contact information in the header, but that’s why formatting your contact header properly is so important. With good formatting, none of your information gets buried, and it can distinguish you from other applicants. You should include:

• Job title you’re seeking
• Phone number
• City, State (optional)
• Professional links (optional)

Per industry standards, place the header in either the top left-hand corner or centered beneath your name. Not enough space? Remove the optional elements or go down a font size. Choose a sans-serif font that’s no smaller than your resume’s body text. 

Like the example below, you can put your header in a color block to grab attention quickly and add personality. It’s best not to use obnoxious colors (neon green would be a hard no), and always double-check that the color works well with black body text or white font. 

Sometimes, the ATS won’t read your resume properly despite having a beautiful header. That’s why we recommend submitting it as a .docx (friendly for ATS) and as a PDF (friendly for employers). 

We have plenty of  excellent resume samples  you can check out for inspiration on your header, and if you’re rushed, choose one of our  free resume templates  to start and finish your teacher resume in record time. 

Ensure the ATS and employers can read your resume

To ensure your resume reaches principals and department heads, you’ll need to pass muster with the ATS. The good news is formatting for the ATS also results in a resume easy to read by employers. 

Resume tips to steer you on the right path:

• Not only is a one-page resume faster for recruiters and ATS to scan, but it forces you to be concise and include only what’s relevant. 
• Most ATS don’t recognize documents in Open Office, Adobe Pages, HTML, or PDF (on occasion). The wisest option is to submit your resume as a .docx and  as a PDF to give employers options if one doesn’t work.
• The standard 10–12-point font is the best readability range for employers and ATS.
• Even at a reasonable size, some fonts are hard to read, unprofessional-appearing, and ATS-unfriendly. Stick to standard sans-serif fonts like Helvetica or Arial.
• One-inch margins are standard, but you can be flexible. Avoid going smaller than a half-inch or larger than one inch to keep your teacher resume professional and tidy.
• You may confuse the ATS and the school if you have odd header titles. Use standardized headers, as you see in our resume samples , to make each section easy to find (and comprehend). 
• ATS uses keywords to determine your eligibility, including skills (Google Classroom, modifying lessons, parent communication, etc.) matching what’s in the job ad. 
• If your resume sections aren’t in the recommended order, they may confuse ATS. Yet again, it’s best to stick to the standard by using an AI resume generator .

Writing an effective resume  may feel daunting, but it’s far more manageable if you take it section by section. You may even want to use one of our  fresh Word resume templates  designed just for teachers. Let’s dive into each resume section you’ll want to consider:

Does an objective/summary on your teacher resume matter?

Teaching history, top skills for educators.

• Listing education, certification, and optional sections

Customize your teacher resume for the job

Revise and edit your teacher resume.

Principals and their hiring teams may see hundreds of resumes across a wide array of teaching roles, so it’s crucial to showcase your talents and personality quickly. Objectives and summaries can work as excellent introductory tools, but many end up being generic, boring, or vague. 

First, consider whether you’ll use an  objective or summary statement (or neither). An objective highlights your interest and qualifications for the role, while a  resume career summary  distills your specialized skills and experience in a few lines. Use an objective if you’re seeking your first teaching position or switching from teaching one subject to another. On the other hand, veteran teachers may opt for a summary (or no statement at all).

Regardless of your circumstances, if you use either of these introductory statements, you should always tailor your message to the position. Let’s look at specific examples to contrast a D+ resume objective with one worthy of an A. 

A generic, vague objective tells recruiters nothing about you beyond the bare minimum:

New high school teacher seeking employment at a local high school closer to family. Talented at communicating with teenagers and teaching. Received many compliments and letters at last place of employment.

The above objective lacks personality and neglects to mention anything specific. This next objective, however, is focused and tells the principal about the applicant’s skills:

Compassionate algebra tutor with 4+ years of experience. Excellent at coaching students in formulas and helping them develop analytical thinking skills and mathematical competency at all levels of ability. Seeking to use my communication and interpersonal skills to build meaningful student relationships and improve their mathematical abilities at Joaquin High School.

Like the visual example below, the above objective works because it details the applicant’s experience and how it’s relevant to their new goals within the classroom. 

With summaries, it’s difficult to narrow down years of experience into one paragraph, so they often end up looking like this:

Skilled and experienced teacher who loves working with littles. Adept at communication and care. Excited to use my skills for Sunnyside Elementary. 

For starters, repeating “skilled” and “experienced” won’t tell employers anything. A good summary should sell your experience and qualifications, making principals wish they’d had the chance to hire you years ago:

Elementary education teacher with 12+ years of experience managing 25-30 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders’ classrooms. I am a patient, personable, and compassionate professional eager to bring my expertise to Sunnyside Elementary. Awarded Teacher of the Year in 2020 and 2021 for creating online individualized lesson plans for over 65 students during the height of the pandemic.

This summary works because it tells the recruiter their specific qualifications, namely personalized lesson plans and classroom management, and their skills (in this case, two awards). 

It’s tempting to list every job you’ve ever had to prove you’re qualified, but this becomes either overwhelming or redundant. It also means you can’t include much about each position, which won’t inspire principals to hire you. 

Instead, pick two to four of your most relevant teaching positions. Quantify your responsibilities and incorporate skill keywords to improve your ATS score with each. 

No teaching experience yet? Add internships, student teaching, volunteering, or other special projects like the example below that can highlight your soft skills like leadership. Certifications and awards are helpful additions, too. 

How to write your job description bullet points

Whether you’re describing a past job, an internship, or a college project, you’ll need to craft your bullet points with care. Every word counts, so use active verbs, definitive language, third-person pronouns, and consistent verb tenses. Pay careful attention to consistency with punctuation—using periods at the end of some bullets while none for others is sloppy.

Based on these resume writing tips , here are some examples of well-crafted bullet points suited for a teacher resume:

• Taught mathematics, English, general science, art, geography, and history to 60+ 3rd grade students
• Collaborated with parents to discuss student performance and options for an improved learning experience, such as individualized instruction for students with learning disabilities
• Hosted annual fundraiser to raise $6,500 for 10+ teachers to attend the RAISE conference and led yearly trips to RAISE meetings, resulting in overall more effective teaching strategies and a renewed passion for academia

These bullet points work because they’re descriptive and results-oriented. Strive for conciseness and specificity with your job description bullet points.

Maximize your classroom impact with numbers

From an employer’s mindset, metrics cement your abilities by proving that your actions resulted in a desirable outcome. If possible, include metrics on 50 percent of your job description bullet points to showcase the results of your effective teaching. 

When talking about past teaching roles, it’s a good idea to discuss the following metrics:

• Increase in test scores, passing rates, or grade point averages
• Number of students/classes taught
• Increase in student participation/improved behavior

The following examples use the metric types listed above to describe a teacher’s impact further: 

• Co-founded a S.T.E.M. club with the aid of 4 fellow teachers, increasing student passing rates in science and mathematics by 13%
• Established weekly one-on-one student conversation sessions to intentionally build student-teacher relationships, resulting in a 15% overall increase in classroom participation and attendance
• Hosted monthly Write-Til-You-Drop sessions for high school students struggling in English and offered expertise for outlining thesis development and argument structure, which resulted in 31% higher essay scores for participating students

The  skills section of your resume  is a quick guide to what you bring to the table as a teacher. That means choosing the right skills for each job is crucial. You might be organized and great at time management, but if employers want to see that you’re compassionate and great at lesson planning instead, your resume may be set aside. 

Since teachers fulfill many roles, employers will want to see a host of varied skills, including soft, hard, and technical capabilities, such as these:

Common teacher skills

• Collaboration
• Problem-solving
• 1:1 communication
• Organization
• Class management
• Active listening
• Lesson planning
• Google Classroom
• Parent communication
• Gradebook software

These skills demonstrate aptitude and support the responsibilities a teacher must complete on the job. Remember that while the above list outlines common and popular teacher skills for your resume, defer to what the job description is explicitly seeking. 

Education, certifications, and optional sections

You’ll need to include different elements on your resume depending on your education level, years in the workforce, and any specializations or concentrations you possess. All teaching positions require a bachelor’s degree, and an increasing number of teachers hold a master’s. Also, ensure you’re up-to-date on your state certifications, like the California candidate below.

If you hold many certifications, you don’t necessarily need to include them all if you’re applying for one specific role. For example, suppose you’re an ESL-certified teacher with a graduate ESL certificate seeking an ESL role. In that case, you’ll need to include  that  certification either in a summary/objective, in your work experience, or in your education. 

This candidate’s education speaks volumes with a classic bold font and color.

While including education and certifications is required, a projects section is optional. If you’re a drama teacher, for example, new to directing but experienced with leading drama camps, including a projects section to describe the drama camps you’ve led or assisted with can add a relevant impact. List and discuss projects on your resume, just like a paid position.

Additionally, consider adding  interests and hobbies to your resume . Most teacher resumes should save room for other information, but it’s a good idea to add these sections when the job you’re applying for stresses the importance of school spirit and culture.

Choose your interests that reflect the school’s values. However, be picky about what you include. Finding every Easter Egg in the entire timeline of Zelda games might be your favorite pastime, but that doesn’t mean you should list it on a resume (unless you’re applying for Nintendo, in which case this might be appropriate, and you’re reading the wrong resume guide). 

It’s up to you whether you include any optional sections on your resume, but always be sure to be as specific as possible. Your interests should also be specific. “Reading” doesn’t say much about you, but “leading classic book clubs” is far more likely to get you a job as an English instructor.

Generic resumes are easy to spot and will likely get tossed. To avoid the trash, tailor your resume to every position you apply for. This tells principals you’ve researched the school and the role, and you genuinely care about the position.

To customize your resume, scan the  job ad  to know what responsibilities, accomplishments, and keywords to include in your skills section and your bullet points. You should also tailor your objective/summary (if used) to have the school’s name and speak to anything unique about the school that particularly interests you. Check your resume against the job description to ensure you’re addressing their concerns. 

As a teacher, you already know the pitfalls of submitting drafts before they’re revised, so don’t let minor mistakes slip through the cracks. Instead, take a break and hand your resume off for peer review. You can also use our free resume checker  to get tips from our AI software. 

After a day, return to your resume and consider the constructive criticism you received. Edit and check for errors, inconsistencies, or gaps. Read through your resume at least twice more, one for content and one for proofreading. Once you’re sure it’s error-free, you can submit it proudly. 

Start Setting up Your Classroom (Almost)

Go ahead and celebrate because if you’ve made it this far, you’re well on your way to that A+ resume! By spending more time throughout each phase of the writing process, you’re vaulting yourself closer to your next teaching job. It’ll be time to turn in a simple resignation letter at your current job and start setting up your new classroom before you know it!

If you’re not quite satisfied with your current resume, upload it to our  resume checker  for our AI-powered tips. If it’s time to start from scratch, use our  free resume maker  to work with our AI from the ground up. We can’t wait to see you land your next teaching role!

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Teacher Resume Examples For 2024 (20+ Skills & Templates)

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Looking to land more job offers as a teacher?

A solid resume is going to be your starting point. This comprehensive guide provides proven strategies, skills, templates, and examples for writing a job-winning Teacher resume based on data from coaching thousands of successful job seekers.

From top to bottom, this guide will give you the tools you need to create an excellent Teacher resume and increase the chances of you landing your dream job.

Here's what we're going to cover:

• What To Know About Writing A Job-Winning Teacher Resume
• The Best Skills To Include On An Teacher Resume

How To Write A Job-Winning Teacher Resume Summary

How to write offer-winning teacher resume bullets.

• 3 Teacher Resume Examples

The 8 Best Teacher Resume Templates

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

Teacher Resume Overview: What To Know To Write A Resume That Wins More Job Offers

Wondering what school districts are looking for when they're hiring a teacher?

Districts want knowledgeable, skilled, and dedicated teachers that are highly qualified. That means they have the proper education, certifications, and experience along with mastery of their subject, strong classroom management, communication, flexibility, and commitment to student learning.  Professionalism, reliability, and punctuality are also key qualities.

Your resume should show the district that the your experience and personality combined encompass all of these things.

Additionally, there are a few best practices you want to follow to write a job-winning Teacher resume:

• Highlight your education and certifications:  emphasizing any relevant coursework or specialized training.
• Emphasize your teaching experience:  providing specific examples of your accomplishments and contributions to student learning.
• Include keywords from the job description: ensure your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Showcase your skills and achievements: including examples of your ability to manage a classroom, communicate effectively, and use technology.
• Quantify your work: Use numbers to showcase the results of your teaching efforts. Some examples include increases in student assessment results, increasing student engagement and decreasing classroom management issues.
• Proofread: Carefully proofread your resume for errors and typos, as these can give a negative impression to potential employers (I recommend using the Hemingway App ).

Let's dive deeper into each of these so you have the exact blueprint you need to see success.

The Best Teacher Skills To Include On Your Resume

Keywords are one of the most important factors in your resume. They show employers that your skills align with the role and they also help format your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

If you're not familiar with ATS systems, they are pieces of software used by employers to manage job applications. They scan resumes for keywords and qualifications and make it easier for the employers to filter and search for candidates whose qualifications match the role.

If you want to win more interviews and job offers, you need to have a keyword-optimized resume. There are two ways to find the right keywords:

1. Leverage The 20 Best Teacher Keywords

The first is to leverage our list of the best keywords and skills for an Teacher resume.

These keywords were selected from an analysis of real Teacher job descriptions sourced from actual job boards. Here they are:

• Communication
• Collaborative
• Development
• Flexibility
• Performance
• Instruction
• Regulations

2. Use ResyMatch.io To Find The Best Keywords That Are Specific To Your Resume And Target Role

The second method is the one I recommend because it's personalized to your specific resume and target job.

This process lets you find the exact keywords that your resume is missing when compared to the individual role you're applying for

• Open a copy of your updated teacher resume
• Open a copy of your target teacher job description
• In the widget below, paste your resume on the left, paste the job description on the right, and hit scan!

Copy/paste or upload your resume here:

Click here to paste text

Upload a PDF, Word Doc, or TXT File

Paste the job post's details here:

Scan to compare and score your resume vs the job's description.

Scanning...

And if you're a visual learner, here's a video walking through the entire process so you can follow along:

You have a very short window of time to capture an employer's attention–an average of six seconds, to be exact.

To land more interviews an offers, you have to make each one of those seconds count. Start by putting the exact information the reader is looking for at the very top of your resume.

A quick Google search will tell you that a Summary or an Objective should hold this top spot but, unfortunately, that traditional advice simply won't capture your reader's attention. Winning in today's job market means using a more modern approach, what I like to call a “Highlight Reel.”

Here's how it works:

Highlight Reels: A Proven Way To Start Your Resume And Win More Jobs

The Highlight Reel is exactly what it sounds like.

It's a section at the top of your resume that allows you to pick and choose the best and most relevant experience to feature right at the top of your resume.

It's essentially a highlight reel of your career as it relates to this specific role! I like to think about it as the SportsCenter Top 10 of your resume.

The Highlight Reel resume summary consists of 4 parts:

• A relevant section title that ties your experience to the role
• An introductory bullet that summarizes your experience and high level value
• A few supporting “Case Study” bullets that illustrate specific results, projects, and relevant experience
• A closing “Extracurricular” bullet to round out your candidacy

For example, if we were writing a Highlight Reel for a Teacher role, it might look like this:

You can see how the first bullet includes the Teacher job title, the years of experience this candidate has, and it wraps up with a value-driven pitch for how they've helped students in the past.

The next two bullets are “Case Studies” of specific results they drove at their district. Finally, their last bullet focuses on their proficiency with classroom technology.

This candidate has provided all of the info any employer would want to see right at the very top of their resume! The best part is, they can customize this section for each and every role they apply for to maximize the relevance of their experience.

Here's one more example of a Teacher Highlight Reel:

While the content in this example is focused on this candidate's previous industry experience, you can see all of the elements of a great Highlight Reel (especially the emphasis on measurable outcomes and results!).

If you want more details on writing a killer Highlight Reel, check out my full guide on Highlight Reels here.

Bullets make up the majority of the content in your resume. If you want to win, you need to know how to write bullets that are compelling and value-driven.

Unfortunately, way too many job seekers aren't good at this. They use fluffy, buzzword-fill language and they only talk about the actions that they took rather than the results and outcomes those actions created.

If you apply this framework to each of the bullets on your resume, you're going to make them more compelling and your value is going to be crystal clear to the reader. For example, take a look at these resume bullets:

❌ Responsible for creating a safe learning environment.  

✅ Fostered an encouraging learning environment through communication, collaboration, and compassion that increased student participation by 30% over one academic year.

The second bullet makes the candidate's value  so much more clear, and it's a lot more fun to read! That's what we're going for here.

That said, it's one thing to look at the graphic above and try to apply the abstract concept of “35% hard skills” to your bullet. We wanted to make things easy, so we created a tool called ResyBullet.io that will actually give your resume bullet a score and show you how to improve it.

Using ResyBullet To Write Crazy Effective, Job-Winning Teacher Resume Bullets

ResyBullet takes our proprietary “resume bullet formula” and layers it into a tool that's super simple to use. Here's how it works:

• Head over to ResyBullet.io
• Copy a bullet from your teacher resume and paste it into the tool, then hit “Analyze”
• ResyBullet will score your teacher resume bullet and show you exactly what you need to improve
• You edit your bullet with the recommended changes and scan it again
• Rinse and repeat until you get a score of 60+
• Move on to the next bullet in your teacher resume

Let's take a look at how this works for the two resume bullet examples I shared above:

First, we had, “Responsible for creating a safe learning environment.” 

ResyBullet gave that a score of 25/100.  While it includes an action word, it's too short and is missing relevant skills, compelling language, and measurable outcomes:

Now, let's take a look at our second bullet,  “Fostered an encouraging learning environment through communication, collaboration, and compassion that increased student participation by 30% over one academic year.” 

ResyBullet gave that a 75 / 100. Much better! This bullet had more content focused on the specific criteria the hiring team is looking for. We can see by exactly how much they increased student participation, the skill and method they applied, and that it all resulted in an overall increase in student success.

Now all you have to do is run each of your bullets through ResyBullet, make the suggested updates, and your resume is going to be jam packed with eye-popping, value-driven content!

And if you want to learn more about the underlying strategies behind writing great resume bullets, check out this guide.

If you're ready, grab a bullet from your resume, paste it into the widget below, and hit scan to get your first resume bullet score and analysis:

Free Resume Bullet Analyzer

Learn to write crazy effective resume bullets that grab attention, illustrate value, and actually get results., copy and paste your resume bullet to begin analysis:, 3 teacher resume examples for 2023.

Now let's take a look at all of these best practices in action. Here are three resume examples for different situations from people with different backgrounds:

Teacher Resume Example #1: A Traditional Background

Teacher Resume Example #2: A Non-Traditional Background

For our second Teacher Resume Example, we have a candidate who has a non-traditional background. In this case, they are coming from the financial services industry but have experience helping customers learn more about financial literacy. Here's an example of what their resume might look like when applying for Teacher roles:

Teacher Resume Example #3: Experienced Teacher With Masters Degree

For our third Teacher Resume Example, we have a candidate who has 14+ years of experience and a Masters degree. Here's an example of what their resume might look like when applying for Teacher roles:

At this point, you know all of the basics you'll need to write a Teacher resume that wins you more interviews and offers. The only thing left is to take all of that information and apply it to a template that's going to help you get results.

We made that easy with our ResyBuild tool . It has 8 proven templates that were created with the help of recruiters and hiring managers at the world's best companies. These templates also bake in thousands of data points we have from the job seekers in our audience who have used them to land job offers.

Just click any of the templates below to start building your resume using proven, recruiter-approved templates:

Free Job-Winning Resume Templates, Build Yours In No Time .

Choose a resume template below to get started:.

Key Takeaways To Wrap Up Your Job-Winning Teacher Resume

You made it! We packed a lot of information into this post so I wanted to distill the key points for you and lay out next steps so you know exactly where to from here.

Here are the 5 steps for writing a job-winning Teacher resume:

• Start with a proven resume template from ResyBuild.io
• Use ResyMatch.io to find the right keywords and optimize your resume for each Teacher role you apply to
• Start your resume with a Highlight Reel to immediately grab your target school district's attention
• Use ResyBullet.io to craft compelling, value-driven bullets that pop off the page
• Compare the draft of your Teacher resume to the examples on this page to make sure you're on the right path
• Use a tool like HemingwayApp to proofread your resume before you submit it

If you follow those steps, you're going to be well on your way to landing more Teacher interviews and job offers.

Now that your resume is all set, check out my guide on writing a job-winning Teacher cover letter (with examples!)

Laura Lorta

Laura is an Editor at Cultivated Culture. She transitioned from teaching into the world of content so she's no stranger to career pivots. She also has a bachelors in Entrepreneurship and a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction / Bilingual Education. She currently shares job search advice to help people like you land jobs they love without applying online.

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Teacher Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples

How To Write a Teacher Resume

• Resume Text Examples

Whether you’re a tenured educator or just starting your teaching career, a well-crafted resume is key to finding job opportunities. To write a good resume, you’ll need to carefully consider the unique requirements and expectations of the educational services sector. Showcase your skills in lesson planning, managing students, testing students, and more. This comprehensive guide will help you write a standout resume that shows your skills, achievements, and passion for teaching.

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your teacher qualifications

In just two or three sentences, your resume profile should catch hiring managers’ attention by summarizing your top strengths as a teacher. Take this opportunity to brag about yourself a bit. Include some impressive facts, such as the number of years you’ve been in the education field or any industry recognition you’ve earned. Emphasize your experience teaching specific subjects and grade levels, or mention specialized programs and initiatives you were involved in that relate to your goals.

Senior-Level Profile Example

Resourceful elementary school teacher with nearly 10 years of experience inspiring and developing young minds. Adapt readily to new work challenges and conditions. Master of Educational Studies.

Entry-Level Profile Example

Art educator with strong recent work, volunteer, and academic experience. Passionate about engaging students in art theory and practice and helping young people explore their creative potential. Skilled at adapting instructional methods to each student’s learning style. Master of Arts in Teaching.

2. Add your teacher experience with compelling examples

The experience section is where you can give detailed examples of the impact you’ve made in the classroom. Focus on achievements that reflect the skills your target employers are looking for. Avoid writing a long list of duties and instead take a dynamic approach by quantifying your experience with numbers and percentages. For instance, you could give data on how you’ve helped raise test scores, increase graduation rates, or launch successful programs.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Third Grade Teacher, Topeka School, Topeka, KS | August 2018 to present

[Well-regarded local elementary school with 300 students]

• Create and adapt lesson plans to students’ needs
• Prepare and deliver regular tests to classes of up to 25 students
• Write detailed quarterly reports on student progress for parents and school administrators
• Piloted a successful garden project to complement five key science unit objectives

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

Student Teacher, Hollywood High School, Los Angeles, CA | February 2022 to March 2022

• Supported mentor teacher by preparing materials and answering student questions for art classes of up to 30
• Co-developed and executed dynamic and engaging lesson plans
• Integrated Photoshop, Illustrator, and other design software programs with traditional art education

3. Include your teaching education and certifications

Hiring managers want to see you have the education required to teach and engage with students effectively. List your education degrees to help establish your credibility and provide a clear picture of your knowledge base. Starting with your highest level of education, list the degree name, institution, location, and completion date.

You can further strengthen your resume by including relevant training and certifications. Whether it’s a teaching certificate, subject-specific endorsement, or specialized training in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, credentials show you’re committed to professional development. Format this section similarly, providing the certificate title, issuing organization, and date received.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Completion Year]
• Master of Arts (MA) — Teaching
• University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, Los Angeles, CA | 2022 | 3.9 GPA

Certifications

• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• California Professional Educator, State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, 2022

4. Include a list of your teaching skills and proficiencies

Including a key skills section on your resume highlights your mastery and can set you apart from other applicants. This section helps employers see how you manage a classroom, engage students, and contribute to the overall success of a school. Align your skills section with those in the job posting and present yourself as the candidate who meets the school’s needs. Here’s a list of skills we’ve compiled that you could use on your teacher resume:

How To Pick the Best Teacher Resume Template

Before creating your resume, you need to choose a template. The best one for a teacher is clean and orderly, with a layout that highlights relevant achievements and skills. Select a professional template with plenty of white space for readability and visual appeal. Impress hiring managers with your background as an educator rather than distract them with decorative fonts or elaborate graphics.

Teacher Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Christina Lopez (456) 345-1234 | [email protected] | Sacramento, CA 12345 | LinkedIn

Art Educator with strong recent work, volunteer, and academic experience. Passionate about engaging students in art theory and practice and helping young people explore their creative potential. Skilled at adapting instructional methods to each student’s learning style. Master of Arts in Teaching.

• Classroom Management
• Differentiated Learning
• Lesson Planning
• Student Engagement
• Technology Integration

Work Experience

Volunteer Art Tutor, Radford School District After School Program, Radford, VA | January 2018 to July 2021

[Co-curricular program recognized for excellence in arts education]

• Developed various engaging art projects for students in grades K-12
• Managed groups of up to 15 students at a time

Master of Arts (MA) — Teaching, University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, Los Angeles, CA | 2022 | 3.9 GPA

Select Coursework:

• Blended Learning Experiences
• Curriculum Development
• Identifying and Teaching to Student Differences

Bachelor of Science (BA) — Art Education, Radford University, Radford, VA | 2021

• Art Education and Teaching Labs
• Art History
• New Media and Crafts
• Traditional Media

Certification

California Professional Educator, State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing | 2023

Technical Skills

Adobe Creative Suite | Microsoft Office Suite

Roberta Alexander (987) 654-3210 | [email protected] | San Diego, CA 12345 | LinkedIn

Dedicated High School Teacher with seven years of experience teaching science and technology. Use varied education methods to optimize learning experiences and outcomes for every student. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish. Master’s Degree in Education.

• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Process Streamlining
• Student Counseling & Mentoring
• Test Preparation & Delivery

Professional Experience

High School Science Teacher, The STEM School, San Diego, CA | August 2020 to Present

• Adapt lesson plans and teaching methods to students with different learning styles
• Introduced new ways to prepare students for standardized tests, resulting in higher average scores
• Organized annual tennis fundraiser that generated $5K for the math department
• Designed and implemented a new science curriculum

Technology Teacher, Lincoln School, San Diego, CA | August 2016 to July 2020

[High school with 400 students and an award-winning math and science program]

• Educated classes of up to 28 students in grades 9 and 10
• Served as student adviser, offering social, academic, and emotional support to 9th graders
• Promoted a positive, interactive learning environment at all points
• Created and delivered tests to gauge students’ progress and grasp of complex topics

University of California San Diego

• Master of Science (MS) — Education | 2016
• Bachelor of Science (BS) — Education Studies | 2014

California Professional Educator, State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing | 2022

Fluency in Spanish | Proficiency in Italian

James Major (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Topeka, KS 12345 | LinkedIn

Resourceful Elementary School Teacher with nearly ten years of experience inspiring and developing young minds. Adapt readily to new work challenges and conditions. Master of Educational Studies.

• Advanced Teaching Methods
• Conflict Management & Resolution
• Reporting & Documentation

Third Grade Teacher, Topeka School, Topeka, KS | August 2018 to Present

• Piloted successful garden project to complement five key science unit objectives

Teacher, Washington Elementary School, Topeka, KS | December 2013 to August 2018

• Taught 2nd and 3rd-grade classes of up to 30 students
• Used varied teaching strategies to provide a dynamic and interactive learning environment
• Fostered productive relationships with parents and colleagues
• Developed thematic units of study to encourage students’ curiosity and grasp of interdisciplinary subjects

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

• Master of Arts — Educational Studies with Elementary Teacher Certification | 2013
• Bachelor of Arts | 2012

Kansas Professional Teacher’s License, Kansas State Board of Education | 2021

Frequently Asked Questions: Teacher Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for teacher resumes -.

It can be hard to find the right words for your past teaching work. If you need more ways to describe your professional experience, we're here to help. Below is a list of common action verbs for educators to include on their resumes. Consider starting your bullet points with some of these dynamic words to convey your teaching contributions effectively:

How do you align your resume with a job posting? -

The job outlook for teachers from preschool to university is healthy, with a projected average growth of 9% over the next decade. All these grade levels combined are expected to see more than 350,000 new jobs added to the workforce by 2031. Despite this growth, it’s still important to craft a resume that allows you to shine in a crowd of applicants.

If you have a specific teaching position in mind, you'll need to align your resume with the job posting. Take time to customize your resume by including relevant information that overlaps with the job requirements. Incorporate keywords and phrases from the job post throughout your resume to show you're the best candidate.

What is the best teacher resume format? -

In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also simplest for you to align with your job goals.

With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your experience or work history section, and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a profile summary and key skills section, but you may also add a career highlights or awards section. By carefully choosing the details for these intro sections, you can position yourself for your target job and give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!

Include a cover letter with your resume to increase your chances of an interview. The secret to an impactful cover letter is tailoring it to the position you’re applying for. Learn how to write an outstanding teacher cover letter with our comprehensive guide . Then, check out our elementary teacher and special education teacher cover letter guides for specific examples.

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

Check Out Related Examples

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Teacher resume examples & templates

Elementary school teacher 

High school teacher, choosing the best resume format for a teacher, make use of a summary, outline your teaching experience: your career syllabus, list the education that elevates your teacher candidacy, choose the right resume layout and design for a teacher resume, what type of salary you can expect in teaching.

With the right approach and a great resume, you can find a teacher position that is the perfect balance of job satisfaction and good pay. Educating the principal on your qualifications with an A+ resume will put you at the head of the interview class. 

Teaching has always been an important and challenging career path. It can also be one of the most rewarding and financially stable professions. Working as a teacher has the potential to be satisfying, as well as emotionally and intellectually engaging. But with the changing landscape of educational practices and technologies, aspiring education professionals need to adapt to the modern world. 

With the right approach and a great resume, you can find a teacher position that is the perfect balance of job satisfaction and good pay. 

Resume guide for a teacher resume

So how do you write an excellent teacher resume? Resume.io’s expert advice guides and resume examples cover over 500 professions, and our resume builder takes the tough job of formatting and leaves the personalization to you.

This resume guide and corresponding car sales resume example will cover the following:

How to write a teacher resume

• Choosing the right resume format for a teacher
• How to add your contact information (and what to omit)
• Using summaries
• Adding your teaching experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the teacher market looks like and what salary you can expect

When you teach writing, you probably include an outline step. Consider the necessary sections of any resume for a teacher as your outline. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

One key difference among teacher resumes may be a publications section. Those who teach at the university level are much more likely to need to include their professional writing.

A resume is a type of persuasive essay that needs to offer strong evidence for your suitability for the position. The best arguments target the reader directly with points that are sure to hit home. Your teacher application is no different.

Research the school, its demographics and philosophy as well as the open position to understand as clearly as possible what the role entails and how your teaching expertise will enhance the student body, faculty and community as a whole.

What does this mean in practice, for you as a teacher seeking a job?

• Tailor your resume for a specific position and purpose. Start with a general resume but make sure you research the employer and customize your resume to address its needs.
• Analyze the job application/listing for specific requirements that are emphasized or mentioned multiple times.

Honing your resume for the ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are automated software applications used by most medium and large employers to process the hundreds or thousands of resumes before they reach their recruiters or hiring specialists. Most ATS systems work by scanning resumes and ranking them for keywords. 

These keywords may be related to certifications/licenses, specific skills or qualities, job experience or other factors. ATS software is widely used by educational institutions, both in the general variety (services like RecruitCRM, TalentCube, JobItUs and others) and even the specialized variety (ATS specifically developed for schools like eTeach). In fact, many schools use school management software that helps with all operational aspects of education. These programs often have built-in ATS.

HR surveys show that, in general, 75% of resumes (U.S. data) are never seen by human eyes because they fail the ATS test, falling into a resume black hole.

Getting specific is the key to mastering the ATS.

• Instead of “Taught reading”
• Use “Implemented Mathology program and realized 11% jump in standardized test scores.

Naming software and curriculum mentioned in the job listing boosts your chances of beating the ATS and shows the hiring department that you understand the requirements of the job.

Your resume format is vitally important no matter the type of teaching job you are aiming for. Not only does the resume formatting impact ATS filtering of your teacher resume, but the template visuals will affect how much attention your teacher resume receives from recruiters. 

Similar to the use of keywords and your summary description, your resume format presents a dual challenge: pass the ATS filtering and win over the hiring manager. The best format for a teacher resume is reverse chronological order . This puts the information that recruiters seek – mainly your most recent position and your contact information – right where they are expecting to find it. The ATS is also designed to look for this format when it scans your education resume.

Career changers should consider a hybrid or functional style resume since they expand the space for transferable skills, or skills that you used in your previous career that will make you a great teacher.

Include your contact information

How many times have you drilled into your students’ heads that papers with no names on them will receive zero credit? Of course, you wouldn’t do that on your teaching resume, but there are considerations for your header . 

The goal of the header is to provide the best methods to contact you using the most professional presentation. Definitely include the following:

• Full name and title. List your first and last name. If you have earned a doctorate, feel free to use Dr. Also list the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. If you don’t have one, create an email address with a format such as [email protected] .
• Phone number. Avoid using your work number and instead choose your cell phone, making sure you check it frequently.
• Address. Your street address should not be included. List only your city and state . If you are applying to positions outside your commutable area, let your prospective employer know that you are willing to move by stating that here.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date include it here.

Do not include any personal information such as your social security number, marital status or date of birth. Definitely don’t put a portrait on your header. HR personnel want to avoid any appearance of bias.

Dr. Hannah Jonas

Professor of integral calculus

(415) 612-0045

[email protected]

San Mateo, CA

Willing to relocate

Looking for position as professor of integral calculus

914 24th Street, San Mateo, CA

The summary (or profile) section of your teacher resume is a snapshot of both your personality and your professional qualities. It allows you a bit of leeway (about four sentences) to tell your teaching story and express your classroom style. Give it some energy.

The summary (also known as the profile or the personal statement) is the only place on your teacher resume where you can realistically employ some creative writing skills, adding energy and personality to gain a competitive edge.

Here are two goals for your teacher resume summary:

• Convey the most important hand-picked information about your past career, qualities and achievements.
• Tell your future employer how you can contribute to its school or business as an amazing teacher.

In most cases, the summary is going to be prominently featured at the top of your resume. It’s prime “real estate” on your single page of professional characteristics. Make it count. The idea is to have it describe an actual living person, avoid clichés and provide a window into your professional character as a teacher. Action verbs are great for this. Here are some sample sentences that you may be able to adapt to your own teacher resume summary:

• Established a warm, caring and friendly environment for kids to develop and learn in the classroom.
• Supported parents and children in my class in navigating through early childhood development.
• Employed advanced teaching techniques based on kids’ neurobiology and childhood psychology to make sure my pupils had the best learning environment possible.
• Published paper detailing research results in professional journal.

Don’t include obvious phrases like “able to rise to the challenge” or “can adapt to stressful situations.” Phrases like these are either expected by the employer as a given or make it sound like you have nothing real to say about your professional qualities/achievements.

If you’re feeling a bit lost when trying to come up with your 3- to 4-sentence summary, try looking at your experience, skills and certifications, and cherry-pick the most impressive ones. Additionally, try to evaluate what aspect of your career or professional personality is strongest. Is it your knowledge and education? Is it your skills and qualities? Is it your experience as a teacher? Based on this, you can determine whether your resume summary is one of the following examples:

• Knowledge-oriented: if your strongest professional features are your education, expertise in certain areas, certifications and so on, mention these first and make them prominent.
• Skills-oriented: If you’re a natural or acquired talent in some areas and tasks, proven by your former coworkers, students and students’ parents, highlight these aspects of your career.
• Experience-oriented: If you’re a seasoned veteran, with a wealth of experience in numerous jobs and schools, underline this fact to show how valuable and reliable you would be.

Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our more specific teacher resumes: 

• Early Childhood Educator resume sample
• College Student resume sample
• Student resume sample
• Academic Librarian resume sample
• Health Educator resume sample
• ESL Teacher resume sample
• Tutor resume sample 
• Teacher Assistant resume sample 
• Substitute Teacher resume sample
• Middle School Teacher resume sample
• Elementary School Teacher resume sample
• College Professor resume sample
• Internship resume sample
• High School Teacher resume sample
• Academic Tutor resume sample 
• College Admissions resume sample
• Academic resume sample
• Education resume sample
• Research Assistant resume sample
• Teen resume sample
• School Counselor resume sample
• Instructional Designer resume sample
• Camp Counselor resume sample
• Special Education Teacher resume sample

You can find adaptable teacher resume example summaries below:

Enthusiastic middle school science teacher brimming with ideas and ready for my own classroom. Strong belief that every student is a budding scientist who simply needs inspiration. Experienced in data collection, curriculum differentiation, and consistent communication with parents, guardians, and colleagues.

Dedicated and dynamic certified Childhood Educator with several years of experience working to facilitate the highest level of learning possible. Adept in differentiating curriculum to meet the needs of all students, while ensuring the mastery of specific learning standards. 

Experienced and passionate Teacher with a love for educating today's youth. Adept in creating a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum that meets education requirements and standards. Able to act as a facilitator of powerful learning experiences, while allowing students to dictate certain lessons and lead with curiosity. Familiar with many renowned educational philosophies aimed at supporting a child academically, emotionally, and socially. Bringing forth dedication, skill, and the desire to positively impact the lives of children.

The employment history section is the core of an experienced teacher resume. It ties everything together by listing and quantifying (when possible) the successes you have already achieved in your teaching career. Make sure it’s the most robust and detailed resume section you have. 

Each of the entries in this section should ideally include the following:

• Position / job title
• Organization / workplace name
• Dates of employment
• Short descriptive examples of the most important duties, achievements, metrics, projects

The best way to show how productive and industrious you are as a teacher is to offer facts, figures, numbers and project names wherever possible. 

Here are ideas for a preschool teacher resume employment section. Note the strong action words and variety of skills demonstrated.

• Served as a passionate and dynamic Lead Teacher for students ages 3-5.
• Created and implemented stimulating curriculum, aimed at supporting the appropriate learning standards.
• Supported the academic, emotional, and social growth of students.
• Maintained positive communication habits with parents and families.
• Collaborated with staff and administrators to enhance programs and remain united in our goals.

And for an elementary school teacher:

• Worked to empower two classes of fourth grade students by motivating them to become lovers of learning.
• Created and implemented lesson plans that supported fourth grade learning standards.
• Developed and implemented cross-curriculum lessons to support multiple academic disciplines simultaneously.
• Communicated with parents and families using an online portal, complete with documentation of class learning experiences, activities, and events.

The best way to show how productive and industrious you are as a teacher is to offer facts, figures, numbers and project names wherever possible. Below you will find a sample teacher resume work experience section.

Early Childhood Teacher at The Seed, Brooklyn September 2015 - Present

• Provide optimal care and academic support to students aged 1-3 years.
• Create and implement lesson plans based on child-led interests and curiosities.
• Encourage students to actively play and explore new things with fellow classmates.
• Maintain organized files for each student containing documents indicative of their progress.
• Facilitate outdoor learning experiences and the involvement of nature as much as possible.
• Follow school policies and regulations regarding safety and school procedures at all times.

Early Childhood Teacher at The Ridge Hill School, New York September 2013 - May 2015

• Developed and implemented a well-rounded curriculum designed for students aged 1-3.
• Encouraged the social development of students by facilitating meaningful opportunities for play.
• Encouraged students to engage in the world by introducing them to interesting and thought-provoking subjects.
• Created and fostered positive relationships with parents and family members of students.
• Provided various hands-on activities to promote critical thinking skills.
• Monitored and recorded the progress of students and created plans for improvement.

Build a snapshot of your key teaching skills 

The skills section is one of the shortest parts of your teacher resume. There isn’t much room to elaborate. Make each item count towards your shining professional teacher toolbox. Recruiters are likely to scan this section first to see if they want to read on.

The skills section is used by recruiters (as well as ATS software) to evaluate how productive and versatile you will be as a teacher in both your day-to-day activities and in challenging situations. Unlike the summary, you don’t have much room to be creative in this resume section. There isn’t much “real estate” here to expand upon, so each skill needs to be carefully evaluated to determine whether it should take up precious space on your resume. 

According to DATA USA, the most highly valued skills by employers of elementary and middle school teachers are related to these general categories: 

• Learning Strategies
• Instructing
• Social Perceptiveness

For preschool teachers, the skill categories are similar but with an additional emphasis on Organizational and Monitoring skills, as young children require constant attention.

You’re likely familiar with the concept of hard and soft skills , but to reiterate the general rule of thumb: hard skills relate to very specific and pragmatic activities, for example: knowledge sets, software, sciences or methodologies. Soft skills mostly relate to personal interaction – examples include emotional intellect and communication. Try to aim for a good balance of both categories in your teacher resume.You’re likely familiar with the concept of hard and soft skills, but to reiterate the general rule of thumb: hard skills relate to very specific and pragmatic activities, for example: knowledge sets, software, sciences or methodologies. Soft skills mostly relate to personal interaction – examples include emotional intellect and communication. Try to aim for a good balance of both categories in your teacher resume.

Teaching skills

The education section of a teacher resume should be crafted with care, as this is your field, but keep it short, listing only your schools and degrees. If you have earned a postsecondary degree, it’s generally considered unnecessary to mention your high school.

Be meticulous in ensuring you have clean formatting in this resume section, clear and concise descriptions and any relevant licenses and educational awards that demonstrate your aptitude as a teacher. Teaching is a profession that places a certain amount of emphasis on certifications and licenses. The most prominent of these should be mentioned in your resume summary, and the rest should go here.

Professional development and publications

All teachers must complete hours of professional development to maintain their certifications. If you are particularly active, have designed and presented at seminars or completely relevant seminars or coursework outside your degree, include a separate Professional Development section.

Postgraduate teachers are often required to publish, but even if you are work at a lower level, any academic or education articles you have published are worthy of highlighting. If you have the space, create a separate Publications section.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, Hunter College, New York August 2013 - May 2017

High School Diploma, St. Catherine's High School, New York September 2009 - June 2013

• Graduated with High Honors.

While you want to gain the attention of recruiters, you should also exhibit restraint in the design of your teaching resume, especially if you are teaching at the high school level or above. Elementary and preschool teachers can be a bit more creative.

To optimize the design of your educator resume for recruiters and HR departments, follow these tips: 

• Make sure to include some white space between your resume sections. A resume that is completely covered in text leaves no room for the brain or eyes to rest.
• Make sure the sections of your resume are clean, symmetrical and well-placed. An aesthetically pleasing format will make recruiters more likely to read your resume.
• Use professional resume templates that have been tested and designed by experts. Make sure your template expresses your values and personality as a teacher.

Keep it simple - there is no need for your resume to be creative. Clear and concise is all that is required.

Ensure your resume is spaced out well and that it is clear and easy to read.

Write a resume that is more than two pages long. Recruiters simply don't have the time to read pages and pages.

Use tables and graphs, or any images on your resume. Text only is fine.

Because your resume format is so important in creating a great first impression as a teacher, you're going to want to place a lot of emphasis on its design and style. If you have graphic design experience, you might enjoy designing a CV yourself. If not, professional templates can make putting together your resume a much easier affair. 

Resume.io offers a variety of teacher resume templates for all types of positions: Professional for formal workplaces, simple for new teachers or teaching assistants and modern or creative templates for more forward-thinking employers. 

Choose the resume template that works for you and then edit the sample sentences inside of our convenient resume builder. Our resume templates are designed to provide a foundation – you make them your own!

Teacher job market and outlook

Teachers are one of the most varied and flexible professions out there, both in terms of job experience and the varied backgrounds that teachers come from. According to National Center for Education Statistics data, while the average age of elementary, middle and high school teachers is around 42, the age range is quite wide: from 19 all the way to 86. If you’re just starting out or are making a career change to education from another field, it’s completely acceptable to list marginally related work experience. 

Remember that schools are not the only organizations that hire teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the three runner-up employer categories are: the executive branch of the federal government, educational support services and performing arts companies. If you’re submitting a resume to one of these alternative categories, make sure to tailor it to your potential employer. Do your research.

Let’s start at the beginning and take a look at some sample data from the teacher job market of recent years. Here’s what the ranking of different categories of teachers looks like based on job market growth (according to U.S. Labor Department statistics):

• Elementary school teachers (+1% jobs per year)
• Secondary school teachers (+1% jobs per year)
• Preschool teachers (+3% jobs per year)
• Special education teachers (no change)
• Postsecondary teachers (8% per year)

A teaching resume for a postsecondary professor will look different from that of an elementary school teacher. Keep the environment in which you want to teach at the forefront as you develop your application.

Key takeaways for building a teacher resume

• To land an interview and a great teaching position, tailor your teacher resume for each application. This will greatly increase your chances.
• Pay attention to your teacher resume format and choose the right resume template both for the sake of passing the ATS test and impressing hiring managers.
• Your summary/personal statement is there to convince your potential employer you are a productive, knowledgeable and reliable teacher.
• Craft a robust employment history section by using reverse chronological order and supplying examples of results, facts and achievements.
• In your skills section, try to organically use sample keywords found in the job description.
• Show some love to your education section, as this is your own field as a teacher.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

• • Teaching classes of 25+ on biology and chemistry topics
• • Participated in student recruitment, registration and placement activities
• • Coordinated School Information Night each year
• • Contributed to raising retention rate from 75% - 89% through running extracurricular sessions
• • Received two outstanding reports from classroom inspections from the city central education board
• • Ran 100+ school information sessions
• • Developed and executed daily lesson plans to engage and challenge student understanding and involvement, including 30+ international students (ESL) and students with specialized educational needs.
• • Increased the number of A+ to C grades from 60% to 90% over 2 years
• • Taught and mentored 100+ students over the two years, and led 5 extra learning classes outside of school hours
• • Engaged in peer collaboration and instruction during staff development opportunities as well as peer observation of classroom strategies and assessment.
• • Designed original student learning plans centered on the curriculum with corresponding lectures and lab activities which aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.
• • Implemented lesson plans independently for classrooms of 25+ students
• • Provide educational materials, including daily lesson plans and weekly homework packets that averaged a 95% completion rate
• • Lectured weekly in tutorials, and regularly in courses over 8 semesters
• • Assist professor and a class of 25 students with the course related needs
• • Excellence Award (2013)

Teacher Resume Examples & Guide for 2024 [Layout, Skills, Keywords & Job Description]

Your teacher resume must clearly highlight your educational background. Ensure it outlines your degrees, certifications, and any relevant coursework or specialized training. It is crucial to detail your teaching experience with specifics regarding grade levels and subject areas. Demonstrate your impact on student learning with examples of curriculum development or measurable improvements in student performance.

All resume examples in this guide

Art Teacher

Bilingual Teacher

Biology Teacher

Computer Science Teacher

Creative Art Teacher

Dance Teacher

History Teacher

Language Teacher

Lead Teacher

Math Teacher

Music Teacher

Piano Teacher

Retired Teacher

Science Teacher

Social Studies Teacher

Spanish Teacher

Teacher For Career Change

Technology Teacher

Theatre Teacher

Transitioning Teacher

High School Teacher | Sciences resume example

Resume Guide

Teacher resume sample.

Resume Format & Sections

Key Resume Sections

Work Experience Section

Teacher Skills

Education & Certifications

Resume Objective/Summary

Other Resume Sections

Matching Teacher Cover Letter

21 Teacher Resume Examples

Key Takeaways

The ongoing teacher shortage is prime time to grow your career. But to land the perfect job, you need the perfect resume.

That means a flawless layout with impeccable details about your past successes. Of course, you’re a pro at teaching, but writing your teacher’s resume might not be your top strength.

That’s ok, we’ve put together everything you need to write an impeccable resume that will land you your dream job. In this guide, we’ll cover:

• A teacher resume sample that ticks all the checkboxes
• The best formatting considerations for your resume
• Essential and optional sections to include with examples
• How to include a cover letter with your application
• Most frequently asked questions about teacher resumes

This is a top-notch example of a teacher’s resume. It presents the candidate as an experienced, effective, and dedicated educator.

Some of the reasons why are:

Extensive Teaching Experience: The candidate has taught for several years at multiple schools, demonstrating their ability to handle diverse students and subjects.

Track Record of Achievements: These specific and quantifiable achievements lend credibility to the teacher's effectiveness and commitment to improving student outcomes.

Education and Certification: The candidate holds a PhD in Educational Administration and other certifications, demonstrating their commitment to ongoing professional development.

Publications and Volunteering: The candidate's publications and volunteering demonstrate their dedication to academic research, community service, and making a positive impact outside the classroom.

Resume Format And Sections

Formatting and good design are essential for a resume's readability and visual appeal - crucial characteristics to grab and hold a hiring committee’s attention. A well-structured resume also clearly conveys professionalism, increasing your chances of an interview.

Since teachers are trusted with so much responsibility, in most cases, it’s best that you align your resume to a conventional format. Choose a traditional format, with either one or two columns, instead of going for a flashy or creative resume.

The exceptions would be if you’re applying to an art school or other creative-oriented private school or if you’re applying to an art, music, drama, or other creative teacher position. In those cases, you might consider using a creative resume template.

Every teacher’s resume will be different, and each one you write should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying to. For example, you’ll want to highlight different skills as an art or a maths teacher, and likewise, if you’re teaching at the kindergarten, elementary, or high school level.

But, there are some fundamental aspects you should always bear in mind.

Use reverse chronological order

Typically, resumes are formatted in reverse chronological order. This means organizing your work and education history with the most recent experiences listed first and moving backward to the oldest.

This format makes it easy for employers to identify your most current and relevant work and skills. It demonstrates your career progression and helps potential employers understand your professional journey.

Properly format the header and contact info

A resume header is the first, and ome might say one of the most important parts of a teacher resume. It’ the section at the top of a resume that includes your name and contact information and is the first thing the recruiter will lay their eyes upon. It’s like your introduction, letting a potential employer know who you are and how to get get a hold of you.

A good header should include your:

• Phone number
• Email address

Additional and somewhat optional information is including your home address (which is traditional and not used so much anymore) and a link to your LinkedIn profile.

Key sections

Beyond the header, your resume should highlight your relevant qualifications, experience, and the skills you bring to the job. The standard sections to include in your teacher resume are:

• Professional Summary or Objective: A brief statement that highlights your experience, teaching philosophy, or key strengths tailored to the specific teaching position you’re applying for.
• Work experience & Achievements: This section outlines your successful work history. Include the school's name, the grade level or subject you taught, the dates of your employment in reverse chronological order, and include quantifiable results from your time there.
• Skills: Showcase any relevant teaching and technical skills you have that might not be expected or that you can provide specific evidence of.
• Education: The details of your academic qualifications, including degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework.
• Certifications and licenses: List any relevant teaching licenses or certifications, along with their expiration dates, if applicable.

Number of pages

There’s an old rule of thumb that you should keep your resume to 1 page. While that may be true in some industries, it’s not always true for teachers.

Aim for a length that includes all the info you need to show you’re the best fit for the job, but avoid including unnecessary bloat. Keeping everything concise will ensure it’s readable and avoid looking cluttered.

A bit vague? Okay. As a rough guide, if you’ve been teaching for less than 4 years and don’t have much other experience or professional development, one page should do. If you’ve been teaching for a while and want to include some optional sections we cover later, you can stretch it to two pages.

If you’re a veteran teacher with many years of experience and you’ve been keeping up with professional development, you might consider going to three pages. And if you’re a post-secondary teacher with a long list of publications and conference presentations or other important accolades, you might even consider 4 or 5 pages.

File format: doc or pdf?

Once you’re ready to save your resume, you have two choices: a .PDF or a .Doc. I suggest saving it as a .PDF unless the employer has specified otherwise.

PDFs save all the formatting you just put so much time into. Unlike with a .Doc., there’s no chance your resume will print up wonky and undermine the professional image you’re trying to send.

Another consideration is that many employers now use applicant tracking systems(ATS) as the first step in the selection process. Luckily, all of our resume templates are preformatted and designed to play well with ATS, and they come as .PDFs, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

The top sections on a teacher resume:

What recruiters want to see on your resume:, work experience.

This is the fundamental section of your resume. It’s your opportunity to show the hiring committee your teaching history, leadership skills, and commitment to education.

Ideally, this section will consist of teaching-relevant work experience. Your potential new school will prefer candidates with strong backgrounds in the field they’re applying in.

But if you transitioned into teaching after another career or it’s your first teaching job but you had other jobs beforehand, there’s plenty you can include. No matter what your past work experience was, if you give it careful consideration, you can identify transferable skills to demonstrate you’re a good fit.

Follow these guidelines to write a work experience section to capture the school board’s attention:

• List work experience in reverse chronological order.
• Include school name, dates, and job title.
• Mention the subject you taught, which grade level, and your average class size.
• Use keywords relevant to the teaching position, where your past experiences align with the job description.
• Focus on your accomplishments at each job rather than your basic duties.

Quantify accomplishments whenever possible, try toailor the accomplishments you include for each job you apply to.

• Include 4-6 accomplishments or duties for each job.
• Use action verbs to describe your work, like……..

Quantify impact

Quantifying your impact on a resume means including specific numbers, percentages, or measurable outcomes from previous jobs. These details showcase tangible results and lend credibility to your qualifications.

Some of the aspects of a teacher’s job you can quantify on your resume include:

• List improvements in specific student performance or academic achievements
• Are there classroom assessments of your students' average improvement or growth?
• What initiatives led to improved student attendance or engagement?
• What percentage of students and parents took part in school-related activities you organized?
• Mention any awards or other recognition you’ve received for contributions to the school, student achievements, or teaching methods.
• Have you successfully improved classroom behavior, attendance, or reduced disruptions?

Experience examples

Look over these examples of right and wrong ways to list your work experience to better understand how to write yours.

• • Designed and implemented engaging and student-centered lesson plans, resulting in a 15% increase in students' test scores.
• • Integrated technology to enhance learning experiences and foster student engagement, leading to positive feedback from students and parents.
• • Collaborated with colleagues to develop cross-curricular projects, promoting critical thinking and teamwork skills among students.
• • Demonstrated strong classroom management skills, creating a positive and disciplined learning environment conducive to effective learning.
• • Actively participated in faculty meetings, professional development workshops, and parent-teacher conferences, contributing to the school community and student success.
• • Taught math lessons to high school students.
• • Handled classroom management.
• • Used technology in the classroom.
• • Conducted parent-teacher conferences.

The right example showcases the teacher's accomplishments with active wording and quantifies their impact on student performance, which is attractive to potential employers. The wrong example is vague and lacks details. It doesn't highlight the teacher's skills or contributions.

• • Developed an innovative art curriculum resulting in a 25% increase in student engagement and creative expression.
• • Organized and facilitated three successful school-wide art exhibitions, showcasing over 300 student artworks and receiving positive feedback from parents and the community.
• • Collaborated with classroom teachers to integrate art into core subjects, enhancing students' overall academic performance and creativity.
• • Implemented classroom management strategies that reduced disruptions by 40%, creating a focused and respectful learning environment.
• • Conducted art workshops for parents and staff, receiving a 95% satisfaction rate and strengthening community involvement in the art program.
• • Taught art to elementary students.
• • Managed the art classroom.
• • Collaborated with other teachers.

The ‘right’ example includes quantifiable results that showcase the teacher's effectiveness and contributions, making the resume stand out to potential employers. The ‘wrong’ example is ineffective as it lacks specific details and outcomes, which makes it less impactful for potential employers.

• • Designed and implemented inquiry-based science labs resulting in a 20% improvement in students' understanding of scientific concepts.
• • Coached the school's Science Olympiad team to win three regional championships and qualify for the state competition for the past two years.
• • Utilized technology to create interactive virtual labs, leading to a 30% increase in student engagement and participation.
• • Collaborated with the school's science department to align curriculum with state standards, resulting in a 10% improvement in standardized test scores.
• • Conducted weekly after-school tutoring sessions, resulting in a 95% passing rate for struggling students.
• • Taught science to high school students.
• • Coached Science Olympiad team.
• • Used technology in teaching.
• • Conducted after-school tutoring.

The right example measurably demonstrates their effectiveness and includes extracurriculars that shows them as a well-rounded and involved teacher. The wrong example only lists basic responsibilities without evidence of the teacher's effectiveness or achievements.

Why include a skills section?

A skills section on a teacher's resume is important because it provides a concise and organized overview of the teacher's key strengths, competencies, and qualifications. Here's how:

Showcases relevance: The skills section highlights the teacher's relevant abilities, ensuring employers quickly identify their suitability for the position.

Easy to scan: A well-organized skills section lets hiring managers quickly grasp the teacher's essential strengths and decide whether to continue reading the resume.

Demonstrates expertise: The skills section demonstrates the teacher's diverse expertise, showcasing the various aspects of teaching they excel at.

Quantifies impact: Quantifiable results and achievements within the skills section offer concrete evidence of the teacher's effectiveness. This makes the resume more compelling and memorable.

Tailored: The skills section should be customized to match the requirements of different teaching positions, highlighting the most relevant skills for each application.

Strengthens first impression: The skills section is usually placed near the top of the resume, catching the reader's attention early on. It sets a positive impression that encourages a recruiter to continue reading the entire document.

Step by step how to list

A strong skills section takes a little organization and thought. Here's a step-by-step guide to showcase your skills:

• Identify relevant skills: Tailor your skills section to the specific job description.
• Group and prioritize: Organize your skills and prioritize the most relevant ones.
• Be specific: Describe your skills clearly and provide quantifiable results.
• Use concise bullet points: Present your skills in bullet points and avoid lengthy paragraphs.
• Be honest: Include only skills you actually have, and be honest in your presentation of them.

Hard skills and soft skills

Hard and soft skills are essential for a successful teaching career. When applying for a teaching position, it is important to highlight both skill types in your resume and cover letter.

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that are directly applicable to a job or profession. They’re often quantifiable and measurable.

Soft skills are intangible, interpersonal qualities that improve communication and collaboration and may rely on emotional intelligence. They’re not as easily quantifiable as hard skills, but they’re essential for a teacher’s success.

Best hard skills for your teacher resume

Best soft skills for your teacher resume, example skills sections.

Nobody has all the skills we’ve listed, and no principal will expect you to. The best resume skills sections include a mix of hard and soft skills most relevant to the specific job opportunity.

Here are four examples of how to adapt a skills section for different teaching jobs and experience levels, and to highlight d

Experienced teacher

Professional Skills

New teacher

Elementary teacher, substitute math teacher, education / certifications.

It’s no mystery that you need a good education to be a teacher. Each school district can be different, but a teacher needs at least a bachelor's degree, in education or the subject they teach, along with a teaching certificate or license.

In most cases, though, the basics aren’t enough. Additional requirements, like teacher competency exams, specific training, background checks, or other expectations, may also apply.

Which education/certification is relevant?

As an example, to teach at the high school level, you typically need the following education and certifications:

• Bachelor's Degree: A bachelor's degree in the subject you'll teach is usually required.
• Teacher certification/license: A teaching certificate or license is required in most regions.
• Subject matter competency: A high school teacher is certainly expected to understand the subjects they teach.
• Background check: A background check is typically required before hiring.
• Continuing education: Some regions require you to pursue professional development to maintain your teaching credentials.

The specific education and certifications you’ll need will vary depending on the location and education system in place. So look up the specific requirements in your area to confirm you meet the expectations there.

How to list degrees and awards

As a teacher, it’s essential that you list your degrees (in reverse chronological order) on your resume. Include the degree name, major, institution, and graduation date.

Listing majors and minors on a teacher's resume is optional but can be beneficial if they're relevant to the teaching position or add value to your qualifications. Include them in the same section just below your degree entries.

Awards can highlight your dedication, accomplishments, and recognition as a professional educator, making you a more attractive candidate. List them in a separate section or under Education if they’re academic or teaching-related honors.

Mention the name of the award, the granting organization, and the date received. Emphasize awards demonstrating your teaching excellence, subject expertise, leadership, or contributions to the educational community.

• • What knowledge or experience did you acquire during your studies there? (e.g. Delivered a comprehensive marketing strategy)

This concise, organized education and awards section lists two degrees from top schools, including a master's from Harvard. It shows the candidate's commitment to teaching and learning, making them a compelling, competitive candidate.

The certification and awards sections identify their state teaching license and relevant certifications, underscoring their commitment to continuous learning. Their awards lend specific credibility to their success and effectiveness as a teacher.

Resume objective / summary

A resume objective is a short statement at the top of your resume that summarizes your career goals and why you’re applying for a particular job. Including an objective is important to catch the hiring committee's attention and highlight your skills and experience.

A teacher's resume objective should be short and to the point, highlighting the skills and experience relevant to the position you’re applying for. It should also be specific, mentioning the specific type of teaching position you’re interested in.

Here are some tips for crafting an attention-grabbing objective for your teacher resume:

• Start with a strong action verb. This will help to grab the hiring manager's attention.
• Include your skills and experience. Be specific about what you can do and your achievements.
• State the type of teaching position you’re interested in.
• Use keywords to help your resume pass through an applicant tracking system (ATS).
• Proofread carefully. Typos and grammatical errors are unacceptable on a teacher’s resume.

It may be tricky to fit all that into one or two sentences. Check out these examples and explanations of strong and weak teacher objectives to better understand how to write yours.

Strong Teacher Objectives

These objectives are strong because they’re short, to the point, and specific. They also describe the candidate's value proposition, and the type of teaching position they’re interested in, and include relevant keywords.

Weak Teacher Objectives

These objectives are weak because they’re vague, general, and don’t provide any specific information about the candidate's skills or experience. They also don’t mention the type of teaching position the candidate is interested in.

Other sections to include

There are a few optional teacher resume sections that you should consider including. Whether or not to include these sections is up to you, but showcasing these qualifications is a great way to make your resume stand out.

Awards & certification

Use this section to highlight any awards or certifications you’ve received to demonstrate the full breadth of your skills and experience.

Showing that you’re bilingual or multilingual can be valuable, especially in a school with a diverse student population.

Interests & hobbies

Include this section to show you’re well-rounded and have interests outside of teaching, which can make you a more interesting and engaging teacher.

• Interests & Hobbies:
• Playing guitar
• Learning new languages

Publications

Highlight any publications you’ve authored or co-authored to demonstrate your research skills and knowledge.

• "Teaching Math to English Language Learners," published in the Journal of Mathematics Education for Language Minority Students
• "Using Technology to Enhance Learning in the Mathematics Classroom," published in the Journal of Educational Technology
• "The Impact of Different Teaching Strategies on Student Achievement in Mathematics," published in the Journal of Educational Research

Presentations

The presentations you’ve given demonstrate your communication and public speaking skills and expertise in the subject you teach.

• "Teaching Math to English Language Learners," presented at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) annual conference.
• "Using Technology to Enhance Learning in the Mathematics Classroom," presented at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) annual conference.
• "The Impact of Different Teaching Strategies on Student Achievement in Mathematics," presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual conference.

Custom section title based on a job

A custom section is an opportunity to give the school or board you’re applying to better understand why you’re a great fit for a job. Consider including one if you want to showcase your skills in a specific job requirement in the job description.

To create a custom section, start by identifying the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. The section should be concise and easy to read, and it should use keywords that are relevant to the job.

Here are some examples of custom sections that you might include on your resume:

Experience with STEM Education

• Experience with Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Experience with Special Education
• Experience with Technology Integration
• Experience with Project-Based Learning

And here’s how you can lay one out:

• Developed and implemented a STEM curriculum for elementary school students
• Led a team of teachers in the implementation of the STEM curriculum
• Trained teachers on how to use STEM resources and activities
• Presented on STEM education at professional conferences

Cover letter matching your teacher's resume

It’s crucial that you include a cover letter as part of your application for a teaching job. It’s your opportunity to introduce yourself to the hiring manager, explain your interest in the position, and highlight your skills and experience.

A well-written cover letter can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting an interview. Follow these five steps to write a standout cover letter to complement your resume.

Teacher resume examples

Explore additional teacher resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

The Dance Teacher position boasts a rich history with roots in performing arts and physical education. Thus, trends in these areas often shape the dance teaching field.

The following advice will help you apply more effectively for Dance Teacher jobs:

• Practice and expertise in different dance styles are key. Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Latin. Successful dance teachers often have a versatile and extensive understanding of various genres.
• Highlight any experience in choreographing and staging dance performances. Lack of this can lead to early dismissal.
• Prioritize the dancing background that has impacted your teaching. Most accomplished dance teachers have a strong performance record, so emphasize your dancing experience and its influence on your teaching methodology.
• Don't merely list dance styles or shows you've performed in. Highlight how your knowledge improved your students' skills, e.g., "improved students' flexibility through...", "increased students' stage presence after..." etc. Stick to the "skill-action-results" pattern.

Looking to build your own Teacher resume?

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• Resume Templates

12+ Teacher Resume Examples + Skills & Formatting Tips

No matter if you’re a recent graduate applying for your first teaching job or an experienced teacher looking for your next opportunity, you’ll find game-changing tips for writing your teaching resume here.

We know you’ve had a hard time these past few years.

The education sector is fiercely competitive. Throw in budget cuts, mandatory certifications, a limited number of local opportunities, and increasing demands in the post-Covid reality and you get a hot mess.

The least we can do is make wiring a teacher resume easy for you. That’s why we created this guide.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Teacher resume examples for entry-level and experienced candidates
• Tips on how to format your teacher resume
• Advice on how to structure your resume and what sections to include
• How to quickly tailor your resume to each job ad to double your success rate

Let’s start with two teacher resume examples you can use as inspiration (or steal, slightly modify, and make your own).

Teacher Resume Sample for an Experienced Candidate (5+ Years of Experience)

Why this works: It’s simple: the candidate communicated their skills and accomplishments clearly. The Professional Summary section is crisp and includes hard numbers and quantifiable results. The same goes for the Work Experience section, where they focused on superspecific achievements rather than merely describing their day-to-day tasks and duties. The Conferences and Publications sections act as proof that the teacher is actively seeking professional development and is following new trends in the field. Finally, their Volunteer Work is relevant to the position and puts focus on the candidate’s commitment and drive.

Teacher Resume Template for a Recent Grad (with Limited Experience)

Why this works: Although Miles has little hands-on classroom experience, his resume is strong and convincing. The resume objective follows the writing rules to a tee – in 3 simple, yet achievement-packed sentences, Miles manages to convey the idea that he’s a great fit for the role. He added his internship experience to the work section, and also remembered to include the relevant Camp Counselor gig he enjoyed doing while in high school. The state-level and First Aid certifications definitely add credibility, while his volunteer work helps him come across as a person who practices what he preaches.

How to Format and Structure a Teacher Resume

When I say “format and structure,” here’s what I mean:

• Ensure your resume has a professional look and feel
• Include the proper (mandatory!) sections in the proper order

Let’s see what this means in practice.

How to give your teacher resume a professional look

Good design elements and font choice go a long way. Here are some easy-to-follow rules that will keep recruiters and administrators interested.

Pick a good font

Save Comic Cans and other fun fonts for your 1st-grade posters. Instead, go for a classic font that’s legible and doesn’t distract the reader. Some great fonts to use on a resume (in no particular order):

• Times New Roman

As for resume font size, we recommend 11 or 12pt for normal text . Your section titles and headers should be 14–16pt . In case your resume spills over to the second page by just a few lines, you can opt for a 10pt font size, but make sure it doesn’t look cluttered.

Pay attention to line spacing

Line spacing is the vertical white space between each consecutive line of text. A paragraph looking too dense? This means the line spacing could be increased. Stick to the optimal line spacing, between 1.15 and 1.5 points – this will help the hiring teams scan your resume more easily.

Set margins to 1 inch

This may sound like overkill, but we promise margins are important.

Margins that are too big may sound an alarm among the hiring managers – Is the candidate using white space to cover the obvious lack of experience? You definitely don’t want that. On the other hand, margins that are too small will leave your resume looking cluttered and visually overwhelming.

That’s why all resume coaches suggest adjusting them to one inch on each side .

Use large, attention-grabbing section headings

Remember that hiring decision-makers start their selection by bulk-skimming the resumes (or using Applicant Tracking Software, but more about that later) and you want yours to be clearly laid out and super skimmable.

To make the section headings stand out, use larger fonts (14-16pt) and bold for your headings . That way, the reader will find the most important bits of information at a glance. Points for you.

How to structure your teacher resume for maximum results

Again, there are two things to keep in mind:

• Use the reverse-chronological order when listing your items.
• Make sure you include all the mandatory (and some teacher-unique) sections.

Now let’s clarify this through some examples.

Use the reverse-chronological resume format when listing items

There are a few different resume formats to choose from, but most resumes today use the reverse-chronological format. (PS It’s a fancy name for something you’ve seen a million times.)

What’s typical of this format is that, in the Work Experience section, you start from your most recent job, and then work backwards from there . The same goes for the Education section, in case you attended multiple schools or have two or more degrees. This resume format is great because, as your career progresses, you’ll logically have your best and most recent accomplishments listed at the top of your resume (alongside another vital section, the Resume Profile ). This will allow you to list your most impressive and recent work experience first. Both human recruiters and ATS systems love having essential information in the top third of the page, so here’s an extra reason to go with this format.

Sections to include in your teacher resume

Your resume needs to include a few standard sections and follow a particular order (this is non-negotiable):

• Header with contact information
• Resume summary or objective (we’ll explain the difference in a bit)
• Work experience

There are some optional (but recommended) additional sections to include:

Certifications

• Professional affiliations
• Publications
• Conference attendance

Let’s break these sections down and see how to make the most of them.

Start with a Header with Contact Information

This is a no-brainer. You want to include relevant contact details so that the HR department can get in touch.

You should include:

• Your first and last name
• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn URL

This is how one candidate did it:

Write a Resume Summary or Resume Objective Statement

This is the part that sits right under your contact information and has a few versions and names. You’ve probably seen it as Resume Profile too. Despite the confusion, it’s fairly simple. You’ll write a resume objective if you’re an entry-level candidate. If not, you’ll go with the resume summary . (Check out our in-depth guide on Resume Profile to learn how that’s different).

Whichever one you pick, there are a few things to keep in mind :

• Resume summaries/objectives are brief, so keep them to 3-5 sentences at most.
• This (alongside your Work Experience section) is the sole most important part of your resume. It sits at the top of the page and grabs all the attention, so consider it your sales pitch – a condensed version of your entire resume where you’re trying to persuade the hiring team to believe in what you have to offer. How do you do that?
• The goal here is to briefly describe who you are as a teacher and what your best skills, abilities and qualifications are. Ideally, you’ll pick out a few unique details or achievements and quantify wherever possible.
• Finally, make sure to focus on what you can bring to the table rather than what you want from the job. In other words, focus on them rather than yourself.

Teacher resume summary example

Here’s what Jonah, an experienced biology teacher, wrote in his resume summary:

Why this works:

Let’s analyze this well-written teacher resume summary. Remember the rules? With four short, condensed sentences, Johan managed to distill his entire career into a short killer paragraph. He conveyed his passion for teaching, knowledge of pedagogical methods and sealed the deal with an award. In the last sentence, he clearly communicates what he’s looking to bring to the High School he’s applying for. 

And here’s what not to do (I’ll give you two bad examples, one worse than the other):

Why this is good, but not great:

At first glance, this looks like a solid summary, but experienced hiring managers won’t be impressed. Here’s what can be improved:

• While “energetic”, “compassionate” and “result-oriented” are all relevant teacher qualities, these are the top 3 adjectives that everyone uses. Just look at a few resume templates if you don’t believe us. You can do better than that. Think what makes you unique instead of using corny adjectives that the recruiters have seen a million times.
• The summary lacks specificity – ”implements effective teaching strategies” ( Which exactly? ), “meet the unique needs of all student learners” ( What needs? ), “maintain a productive learning environment” ( How? ). Instead of empty phrases, this candidate could have shortened the second sentence and added a few numbers to back up their arguments. For starters, they could have added the info on how long they had been teaching.

And here’s another lackluster example:

Why this absolutely sucks: Look twice and you’ll see that this is actually the same example. The previous version was filled with overcomplex, powerful, and (we dare say) pretentious language. And yet, this version is even worse because it describes the candidate in a way so basic that their unique dynamic abilities got lost in translation. 

Remember: aim for clarity, be brief, and quantify wherever possible. If you need more help, check out our in-depth resume summar y guide .

Teacher resume objective examples

Let’s examine this well-written teacher resume objective by Alexandra.

Why this works: Instead of pulling your hair out because you lack work experience or are a recent graduate, think about how you can craft your resume objective to show that you’re driven and that you have transferable skills that will come in handy. In the example above, the candidate mentions key skills for a teacher – strong communication and people skills. Her tutoring experience (similar to volunteer work) also sends good signals to the hiring managers. Finally, the resume objective is short and to the point, with zero fluff.

And here’s a teacher resume objective style to avoid:

Why this is wrong: Yikes! This candidate surely kept their objective short, but made some serious faux pas. If I were looking at this resume, I’d have no idea which courses this person could teach, whether they’re certified or not, and the “motivated” with “great organizational skills” isn’t telling me much either. Remember the golden rule – actionable, quantifiable, with as much relevant info in 3-4 sentences. 

Also, check out our resume objective guide for more ideas. 

Highlight Your Experience in the Work History Section

Now this is the part that will make up the bulk of your resume and that you really want to nail. The summary/objective and work history should go hand in hand – the ideal work history should reinforce any skills and qualifications you claimed to have in your summary.

To put your best foot forward, you’ll want to follow these basic rules:

• List your work history in the reverse-chronological order, so that your most recent work is listed first. 
• The more recent the job, the more details you’ll want to include.
• List your role, dates worked and then describe each position briefly using 3-5 bullet points and keywords listed in the job description.
• A major mistake candidates make here is listing their day-to-day duties and responsibilities instead of focusing on achievements and measurable results. Apply the same rule from the summary section – make your bullets actionable and quantifiable wherever possible.

Here’s how you can improve a mediocre work experience section in a few simple tweaks:

Why this is wrong: Another unimpressive example that many candidates think is actually good. Here are some problems:

• Instead of starting with their position and listing it in bold as the most prominent information, they chose to start with the school name.
• None of the five bullets contains any (measurable) results or accomplishments 
• The candidate merely listed what their day-to-day duties were.
• Some of the descriptions lack substance (e.g. “Develop activities that promote academic achievement”)

Here’s how you can improve it in just a few minutes:

In case you need more information on how to write your work history section , this guide will give you all the answers.

List Your Education and Certifications

This should be fairly simple. When listing education in your teacher resume, there are some basic rules to stick to. Make sure to include:

• Your degree
• Field of study and major
• School name
• Graduation date

And some bonus bits to be aware of:

• You don’t need to include the information about your high school if you have a bachelor’s degree. 
• If you have degrees above the bachelor’s level, list them all and use the reverse-chronological format (start with the most recent one and go backwards).
• In this section, you can include a list of any certifications or licenses, or you can organize your certifications in a separate section. 

Here’s an example you can use as inspiration:

To find more examples and tips on how to organize this section, check out our curated guide on how to list education on your resume .  

Showcase Your Top Skills

Next, let’s tackle the Skills section. This is where you list a few relevant skills and abilities to send extra “I’m the one” signals to the hiring team. Sounds easy, but there are two common pitfalls to avoid:

• Don’t just list any skills. If you already mentioned “classroom management” in your work history or resume, opt for something else in this section. Think about the skills that are relevant to this position.
• Take a closer look at the job ad and the requirements outlined there. Then make sure to use a few key phrases from there to make sure your resume gets picked up by the ATS system.

Take a look at this example job ad and just how many keywords they’ve listed as relevant.

You can list 5-10 skills in total . It’s best to have a mix of hard skills (like classroom software) and soft skills (e.g. your amazing knowledge transfer abilities).

Example skills for teacher resume 

Finally, here’s our ultimate list of teacher resume skills that you can use as guidance.

Soft skills for teachers

• Responsible
• Imaginative
• Team player
• Strong collaboration skills
• Great communicator
• Ability to engage
• Ability to empower
• Problem solving
• Technology integration
• Uses various teaching methods
• Conflict resolution
• Inclusive teaching
• Curriculum knowledge
• Discipline management
• Continuous assessment
• Record-keeping
• Standardized testing

Technical (hard) skills for teachers

• Google Classroom
• Google Drive
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Common Curriculum
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Powerpoint 
• Google Meet
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Workday Student

Add the Extra Sections to Really Make a Difference

Once you have listed all relevant work experience and a comprehensive overview of your education, you’ll have the option to include additional sections.

Although frequently referred to as “optional,” these teacher resume extra sections can earn you some extra points. Towards the end of your resume, include things like certifications, volunteer experience, conferences, awards, hobbies , and any foreign languages you may speak. 

Remember you’re up against dozens of other candidates with similar skills, backgrounds, education, and work history, so these sections can really help you stand out. 

In your teaching career, there are plenty of certifications you’ll obtain, but here are some that hiring managers love to see in a resume for a teaching position.

• CPR/First Aid
• STEM Teaching and Learning Certificate
• International Baccalaureate 
• Early Childhood Education
• Reciprocity
• Microsoft Certified Education (MCE)
• OSHA Safety Certificate (40 hrs)
• Training in Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention
• Diversity and Inclusion for Educators
• Special Education
• GATE (Gifted and Talented Education)

There are 3 ways you can present your certifications:

• Include them in your Education section.
• Have them in a separate Certifications and Licenses section towards the end of your resume.
• Include the certification(s) in the resume header, e.g. Miles Holden, Certified Elementary School Teacher .

You don’t have to be a contender for the National Teacher of the Year Award to show off in your resume. And if you think the award you won isn’t worth mentioning, think again – it may be the only differentiating factor between you and another candidate. 

Here are some of the awards you can add to your teacher resume:

• Excellence in Education Award
• NEA Foundation for Teaching Excellence
• Pinnacle Award for Excellence in Education
• State/County/School Teacher of the Year Award

Volunteer Experience

As a teacher, you have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world and help others. The same goes for volunteering. That’s why any volunteer work you’ve done will only reinforce the other qualities you mentioned in your teacher resume.

If you’ve volunteered as a teacher abroad during your studies or gap year, definitely add it to your resume (especially if you’re an entry-level candidate). That year you spent teaching English in Cambodia? It will signal the recruiters that your intercultural skills are solid, that you have an open mind and are able to connect with others – all highly-prized qualities in a teacher.

Publications and Conferences

Teachers often attend workshops and conferences, and some of them are worth mentioning in your resume, especially if you engaged as a speaker or panelist. If your work has appeared in a journal or if you have an article published in The Language Magazine, then definitely add that too.

When teaching in a diverse setting, foreign languages come in handy. That’s why you should list all the languages you speak, along with the level of proficiency and any certifications you’ve received. 

Customize Your Teacher Resume to the Job Description

No job ad is the same, so don’t expect to have a single, generic resume version that you’ll just blast-send to recruiters. This is where going the extra mile really pays off. 

If you’d like your teacher resume to hit all the right notes, you’ll have to tailor it so that it reflects the requirements from the job description. 

This literally means reading through the job ad, underlining keywords and phrases, and then using those keywords in your resume. It also means customizing your resume summary to include the name of the school you’re applying to. 

If this sounds like too much work, there are tools that can help. For example, use the Resume Builder to create an ATS-friendly resume in under 30 minutes. Once you’re done, AI goes through your resume and looks for room for improvement. Neat.

You should also check out the 8 video lessons covering the best practices of resume writing, section by section, with top career coach, Pamela Skillings .

It gives more detail about what we discussed in this article + gives you a step-by-step process you can follow.

And then, when you land the interview, you can prep to ace the big day.

You can check out the tool here or get in touch with us on LinkedIn for more info. 

Before You Go

In summary, here are some key things to remember when writing your teacher resume:

• Format your resume so that it’s scannable and clearly laid-out. If you need to pack a lot of information and keep everything on a single page, a two-column layout may work better.
• If you have little hands-on teaching experience, start your resume with an objective statement. For experienced teachers, a resume summary is a better choice.
• Use the reverse chronological order when listing your work experience and focus on the deliverables and accomplishments rather than describing your day-to-day duties.
• Don’t wing your additional sections. Your awards, certifications, conferences, YouTube or TikTok all matter and may prove to be the deciding factors if you’re up against another strong candidate.
• For best results, tailor your resume to each teaching position you’re applying for. 

Pamela Skillings

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8 Teacher Resume Examples That Got Hired in 2024

As a teacher, your resume is the first impression that you impart on potential employers. It acts as a bridge between you and your dream job, showcasing your credentials and experience. A great teacher resume can make all the difference in securing a job interview, and ultimately, landing the job.

The purpose of this article is to provide 8 teacher resume examples that got hired. These examples are intended to inspire and help enhance your own teacher resume, highlighting the most important aspects of a successful resume in the education industry. From formatting to key skills and accomplishments, this article aims to give you the tools to make your teacher resume stand out from the rest.

Understanding the Key Components of an Impressive Teacher Resume

When it comes to crafting an impressive teacher resume, it’s essential to understand the key components that make up a strong application. Here are the six essential components that every great teacher resume should include:

A. Contact Information

At a minimum, your teacher resume should always include your full name, email address, and phone number. Make sure these details are accurate and up-to-date, as employers will need to be able to contact you easily if they want to arrange an interview.

B. Professional Summary

A professional summary is a brief, concise statement that summarizes your experience, skills, and qualifications. It’s usually the first section of your resume and should grab the reader’s attention immediately. Your professional summary should include your career goals and highlight your unique value as a teacher.

C. Education

Your education section should list all relevant degrees and teaching certifications you possess. Include the name of the institution, the dates of attendance, the degree or certification earned, and any academic honors or awards received. List your highest degree first and work backward from there.

D. Teaching Experience

Highlighting your teaching experience is crucial when applying for a teaching position. List your previous teaching jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each job, include your job title, the name of the school or institution, the dates of employment, and a brief summary of your responsibilities and achievements.

E. Certifications and Licenses

In addition to your education section, it’s essential to include a separate section for any additional certifications or licenses you hold. This could include endorsements for specific subject areas, specialized training, or any additional teaching licenses you might have earned.

F. Relevant Skills

Finally, a section dedicated to your skills and qualifications can help set you apart from other candidates. Be sure to include any relevant skills, such as proficiency in a foreign language, technology skills, or experience with specific teaching methodologies.

Crafting an impressive teacher resume requires attention to detail and a strong understanding of what employers are looking for. By including all six key components and tailoring your resume to the specific job you’re applying for, you’ll have a strong chance of landing that coveted teaching position.

8 Teacher Resume Examples That Got Hired

When it comes to crafting the perfect teacher resume, it’s important to demonstrate your expertise and experience in the field. The following 8 teacher resume examples showcase individuals who not only have impressive backgrounds, but also successfully landed teaching positions.

A. Jennifer Smith

Summary: Dedicated and passionate teacher with a strong background in fitness and wellness. Highly skilled in working with children of all ages, fostering a positive learning environment, and promoting physical and mental well-being. Excellent communication and leadership abilities.

Experience:

Elementary School Teacher ABC Elementary School, City, State September 2017 – Present

• Design and implement engaging lesson plans that align with curriculum standards.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, promoting student participation and collaboration.
• Utilize creative teaching methods to enhance student learning and motivation.
• Provide individualized attention and support to students with diverse learning needs.
• Collaborate with parents and colleagues to ensure the academic and personal development of each student.

Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2017

Jennifer Smith’s teacher resume is impressive, as it not only highlights her background in fitness and wellness, but also her experience working with children. Smith’s resume displays key skills such as communication, creativity, and leadership, making her a highly desirable candidate for any teaching position.

B. Michael Johnson

Summary: Highly motivated and experienced educator with a successful background in professional football. Skilled in leadership, teamwork, and mentoring. Committed to empowering students and fostering their personal growth through effective teaching strategies.

Physical Education Teacher XYZ Middle School, City, State August 2018 – Present

• Develop and implement comprehensive physical education programs for students in grades 6-8.
• Teach various sports and fitness activities, emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship.
• Monitor and evaluate student progress, providing constructive feedback and support.
• Organize and oversee extracurricular sports programs, coaching and mentoring student athletes.
• Collaborate with fellow educators and parents to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Master of Education in Physical Education University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2018

Michael Johnson’s teacher resume may surprise some, as he is better known for his career in professional football. However, Johnson’s resume boasts not only his experience as a volunteer coach, but also his track record of success and leadership on and off the field. These skills translate well into the classroom, making Johnson a top choice for any educator position.

C. Sarah Anderson

Summary: Compassionate and dedicated educator with a background in youth development and wellness initiatives. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Passionate about creating a positive and inclusive learning environment for students.

Health Education Teacher 123 High School, City, State September 2016 – Present

• Teach comprehensive health education curriculum to high school students, covering topics such as nutrition, mental health, and personal wellness.
• Facilitate engaging classroom discussions and interactive activities to promote student understanding and critical thinking.
• Develop and implement age-appropriate health education programs and initiatives.
• Provide guidance and support to students, addressing individual needs and concerns.
• Collaborate with school staff and community organizations to promote student well-being.

Bachelor of Science in Health Education University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2016

Sarah Anderson’s resume is an excellent example of how to showcase transferable skills. While she may not have a background in education, Anderson’s resume highlights her experience working with youth and promoting health and wellness initiatives. Her resume also exemplifies her exceptional communication and leadership abilities, making her a highly qualified candidate for any teaching position.

D. Matthew Turner

Summary: Innovative and enthusiastic educator with a strong background in engineering and technology. Skilled in making complex concepts accessible to students. Committed to fostering a love for STEM subjects and inspiring students to pursue careers in related fields.

STEM Teacher ABC High School, City, State August 2015 – Present

• Design and deliver engaging lessons in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Integrate hands-on activities and real-world applications to enhance student understanding and interest in STEM subjects.
• Mentor and guide students in participating in science fairs and robotics competitions.
• Utilize technology and multimedia resources to facilitate interactive and dynamic learning experiences.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop and implement cross-curricular projects.

Master of Education in STEM Education University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2015

Matthew Turner’s teacher resume is unique, as it showcases his background in engineering and technology. Despite not having traditional teaching experience, Turner’s resume demonstrates his ability to innovate and inspire others – valuable qualities in any educator. His expertise in science and mathematics make him an ideal candidate for a teaching job in related fields.

E. Emily Roberts

Summary: Enthusiastic and dedicated teacher with a passion for literature and writing. Experienced in fostering creativity and critical thinking skills in students. Committed to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment.

English Language Arts Teacher XYZ High School, City, State September 2017 – Present

• Develop and implement comprehensive English language arts curriculum for high school students.
• Teach literature, grammar, and writing skills, promoting analytical thinking and effective communication.
• Facilitate class discussions and interactive activities to enhance student understanding and appreciation of literature.
• Provide personalized feedback on student writing assignments to foster growth and improvement.
• Organize and lead creative writing workshops and extracurricular activities.

Master of Arts in English Education University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2017

Emily Roberts’s teacher resume is a testament to her impressive background in literature and writing, as well as her experience as a civil rights activist. Her resume showcases her strengths in creative writing, communication, and mentorship, making her a highly sought-after candidate for any teaching position in the humanities.

F. Mark Thompson

Summary: Accomplished and versatile educator with a background in media and communication. Skilled in connecting with students and fostering their personal and academic development. Committed to promoting a love for learning and empowering students to reach their full potential.

Media Studies Teacher ABC High School, City, State August 2016 – Present

• Teach media studies courses, covering topics such as film analysis, journalism, and digital media production.
• Engage students in hands-on media projects, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
• Facilitate discussions on media literacy, encouraging students to think critically about the information they consume.
• Guide students in producing and editing media content using industry-standard software and equipment.
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate media education across the curriculum.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2016

Mark Thompson’s teacher resume demonstrates his extensive experience in media and communication, as well as his dedication to philanthropy and education. His resume highlights his ability to connect with individuals from all backgrounds, as well as his leadership and mentorship skills. These qualities would make him an asset in any teaching capacity.

G. David Miller

Summary: Dedicated and passionate social studies educator with a focus on government and civic education. Skilled in fostering active citizenship and critical thinking skills in students. Committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills to become informed and engaged members of society.

Social Studies Teacher XYZ Middle School, City, State September 2015 – Present

• Teach engaging social studies curriculum, with a focus on government, civics, and current events.
• Facilitate classroom discussions and debates, encouraging students to develop informed opinions and participate in democratic processes.
• Incorporate technology and multimedia resources to enhance student learning and engagement.
• Organize and lead mock elections and community service projects to promote civic involvement.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary projects and promote a holistic understanding of social studies.

Master of Arts in Social Studies Education University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2015

David Miller’s teacher resume showcases his extensive experience in politics and leadership, as well as his commitment to education reform. His resume demonstrates his skills in communication, collaboration, and advocacy, making him a strong candidate for any teaching position related to social studies or government.

H. Rachel Adams

Summary: Passionate and knowledgeable educator with a strong background in science and technology. Skilled in delivering engaging lessons and fostering curiosity in students. Committed to providing a hands-on learning experience and preparing students for success in STEM fields.

Science Teacher ABC Middle School, City, State August 2016 – Present

• Develop and implement dynamic science curriculum for middle school students, covering topics such as biology, chemistry, and physics.
• Utilize inquiry-based learning methods to promote student engagement and critical thinking skills.
• Conduct hands-on experiments and demonstrations to enhance understanding of scientific concepts.
• Provide individualized support and guidance to students, including extra help sessions and mentorship opportunities.
• Collaborate with fellow educators to organize science fairs and STEM-related events.

Bachelor of Science in Biology University Name, City, State Graduation: May 2016

Rachel Adams’s teacher resume showcases her extensive background in science and technology, as well as her exceptional communication and teaching abilities. Adams’s resume highlights her research accomplishments and her ability to simplify complex concepts for students. With her expertise in physics and mathematics, Adams would be an exceptional candidate for a teaching position in the field of STEM.

Key Takeaways: What Worked in These Teacher Resumes?

After analyzing the 8 teacher resumes that got hired, we identified some common themes and tips that can help you craft a compelling resume.

A. Common Themes

Clear and concise summary: All resumes had a well-written summary, highlighting the teacher’s experience and skills. It’s essential to make your summary short and impactful since it’s the first thing the recruiter will read.

Relevant keywords: Teachers must know the specific teaching skills and keywords the school is looking for and include them in their resumes. These skills can come from the job description or the school’s values and goals.

Education section: Since teaching is a highly academic profession, the education section plays a crucial role in a teacher’s resume. Adding relevant degrees and certifications, and highlighting academic achievements is an essential aspect of a teacher’s resume.

Experience: The work experience section should highlight the teacher’s teaching experience, impact on student learning, and their soft skills with colleagues, students, and parents.

B. Tips to Remember

Tailor your resume: It’s critical to customize your resume to the school and the position you’re applying for. Identify the school’s specific teaching goals, values, student demographics, and tailor your resume accordingly.

Highlight your achievements: Rather than describing your job responsibilities, focus on your achievements as a teacher. Highlight your impact on student learning, curriculum development, teacher training, or parent involvement.

Use quantifiable results: Use numbers and percentages to showcase your achievements. For example, if you increased student test scores, highlight the percentage increase.

Emphasize soft skills: Teaching requires teamwork, collaboration, communication, and empathy. Emphasize these soft skills by providing specific examples of how you worked with colleagues, students, or parents.

Keep it concise: Since recruiters have to scan multiple resumes, it’s essential to keep your resume concise and to the point. Use bullet points, short sentences, and avoid lengthy paragraphs.

These common themes and tips will help you create an effective teacher’s resume. Remember to tailor your resume to each job application, highlight your achievements, and use quantifiable results to showcase your impact. Finally, emphasize your soft skills and keep your resume concise to stand out to recruiters.

Crafting Your Own Teacher Resume that Stands Out

When it comes to job hunting, a well-crafted resume can make all the difference. As a teacher, your resume is even more critical because you’re not just selling yourself, but your ability to educate and inspire. In this section, we’ll explore five key tips for crafting a standout teacher resume that will catch a hiring manager’s attention.

A. Analyze the Job Posting

Before you start drafting your resume, take the time to carefully review the job posting. Pay close attention to the specific requirements and qualifications the school or district is looking for in a teacher. Then, tailor your resume to highlight those skills and experiences that match the job posting. Use the same keywords and phrases from the job posting to ensure that your resume passes through any automated screening processes.

B. Highlight Your Experience

Your teaching experience is one of the most critical aspects of your resume. Be sure to highlight any relevant teaching experience you’ve had in the past, including student teaching, internships, and any part-time or full-time teaching positions. Focus on your accomplishments and specific examples of how you made a positive impact on your students, school, or community.

C. Emphasize Your Skills

Beyond teaching experience, your skills are also essential to highlight in your resume. These can include technical skills such as proficiency in educational software or online learning platforms, but also soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and creativity. Be sure to give concrete examples of how you’ve demonstrated these skills in the classroom.

D. Tailor Your Resume to the School and Position

Every school and position is unique, and your resume should reflect that. Take the time to research the school and district, including their mission statement, values, and any initiatives or programs they’re involved in. Use this information to customize your resume to show how you align with their goals and values. You might even consider adding a personalized objective statement or professional summary that speaks specifically to the school and position.

E. Keep it Concise and Error-Free

Finally, it’s essential to keep your resume concise and error-free. The hiring manager likely has many resumes to review, so keep your resume to no more than two pages. Use bullet points to make it easy to skim and keep formatting consistent and professional. Finally, proofread and edit your resume thoroughly to ensure there are no errors or typos.

By following these five key tips for crafting a standout teacher resume, you’ll increase your chances of landing the teaching job of your dreams. Happy job hunting!

Examples of Powerful Resume Summaries

A great summary statement can make all the difference in a teacher’s resume. Here are three examples of teacher resume summaries that stand out:

A. Example 1:

Dedicated and motivated elementary school teacher with over 10 years of experience in creating an inclusive and engaging classroom environment. Skilled in developing and implementing lesson plans that cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. Exceptional communicator with parents and colleagues, fostering positive relationships and school community.

This summary effectively showcases the teacher’s experience and skills while highlighting their commitment to creating an inclusive and positive learning environment.

B. Example 2:

Passionate and innovative high school English teacher focused on engaging and inspiring students through literature and writing. Skilled in incorporating technology in the classroom to enhance learning experiences. Committed to professional development and implementing best practices to foster student success.

This summary showcases the teacher’s passion for their subject matter and their dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest teaching methods and technology.

C. Example 3:

Experienced special education teacher with a proven track record of improving the academic and social outcomes for students with diverse needs. Skilled in collaborating with other educators, parents, and therapists to create individualized education plans that meet student goals. Compassionate and patient, dedicated to ensuring every student receives the support and resources needed to thrive.

This summary highlights the teacher’s specialized expertise in special education and their ability to collaborate effectively with other professionals to provide the best possible support for their students.

In all three examples, the summaries are concise, specific, and highlight the most important aspects of the teacher’s experience and skills. These are the kinds of summaries that catch the eye of hiring managers and can help a teacher stand out among a pool of candidates.

Relevant Skills to Include in Your Teacher Resume

When crafting your teacher resume, it’s important to showcase your relevant skills as a professional educator. These skills can be divided into four categories:

A. Technical skills

Technical skills refer to your proficiency in using certain tools and technologies that aid in teaching and classroom management. Examples of technical skills that you can include in your teacher resume are:

• Learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle
• Educational software and applications like Kahoot, Quizlet, or Google Classroom
• Multimedia tools such as PowerPoint, Prezi, or Flipgrid
• Online teaching platforms like Zoom or Skype
• Classroom automation tools like Smartboards or Promethean boards

Highlighting your technical skills can give you an advantage when applying for teaching jobs that involve online or blended learning environments.

B. Soft skills

Soft skills are personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with students, colleagues, and parents. These skills show your emotional intelligence, communication skills, and interpersonal abilities. Some soft skills that can make you stand out as a teacher include:

• Effective communication skills
• Collaboration and teamwork skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Empathy and understanding
• Creative problem-solving
• Patience and perseverance

Emphasizing your soft skills in your teacher resume can convince recruiters that you possess the right attitude and personality to become a successful teacher.

C. Leadership skills

Leadership skills refer to your ability to motivate, guide, and inspire others to achieve common goals. These skills are essential for teachers who want to become department heads, curriculum coordinators, or instructional coaches. Some leadership skills that you can highlight in your teacher resume are:

• Strategic planning and decision-making
• Coaching and mentoring
• Project management and delegation
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• Data analysis and feedback

Demonstrating your leadership skills in your teacher resume can give you a competitive edge when applying for leadership positions in schools or districts.

D. Specific skill sets for different teaching roles

Apart from the general skills mentioned above, specific teaching roles require particular skill sets that align with their requirements and goals. Here are some examples of skill sets that you can include in your teacher resume:

• Elementary school teachers: Classroom management, differentiated instruction, phonics instruction, storytelling
• Special education teachers: Individualized education plans (IEPs), behavior management, assistive technology, collaboration with therapists
• High school teachers: Content expertise, curriculum design, assessment and grading, motivational strategies
• ESL teachers: English language proficiency assessment, cultural awareness, second language acquisition theories, scaffolding techniques

Highlighting your specific skill set for your target teaching role can show recruiters that you have the necessary expertise and experience for the position.

Your teacher resume should showcase your technical, soft, and leadership skills as well as your specific skill set for your target teaching role.

Importance of Visual Appeal in Your Resume

Your resume is often the first impression you make on a potential employer. Making sure it is visually appealing can make the difference between getting noticed or getting passed over. Here are a few key elements to keep in mind when designing your teacher resume.

A. Choosing the Right Color Scheme

The right color scheme can set the tone for your entire resume. Stick to colors that are professional, yet eye-catching. Consider using accent colors that complement each other to make headings and important details stand out. Remember, the key is to strike a balance between being visually appealing and professional.

B. Prioritizing White Space

White space, or negative space, is the empty space around elements on your resume. This space is just as important as the content. When used effectively, it can make your resume less cluttered and overwhelming, making it easier for the hiring manager to read.

C. Incorporating Relevant Images and Graphics

Using relevant images and graphics can help in making an immediate visual impact. Consider incorporating a headshot, portfolio samples or logos, graphs, charts or other graphics that highlight your accomplishments. However, do it sparingly as too many images can be overwhelming.

D. Common Resume Design Mistakes to Avoid

While designing your teacher resume, there are a few common mistakes you should avoid, such as using too many colors or hard-to-read fonts. Avoid using generic graphic elements like clip art, instead, use personalized and adjusted design features. Keep in mind that the focus of your resume should be the content and not the design.

Visual appeal is a critical component in any teacher’s resume, challenging them to creatively communicate their achievements and potential with limited space available. By incorporating the right color scheme, prioritizing white space, and incorporating relevant images and graphics while avoiding common design mistakes, you can make sure your resume stands out from the competition.

Dealing with Employment Gaps

When putting together a teacher resume, one issue that many applicants face is how to deal with employment gaps. While taking time off from teaching to pursue other goals or handle personal matters is not uncommon, it can be challenging to explain that time away to potential employers. However, there are strategies you can use to address gaps in your employment history that will help you present yourself in the best possible light.

A. Honesty is the Best Policy

When dealing with any aspect of your resume, honesty is always the best policy. If you have taken time away from teaching due to illness, caring for a family member, or other personal reasons, it is okay to be up-front about that. While you don’t need to provide every detail of your personal life, you can mention briefly why you stepped away from teaching and how you used that time.

B. Explanation of Gaps

Providing a brief explanation of your gap in employment can be helpful when addressing potential concerns. This might include mentioning that you took time off to raise a family, pursue a degree, or even travel. However, keep in mind that you don’t need to justify your decision to take time off.

When addressing employment gaps, it is also important to emphasize how you used that time to grow and learn. This is where the focus should be instead of the gap itself. By emphasizing the positive experiences and accomplishments you gained during your time away from teaching, you can help employers see the value you could bring to their organization.

C. Skills Gained During the Gap

One way to ease concerns about an employment gap is to describe the skills you gained during that time. Many activities, such as caring for a family member or volunteering, can help you develop skills that are transferable to teaching. For example, if you took time off to travel, you might have learned valuable skills such as communication, adaptability, and intercultural competence that could be useful in the classroom.

When explaining your skills gained during your gap, be specific and give examples. This will help potential employers understand the value you could bring to the classroom. By emphasizing the skills you gained during your gap, you can help show employers that while you may have taken time away from teaching, you continued to develop new skills and gain valuable experience that will benefit their organization.

Dealing with employment gaps on your teacher resume can be challenging, but it’s important to be honest and focus on the skills you gained during your time away from teaching. By emphasizing your accomplishments and transferable skills, you can help potential employers see the value you could bring to their organization.

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How to Write a Teacher Resume (Plus What Experts Say Most Teachers Forget)

Written by Jeanne Sager

When you’re pondering how to write a teacher resume, it’s tempting to sit down with teacher resume examples, pull up teacher resume templates, and just plain copy and paste. Whether you’ve just graduated from college with your teaching degree or you’re looking to change to a new school district, you have got a lot on your plate already— not just writing a teaching resume but applying for teaching jobs, and of course nailing that teaching job interview !

But a teacher resume should reflect you personally, and while resume examples can give you a great starting point, you want to make sure you’re hitting all the right notes.

Every expert teacher on the Teach Starter team has been in your shoes, so we wanted to make things just a little bit easier with some solid tips on what should go in a teacher’s resume, what shouldn’t, and what most entry-level teachers  and even veteran teachers forget to mention! Read on for a teacher resume example format, plus tips on how long a teaching resume can go before it’s too long.

Print a teacher cover letter template and resume template to get started!

How to Write a Teaching Resume

One thing we often hear from new teachers is the concern that they just haven’t done enough yet to write a teaching resume that will wow a district. But just consider this: The Learning Policy Institute estimates United States school districts will be in need of about 316,000 new teachers in the year 2025 … and everyone has to start somewhere!

Besides when we sat down with Sidney Green, a resume writing manager at job hunting site iHire , to talk about crafting the perfect teacher resume, she pointed out there’s plenty that new teachers have already done that’s resume-worthy. You just need to know how to format a resume the right way.

“There’s a LOT of practicum experience that goes into your degree, there’s a lot of classroom experience,” Green says. All that time you spent student teaching, all those projects you created, all those lesson plans you wrote? These are examples of valid experiences that belong on a teaching resume!

When you’re ready to get started with your resume, Green suggests sitting down and compiling lists of the big projects you did in college, any academic projects or research you might have done, as well as honors and awards. Add to that any accreditations you have earned, any volunteer work you have done that may relate to education (remember those hours you spent tutoring or working with Big Brothers/Big Sisters?), and memberships in any organizations.

If you have prior work experience — even if it isn’t in the field of education — you’ll want to include that too, as you may be able to showcase customer service skills, people management, and a work ethic.

Find out the most common teaching interview questions , and how to blow your interview panel away!

Teacher Resume Example Format

This is the trickiest part for many job-seekers, not just teachers, Green says. There’s a tendency to put your work experience up front. It’s something you may see on teacher resume examples and be tempted to copy. But if you’re looking for your first teaching job, that’s a big resume no-no.

Instead, teaching resumes should include as much education-relevant information as you can right near the top where a recruiter or hiring manager can see it. That means right after the part where you put your name and contact information, you should dive right into your education and your experiences in a classroom.

Every single resume is different — and they should be — but Green offers this as a basic teaching resume example format. From top to bottom:

• Name and contact information — This should include the address of your LinkedIn page if you have one (and if you’ve updated it).
• Summary and skills section — These two can be combined into one, but this is the place you’re going to want to talk about what you CAN DO including your in-classroom skills, and other relevant things you know how to do as a teacher.
• Diversity statement — These are becoming more common on resumes, including teaching resumes, Green says, and while it should not be the shining star, it’s certainly worth including fairly high on the page. A diversity statement can include past activities but also future plans to increase inclusion and equity.
• Certifications and education — Include your degree and the school you got it from, plus certifications you’ve received such as passing your state’s required teacher exam. The latter is something Green sees most entry-level teachers forget, and yet it’s vital information that will help districts determine if you’re ready to get into a classroom.
• Honors, awards, affiliations, and memberships — From graduating summa cum laude to being inducted into an honor society for educators, all of that belongs here.
• Community involvement/volunteer efforts — If have done volunteer work that relates directly to education, those skills may help get you an interview, and it’s worth putting them here. If your community work doesn’t really relate to education, it’s still good to have on the resume, but you may want to flip with the next portion.
• Work experience — Wrap up the bottom of the resume with work experience that doesn’t relate to your new career path.

Other Teacher Resume Tips

Wondering how long your teaching resume really needs to be?  Teachers can ignore the “one-page” resume rule you may have heard, Green says. A page and a half is fine, so long as you are highlighting relevant information that helps make you shine.

Need help building your teacher portfolio? We’ve got you covered there too! Download any of our polished and professional teacher portfolio templates, plus get a 50% off offer for a Teach Starter subscription available only to new teachers!

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If you have any experience applying to jobs, you already know that the market is inundated with cutthroat competition. Many talented people are vying for the same position you want, so it's crucial to take every step to set yourself apart from the pack.  

The first step? Craft a killer resume. The best way to do this is to look for teacher resume examples. While many of us don't want to believe this, one piece of paper is responsible for moving you on to the next step in the application process.

There's a fine art to creating a resume for teachers that not only encapsulates you and your skills but sells you to your potential employer before you even step foot in the interview room.

In this post, we will provide several samples and templates of teacher resumes to give you an idea of how to write the perfect resume to attain your dream teaching job. 

Teacher Resume Sample

Teacher resume samples will give you an idea of what to add to your own resume and what to avoid. The first thing you’ll notice is that these resumes are clean, straightforward, and simple to read. The best resumes samples will show you have the skills without being overly verbose and taking up too much space.

As you’ll see below, our teacher resume examples highlight the potential employee’s skills, education, and knowledge of the field. The basic idea is to create a working document that you keep with you. Then, as you gain experience and education, you can add it in and fire the resume off to additional positions that you might be interested in.

Download This Resume Example

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Personal Information

It's easy to overlook the importance of this section. It seems pretty straightforward, right? Simply write in your name, phone number, and email address, and bing, bam, boom, you're done.

Most people don't realize that this is the first impression you're making to your future employer. As such, you need to take extra care that there are no typos, all of the information is accurate, and that it's placed in the correct position.

While there is undoubtedly leeway with where you position this section, many applicants place personal information at the top and bottom of the resume. Place the contact information once before the objective and then another time at the footer of the resume.

Why do this twice? First off, in your teacher resume, you want to remind them as much as possible what your name is, almost like subliminal advertising. You also want them to immediately see your contact information as soon as they decide they want to contact you.

Resume Objective

The resume objective is a crucial element of your resume and arguably one of the essential features of your teacher resume.

An optional part of the resume is the section where you state your career goals and speak about your most important skills. Make sure to mention the job title of the position you're applying to and keep the entire objective to two to three sentences.

To craft a successful resume objective, you want to include a sentence or two about your objectives and encapsulate the key elements of what makes you an effective teacher and educator. Such features include:

• critical decision-making
• a passion for imparting knowledge

But how do you distill all of that into one sentence? Make sure to use strong language, strong verbs, and sophisticated vocabulary. Try to illustrate your passion for equipping today's youth with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in life.

Personal Statement 

A personal statement is a little bit different than a resume objective. For one thing, a personal statement is much longer than a resume objective and is a place where you can showcase your strengths, achievements, and career aspirations.

When you build your personal statement, you have the opportunity to show how you'd be the best candidate for the open position. Typically personal statements should be around 200 to 500 words and include a brief overview of who you are in addition to your strengths, work experience, and education.

While it may be tempting to recycle the same personal statements, you should write a new statement every time you apply to a new position. Employers will be able to tell if you're using a canned, generic statement or if you are tailoring the statement to their specific position.

Professional Work Experience

Now we've come to the meat of your resume: the area where you list your professional work experience. Undoubtedly, it's the most crucial section of your resume and is an area that you want to shine and set yourself away from the crowd.

The key is to choose the most substantial, relevant experience and expand on the position with a series of bullet points where you state your accomplishments and further detail your experience. An important note, make sure that you list these experiences in reverse chronological order - meaning the most recent venture is the first listed.

Most people run into difficulty with this section because they attempt to cram too many experiences onto the page. Often, less is more. Stick with the most relevant positions. Include your most impressive teaching experience and your main accomplishments for each position you have held. More experienced teachers should focus on positions you are most proud of and jobs that directly connect to the position you are applying for.

Just starting and don't have many professional experiences? Include other activities or volunteer positions such as student teaching, tutoring, informal teaching positions, or leadership roles.

When it comes to writing these experiences, the more specific you can get, the better. When a job description sounds vague, it can feel made up or wishy-washy. Be direct, be clear, and let them know how these experiences can lead to you being the right candidate for the position.

When writing, keep these three tips in mind:

• Use strong action words. Make sure to use words like spearheaded, organized, directed, and so forth. These types of bold, strong words demonstrate leadership, initiative, and strength.
• Focus on accomplishments. The duties of teachers are, for the most part, the same. You don't want to fall into the same trap of monotony as your other competitors. Try to focus on your accomplishments in each position instead of writing the same old job description.
• Use buzz words. As you write your resume, refer to the job posting to include their keywords. Also, use teaching buzz words to show you understand the atmosphere of the position. Such teaching buzz words include multicultural instruction, peer teaching, IEP (Individual Education Plan), critical thinking, and so forth.

Because this section is the bulk of your resume, formatting is key here.

There are many different styles that you can go with when creating a resume. Again, stick with the more relevant positions. Use bullet points to describe your various duties, responsibilities, and elements of past jobs where you think highlight why you believe you would make an excellent addition to their team.

Another thing to remember? Use the present tense to describe job duties of positions you currently hold and past tense to describe places where you no longer work. Make sure to include start and end dates, and make sure to list the company title and the address of the company.

For examples, check out these great education resume examples from Wison Teacher.

• Manage benefit enrollment process for all new hires;
• Communicate company benefits plans,
• Assess common questions during orientation to improve presentation content.
• Trained new employees in auditing and analytical processes.
• Provided strategic direction during marketing communication plan development and in preparation for national launches
• Designed a new Excel database for investments and reduced investment process time by 2.5 hours/day

The education section is fairly straightforward as it is where you add the school you graduated from and what degree you hold. Some people put the date of their graduation, but if you're worried about facing age discrimination (whether from being young or old), then you can leave this out.

The education section can also list any additional certificates or qualifications relevant to the teaching job.

As for placement, you can either place this at the top or bottom of your resume. Because other resume areas are a little more critical, you may want to keep the education at the very bottom. If you think your education is especially pertinent to the job you're applying for (you went to an Ivy League school or went to a school with many contacts in the faculty), then you might want to place the education section at the top, so the employer sees it sooner.

There is also a debate on whether or not you should include your GPA within your education section.

To decide whether or not to include your GPA, use the same logic. If you had a GPA that will especially impress the employer (think 3.7 or higher), consider including it. If you don't have a GPA that reflects what an excellent worker you are, you can leave it off. Leaving off a GPA will usually never be detrimental.

An equally important aspect of your resume is the skills section, where you showcase the skills necessary for creating lesson plans, educating students, and interacting with parents.

Try to showcase skills that would aid your endeavors of being an educator. Think about listing abilities like listening, patience, tolerance, excellent communication skills, fluency in a second language, proficiency in computer programs, and so on.

Another significant element is to include ways that you would be able to help with after-school activities. Employers love initiative, and showcasing skills that will make you an invaluable asset to the faculty during school hours and after will help immensely.

For formatting, you can either write a paragraph or list out your skills in a bullet list. Focus on the most relevant teaching skills or skills that differentiate you from other candidates. If you have experience working with challenging students or children with special needs, this would be an excellent place to put that.

Courses and Specializations

Listing your courses and specializations is a great way to get an edge on your competition. Employers want to hire well-rounded people who can apply a vast area of knowledge to challenges or struggles that may arise in the classroom.

Think about the courses you have taken that would make you stand out and appeal to a wide range of students. If you haven't taken any extra classes, you may consider listing specializations that you have that could impress employers.

Also, feel free to list conferences, workshops, or seminars that directly relate to education and teaching in your teacher resume.

Often people use references as an additional supplement to their actual resume. While, of course, you can add a few references at the bottom of your resume, you also can provide a separate sheet to include a more expansive reference list.

If you decide to include a separate reference list, the style must match your resume. Use the same heading on your sheet as you do on your resume. Ideally, the design should match as well.

List 3-5 references. Make sure to keep the most impactful and vital references at the top of the page. Also, make sure to include their name, relation to you, their address, phone number, and email.

The Process of Asking For References            

Since you should include between 3 and 5 references, you should plan to ask 6 or 7 colleagues to make sure that you still have enough references for your resume should someone reject your ask.

The best people to ask are supervisors, administrators, or other teachers. Of course, the higher the position, the more impactful the reference. If you are nervous about asking someone for a reference, go into the conversation prepared.

Speak passionately about the desired position and why you believe you would make an excellent fit. Not only is this a great way to help convince them of your case, but it is also tremendous practice for when you land an interview.

More Teacher Resume Templates

There are many great teacher resume examples 2023 floating around the internet that you can look through for guidance. Like with anything, the best way to learn how to format a resume is to absorb copious amounts of examples of best teacher resumes to see what sort of formatting resonates with you and resume design that you don't particularly like.

Teaching resumes are so vast because there are so many types of teaching positions that you can be. You can be a high school math teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a gym teacher, and so forth. Believe it or not, each specific role has different formatting techniques.

To help you in your endeavors with crafting a good teacher resume, here are some excellent examples of sample resumes for teachers and different teaching positions.

New Teacher Resume

Math Teacher Resume

Teaching Assistant Resume

ESL Teacher Resume

One of the most fun aspects of creating a resume is the design. The resume’s design is equally important in standing out from the crowd.

Some candidates think that putting a photo on your resume, which we strongly advise against doing. Not only does it come across as grossly unprofessional, but it also allows employers to judge you based on your appearance and not on your credentials.

For resume design, it's imperative that your font is not too small and is also not some sort of unprofessional font. Fun fonts don't make you stand out as a professional. Make sure that everything is legible.

Sometimes candidates try to make the font small to fit more into the resume, but this ends up backfiring as the font is too small to read, and employers can automatically tell that there's too much information on the page.

Also, try to make sure that your line spacing is even throughout. Use headers and bolded lines to break up the resume visually.

A proper organization of your information is vital to a successful resume. Make sure your information is listed so that it tells the employer a whole story and gives the employer a complete idea of who you are without being chaotic, disorganized, or confusing.

Final Points on Writing a Teaching Resume

As your first impression to potential employers, your resume is essential towards getting you in the room for an interview.

Make sure to keep in style with standard resume rules, which means keep your resume to one page long, include bullet points, and let the professional experience and skills sections take up the bulk of your resume.

When writing your skills and experience, use clear, concise, strong language to emphasize your leadership and educator abilities.

If you're unsure of what resume style you should go with, you can browse plenty of examples on the internet to get a feel of what works for you and what doesn't.

FAQs related to teachers' resumes

Still a little confused on how to best format your teacher's resume? Below is a list of frequently asked questions to help you on your track to creating the best resume that showcases your skills.

How to list certifications on your teaching resume?

Your certifications should be included in the education or skills section. Because some teaching positions require proof of certifications, you must put your credentials on your resume where employers can see them easily.

Should teacher resumes be one page?

Yes. This is true across the board, no matter where you're applying. You want to ensure that everything is on one page and not overwhelm the educator by only including the most relevant experience.

How do I make my teacher's resume stand out?

Aside from crafting a resume with strong language and easy readability, the best thing to do is find a simple design that is simple, elegant, and grabs the attention of your employer.

You may want to consider playing around with bright colors. That being said, make sure not to make the design too noisy, or else it can be off-putting and hard to focus.

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31 Common Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Being a teacher is incredibly rewarding. After all, you get to shape how your students learn, grow, and see the world around them. It’s a field just about anyone with a passion for mentoring, and the right people and education skills, can break into. Yet, mastering the most common teacher interview questions might be crucial for that perfect position.

Kirsten Horton , a veteran education leader who’s taught pre-K up to third grade in private as well as public schools, started her career as a paralegal before working with students. “If it’s calling you, then that’s where you’re supposed to be and it’s what you’re supposed to be doing,” she tells The Muse. 

Despite having been homeschooled most of her life, she has always been fascinated with pop culture’s image of school (think: Mean Girls ) and was motivated by the opportunity to tailor students’ learning to their specific needs just as her family did for her. “I love that no two days are the same. No two classes or years are the same as a teacher. It never gets boring or monotonous,” she says about the perks of the job, adding that working alongside other smart, supportive, and ambitious teachers is another plus. 

However, she warned that the field isn’t for everyone: It requires patience, flexibility, collaboration, and a knack for working well with others. These days, Horton not only teaches but regularly assists with hiring and mentoring new staffers, many of whom she’s seen come from varying careers, or even leap into education after retirement. 

Like a middle manager in the corporate world, teacher leaders or department chairs like her take some of the work off of the plates of the principal or vice principal by interviewing potential candidates. Because they’re doing the job they’re hiring for, she adds, they also have the best idea of what skills and personality traits to look for.

Teaching interviews: What to expect

Horton says that a typical teacher interview will usually take place at the school you’re applying to. Depending on the type or size of the team, the specificity of the role (for example, whether you'll be working with students with special needs), and the interview round, you may meet with one teacher or staffer (a principal or VP, administrator, or counselor, for example), or multiple at a time. 

“A lot of times they intentionally have you meet several members of the school team or even your teaching team. And the purpose of that is for everybody to say, ‘Yes, I could work with this person,’ just because you don’t want to get midway through the year and have a team that’s not working collaboratively together.” 

At a bigger public school, she adds, you’re more likely to have a one-on-one interview purely because of demand for teachers on call, whereas at a private school the staff likely have more free time to interview as a group.

But she’s found that because many school leaders were teachers at some point in their careers, they’ll often go easy on interviewees. “They’re used to helping people succeed and really coaching people through,” she says. “So they’re never really trying to throw anything at you that’s going to be overwhelming or trying to stump you. They’re trying to just really bring the best out in you.” 

You’ll definitely encounter the more general interview questions like “ What are your strengths and weaknesses? ” or “ Why do you want this job? ” But you’ll also face more specific queries about, say, working with students or designing a lesson plan. 

And you may even have to answer some fun but curveball questions: Horton loves to ask, “Do you drink coffee in the morning, throughout the day, or not at all?” Not only does it give her a sense of their mindset and energy level, but it also tells her what special order to deliver to them on their first day. (In other words, there’s no wrong answer!)

To help you prepare, check out these common teacher interview questions—as well as advice and examples for how to answer them. Plus, learn what skills and qualities hiring managers are looking for and get some bonus tips for nailing your next teaching interview questions.

Teacher interview questions: What are hiring managers looking for?

No matter the specific role or workplace, hiring managers look for common themes in qualified teaching applicants:

• Teaching skills: Unsurprisingly, how you work with students on a group and individual level is crucial. The key question is, “Do they know how to have an effective classroom where all kids are learning and engaged?” according to Dan Swartz , former managing director at Resolve Talent Consulting—a firm that specializes in education recruitment—and current executive director of human resources at Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia.
• Data proficiency: In today’s modern school system, data is also incredibly important, Swartz says. He wants to know: “Have you been able to master or are you proficient at the use of data?” So whenever possible, give examples of how you used data to guide you. For example, have you gleaned insights from individual test scores or overall class performance metrics?
• Subject matter expertise: Candidates have to show that they’re adequately knowledgeable about the content area they’re looking to teach, whether it’s history or science. “A lot of times there are state standards,” Swartz says. So when it makes sense, try incorporating “how much you know about the standards or how much you can use the standards for your instruction,” he says.
• Teamwork: Being a team player when it comes to working with other teachers, administrators, aides, and staff means you’ll help not only students but also the entire school thrive.
• Organization and accountability: Candidates who are on top of deadlines and can meet classroom goals will go far. “As an administrator, I need to know that I’m going to be able to get lesson plans from you,” says Rob Sheppard, an ESL teacher who started his own online English school, Ginseng English .
• Commitment to students: If there’s one thing that can’t be taught, it’s care for students—so interviewers want to know you have it. “The rest of the stuff, educators can teach.” Swartz says. “They can teach you content, they can teach you how to be a more effective teacher delivering your lessons, but they can’t teach the belief in students.”

Keep these themes in mind as you prepare for your teaching interview and look for opportunities to communicate them whenever possible—especially in response to these common questions.

Need some tips for writing your teaching resume? Find a full guide here .

1. Why do you want to be a teacher?

“You have to know who you are as an individual and as an educator, and you have to know what you can bring to the school,” says Calvin Brown, a former recruiter at Alignstaffing , an education staffing firm. This question gets to the heart of that passion and self-awareness.

How to answer

Rule #1: Don’t say, “Summer vacations!” But seriously—this one should be easy to answer. There’s probably something that made you want to get into education. Maybe you enjoy teaching your friends new things, are a facts wizard bursting with knowledge, or love connecting with children. Focus not just on what you like about teaching but also on what you can bring to the table.

For example, you might say: “I really admired my third grade teacher, Mrs. Kim, and even after I left her class I still returned to her for advice and guidance over the years. It’s that sense of warmth and acceptance she provided me that inspired me to become a teacher. I want to be that person others can lean on as they navigate the rough waters of growing up.”

2. What’s your teaching style or philosophy?

Interviewers want to see that you really want to help students develop inside and outside school—not just push them toward some academic result. Basically, you care about people and their success, and you’ve thought about what that success looks like and how you’ll help students achieve it.

They’re also likely vetting for an alignment of values. “In order to serve kids, the same as parenting, you have to be aligned in your beliefs and your practices before you can go out and influence kids positively,” Horton says.

She adds that even if you’re brand new to teaching, you can still touch on what you would do given the chance to run a classroom. “For example, a lot of people are really looking for somebody who’s going to say that they feel really confident with the age that they’re going to be teaching and that they’re really going to focus on building a positive community versus punitive consequences.” 

You’ll want to be honest about your specific style and mindset when it comes to teaching. But also consider what this school’s philosophy is like, and try to emphasize where your values naturally overlap.

For example, you might talk about how you take a community approach to education, which means “knowing that you’re one piece of this person’s journey,” says Mary Findley, Senior Teacher Success Manager at Skillshare and a former Teach for America Core Member and elementary school teacher.

You could answer with: “I believe when students are challenged with realistic goals and given the support they need not to just get the answers right but to be able to use those lessons to solve future problems on their own, everyone comes out on top. I think that as a teacher, it’s my job to support my students through the lessons I give, but also through the various challenges they may face at school, and to partner with them as well as other support systems to help them feel motivated, comfortable, and happy in the classroom.”

3. How would you handle a student you found difficult to teach?

Students don’t all learn or behave the same way, which may make it a challenge to have them all in one classroom at the same time. Difficulties with students can look like many different things, from falling grades to disrupting lessons. So interviewers want to know that you’re up to the task of helping students with the varied obstacles they may face.

A good answer delves into figuring out the cause of a student’s behavior, as that’s often the most important step. “When students are disengaged, it’s either because the content’s too challenging, it’s too easy, or there could be some outside-of-school factors,” Findley says.

Your response should show that “you’re meeting the student where they’re at and building on their strengths,” Findley says. It should also emphasize that you’re “collaboratively discussing” solutions with the student rather than ordering them around.

If you have an example story to tell, that’s a great way to state your case. Just make sure your story is well structured to convey the message you want. Consider using the STAR method whenever you’re answering an interview question with a story—i.e., make sure you cover the S ituation you found yourself in, the T ask you needed to complete, the A ction you took, and the R esult your action had, in that order.

You could say: “For me, the first step would be to pull them aside and talk about the issue privately. My main questions would get at the root cause of this student’s behavior. Once I know that, I try to work with them to come up with a solution. I used this strategy in my last classroom, where I had a student who couldn’t seem to stay in his seat during lessons and I found out that sitting still too long made him feel confined and nervous. We talked about how his behavior affected the rest of the class, and we agreed that when he was feeling really anxious he could raise his hand and I’d let him take a lap around the classroom, but only when it was appropriate. I also decided to make some of my lessons more active and hands-on so that other students could benefit from getting out of their seats every once in a while.”

4. How do you motivate students?

Interviewers want to see how you influence students to do what you need them to do. Findley adds that this is an especially important thing to vet for when hiring remote teachers, because motivating others over video requires a lot more creativity than when you’re teaching in person.

Motivating your class is really about having a personalized approach, Findley says. You’ll want to show that you can engage a classroom, as well as take into consideration various students’ needs and drivers. Brown adds, “You have to know your students, you have to know their strong points and their weak points.” So make sure that your answer shows an individualized approach.

Take this sample answer: “Positive reinforcement is super important to keep a student motivated, so one thing I like to do is throw out rewards or bonuses when they perform especially well. This could be candy, or a star, or a sticker, or even just a compliment—whatever I can tell students enjoy receiving, and it’s different for everyone. I never want students to feel left out or favored, so I always try to be fair and consistent with everyone. But it’s those little moments of recognition I think that keep them happy and excited to learn.”

5. How do you like to communicate and build relationships with parents?

Part of being a teacher is working with parents and guardians—i.e., the people who influence how your students learn and behave in the classroom just as much as (if not more than) you do. Building trust with the adults in your students’ lives can often help you build stronger relationships with the students themselves and create some consistency between school and home.

“I’m looking to see that a candidate will take every opportunity to interact with parents in person,” Brown says. “Ultimately, I’m looking for candidates that believe parent collaboration is key to a student’s success, and they will take the time to maintain an ongoing, open conversation.”

To show you take building relationships with family members seriously, you could say: “I think it’s really important to get to know the important family members in each student’s life. Which is why at the beginning of the school year I like to have individual meetings with each student’s family. I’ll also send out a survey to get a better understanding of the student’s home life, needs, and family dynamics. Then, throughout the year, I build on that foundation by touching base to share positive updates and small wins in addition to discussing any challenges the student might be facing academically or behaviorally.”

6. What are you learning right now?

This question is about showing that you’re curious and believe in continuous learning—qualities that are important in a teacher as well as for a teacher to pass on to students. In other words, Findley says, the interviewer’s asking: “What are some personal interests? How are you developing yourself both within your professional career and personal development as well?”

Hopefully, you’re doing something to help yourself grow—it doesn’t have to be extensive or even career-related! Maybe you’re reading a series of books about a topic, taking a class, or learning a new skill . Use this activity to show that you have an “always learning” mindset and an appreciation for continuing to get better at something.

Here’s what that sounds like: “I used to speak Italian in college, so I’ve recently picked up Duolingo to try to reteach myself some of the basics. I’d love to continue to become more fluent so I can travel to Italy and talk with locals!”

7. What activities/community initiatives interest you?

This is a question Horton has seen come up in private school interviews, where staff often wear multiple hats and fill in roles beyond teaching a specific subject. “There’s a big interest in, what do you bring to the table…what do you contribute to the community, and how would you work together with our small team?” she says.

Show that you’re a team player and have a diverse set of skills and interests with an answer like: “I played rubgy in college and would love to help the team get to the state championship this year” or, “I work at an animal shelter on the weekends and would love to bring that same charitable spirit to student fundraisers, shows, or volunteer opportunities.”

8. How would your students and colleagues describe you?

Horton notes that this question is introspective, forcing you to evaluate yourself objectively as a person, teammate, and teacher.

She suggests being honest, but spinning as much of your qualities as you can to be positive and student-focused.

For example, she says, “If you’re strict, don’t say strict—say structured, and that kids thrive on routine.” Or, if you’re more spontaneous and fun but don’t want to come off as flighty, you could reply, “My colleagues might say that I’m a really dynamic teacher, and I really enjoy using creativity to come up with engaging lessons for my students.”

For teachers who like a quiet classroom, she advises, focus on why you prefer a peaceful classroom: “Students might describe me as liking to have a classroom where they can feel safe and relaxed and really focused on their learning.”

Read More: 3 Ways to Talk About How Your Boss and Coworkers Would Describe You

9. What do you love most about teaching?

This question is the perfect time to share your idealistic vision for teaching (even if it feels a bit romantic): maybe it’s the impact that education can have on the world, or how you want to influence students and help them achieve their dreams, build confidence, or uncover potential.

Ultimately, your interviewer wants to “know that the passion for teaching is there,” Horton says. “The days in teaching can be so long, and you’ve got to have a great attitude, you’ve got to really want to be there,” she adds.

To touch on your strengths and passions, as well as the school’s values, try a response like: “What I love most about teaching is seeing students I’ve mentored succeed in higher levels. You mentioned that team collaboration is important in your district, and in past positions I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside incredible counselors and other teachers who’ve helped me get a struggling student where they need to be. One specific story that comes to mind is…”

Read More: 3 Authentic Ways to Answer “What Are You Passionate About?” in a Job Interview

10. How do you evaluate/grade students?

Beyond genuinely wanting to hear your perspective and past experience, interviewers ask this question to gauge whether your measurements align with how they evaluate students. With this, Horton recommends researching the school to understand their priorities. Do they value test scores? Do they use rubrics, or do they let students self-evaluate? Is project-based learning involved?

To balance your background with the school’s needs, you could respond with something like, “In my last teaching position we had a ranking system for students. While it was beneficial for spotting outliers and understanding where I needed to focus my energies, I prefer a rubric system that evaluates students against themselves rather than the rest of the class.”

11. Tell me about a time when you worked with a team to solve a problem.

Parents and students aren’t the only people you’ll be interacting with. You’ll frequently need to partner with aides, school staff, and other teachers to help students succeed, so your interviewer wants to know that you can work with just about anyone.

Telling a story about a team situation where things didn’t go perfectly is a great way to show you can communicate and collaborate with others even when times are tough. “But don’t emphasize the conflict—emphasize how you got through the conflict to have something that was effective,” Swartz says. “Even if you’re not a teacher with experience, you can still highlight how you go about your work by giving past examples” from another context.

For example, you could reply: “In my last role as a project coordinator, I had to partner with our account managers to meet a really tight deadline set by a client. We were all a little frazzled because the project required a lot of revisions, but we put our heads together and divided the work, even staying late a couple days to make sure we finished on time. I definitely don’t think we could have accomplished it without working together, and I believe the same is true as a teacher working with other staff—you can’t go it alone if you’re going to successfully foster a learning environment that works for all students and supports them as individuals.”

Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Answering Behavioral Interview Questions

12. Tell me about a time when you faced a difficult challenge.

Brown says that with either of these questions, the interviewer wants to hear: “When you come across things that are obstacles, how do you overcome them?” In other words, the interviewer wants to see that you can solve problems at work in an intentional way. Brown also emphasizes that accomplishments and challenges often come hand in hand. Knowing how to answer teacher interview questions like this one shows the “drive for achievement” that interviewers want to see in teachers.

Pick a story where you had to stretch yourself a bit, but ultimately got to a successful outcome. Remember to also talk about your problem solving process in addition to the results.

Maybe you could say: “When I was in retail, I dealt with one particularly difficult customer who wasn’t satisfied with their purchase. Most of my team was struggling to connect with them, but I was determined to set things right. So I was patient and took the time to really listen to their complaints without guessing what the problem was or assuming what the solution should be. That not only helped me understand the root of their issue, but helped them see I was going to work with them. In the end, we came up with a solution that seemed like a good compromise for the customer. They left the store in a lot better of a mood than when they entered, and turning someone’s day around felt truly great.”

13. Tell me about a time when something unexpected happened at work and how you dealt with it.

You might spend hours preparing to teach a particular unit, “but then something will happen and it throws off your whole lesson plan,” Swartz says. So interviewers want to see that you can think on your feet and handle a conflict when it arises.

Share a story that makes it clear you can stay calm, cool, and collected when a situation changes.

You could give the example: “When I was a camp counselor, I often had to keep campers entertained through rainy weather or a blip in the activities schedule. The first time it happened I didn’t really know how to handle the group, so I decided to put together a one-sheeter of activities and games and share it with the other counselors so we could refer to it in the future. I can confidently say no camper was disappointed with the change of schedule—they loved all the games, and the staff was relieved how smoothly things went after that first time.”

14. Tell me about a time when someone gave you feedback and how you handled that.

Receiving and implementing feedback well is important for your growth as an educator. “This is actually most critical for veteran teachers,” Swartz says. Since they’d be most likely to “communicate a level of, ‘I’ve already gotten this, I’ve already arrived, I don’t need any extra feedback.’”

Consider a time when you got feedback that was tough to take but ultimately made you better at your job. Talk through how you received it (hopefully with an open mind!) as well as how you made the change.

For example: “At my last school, one of the teachers on my team shared with me that students had been talking about how lost they were after a recent math lesson. They were complaining that I went way too fast. It was rough to get this criticism because I’d thought this class was happy with my teaching style and learning a lot. But I knew I had to take it to heart. So for all my classes—not just the one that complained—I implemented a color-coded card system. Each student received red, yellow, and green cards, and I got in the habit of stopping every few minutes to ask for cards. Students would hold up red cards for me to slow down, yellow if everything was going well, or green if I could speed up. I’d adjust accordingly and over time, I noticed more and more yellow cards as I discovered the best pace for each class. This also had the added benefit of me seeing who was holding up a lot of red cards so I could offer them extra assistance or attention outside of the lesson.”

Read More: How to Take Feedback Like a Pro

15. How would you handle common misconceptions or difficulties in your teaching content?

Depending on the subject matter and classroom you’re signing up for, this question can really vary in how it’s delivered. But “Being able to correctly show a mastery of [course] content versus just the knowledge of the content” is key, Swartz says. Do you really understand the material you’re teaching inside and out?

You need to show you can “reverse engineer” the problem, Swartz explains. You’ll want to explain your process for identifying the issue and then your approach for resolving the misunderstanding or difficulty that your students are having in mastering the material.

Take this example question Swartz gives: “What are some of the common misconceptions students might have when solving the problem 31.8 + 0.45? How would you address these?”

A good response might be: “One common problem is that students won’t line everything up by the place value or decimal. They may line the five up right below the eight and therefore get the wrong answer. I would teach them to line the decimals up and then put zeros as place holders so they don’t get confused. I would also encourage them to draw a line from each addend all the way down to their sum to make sure all the decimals are in line. I always remind students to read carefully and double check their work to avoid common mistakes like this.”

16. Walk me through a typical lesson.

The interviewer isn’t just looking for a quality lesson that’s accurate and engaging. They also want to know how you think about planning lessons. “A lot of it’s going to be about debriefing your process, like what went well...and then what are things that you can work on,” Findley says.

This question requires a bit more preparation on your part than a typical interview question. If you have an example lesson from a previous role, that’s great. If not, consider whipping up a quick lesson plan you might like to give. Talk through what it’ll look like from start to finish, why exactly you decided to take that approach, and allow the interviewer to ask questions about your process.

If you’re leaning on a past experience, also highlight the parts of the lesson you would change based on how it went—which will demonstrate your ability to adapt and grow as you teach.

17. What questions do you have for me?

While this might seem like one of the easiest interview questions in the book, it’s one you should actively prepare for with thoughtful queries targeted at the specific interviewer and role. It's essential to consider in advance what questions you should ask at a teaching interview to make a strong impression and gain valuable insights.

“Don’t just ask, when can I expect to hear something?” Swartz says. If you do have a question about next steps, make it your last one after you’ve posed others. Until that point, “Ask some serious questions about that school. That’s your opportunity to interview them as much as they’re interviewing you, and they are going to respect that,” Swartz says. “Any question that candidates ask where I can see that they’ve done their research about the position is a great question to me.”

Here are a few suggestions of questions to ask in a teacher interview to get the ball rolling, but be sure to come up with your own specific queries about the school and role:

• What do you wish you knew about [role]/[company or school] when you first started?
• What qualities make someone successful here?
• What are you most excited to work on/accomplish at [company or school] right now?
• What drew you to [company or school]?

Read More: 51 Great Questions to Ask in an Interview

Bonus teacher interview questions

In addition to the questions above, you might get queries like these:

18.  Tell me about yourself.

19.  Why are you interested in teaching at this school?

20.  What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

21. How do you use technology in the classroom?

22. What would you do if a student is in danger of failing your class?

23. What adjectives would you use to describe your presence in the classroom?

24.  How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

25.  What makes you unique?

26.  List three words that best describe you.

27. Tell me about a time when you helped someone become more successful.

28.  Tell me about a time you faced a conflict with a student, parent, or other teacher.

29. What is your experience with remote instruction?

30. During the COVID-19 pandemic , how did you ensure your class stayed on track and engaged and learned as much as possible?

31. Do you have any experience teaching a student with an IEP? How did you ensure their success?

Some extra tips for nailing your teaching interview

• Research the school and what they care about: “A lot of schools now in particular have a really specific focus,” Findley says. For example, “I used to work at a school that was really focused on character goals.” Knowing a school’s focus going into your interview will help you show you would bring that same passion. And when you go to tell a story or answer a question, Sheppard adds, “It sounds obvious, but your response needs to be relevant to the job that you’re applying for.” Make sure you’re considering what this role entails and the mission or values of the school and tailoring your response accordingly.
• Dress for the job: “If you show up in a three-piece suit at a school building they’re going to be like, ‘Do you know where you’re going to teach?’” Swartz says. While “you need to dress to a level that communicates that you are serious and interested about this job,” he says, you should also remember that interviewers want to see that you know what it means to work with students. If in doubt, try going business casual.
• Pay attention to non-verbal communication and brush up on other interview skills : When planning out your responses, don’t just think about what you’re going to say but also how you’re going to say it. “I always look at body language first,” Brown says. When someone looks frazzled or caught off guard by a basic question, “I start to question, OK, can you really handle that kind of population or have you handled this kind of situation before?”

Most importantly, “Be confident in what you already know and your experiences prior,” Brown says. Be yourself—or rather, your professional self—and you’re sure to land the right teaching job for you.

Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

Teacher Interview: Top 17 Questions Answered

Home » Interview Questions » Teacher Interview: Top 17 Questions Answered

So you’ve finally bagged an interview for your dream teaching job, and now the only thing between you and that coveted classroom is acing the interview process. Teachers are the backbone of education, molding future generations and imparting wisdom. But before you can inspire students, you’ll need to effectively introduce yourself in the teacher interview. This article will walk you through some of the most commonly asked teacher interview questions and how to answer them, so you can make a strong impression right from your introduction.

Given the unique requirements of the teaching profession, which involves not just subject expertise but also strong interpersonal and organizational skills, you can expect a variety of questions coming your way. That’s why we’ve prepared this comprehensive guide, to set you up for success.

1. Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?

2. what motivated you to become a teacher, 3. how would you handle a disruptive student, 4. describe your teaching philosophy., 5. what methods do you use to assess student understanding, 6. how do you incorporate technology into your teaching, 7. how do you approach lesson planning, 8. what role do parents play in a child’s education, in your opinion, 9. how do you cater to different learning styles in your classroom, 10. what strategies do you employ to engage a reluctant learner, 11. can you provide an example of a successful lesson you’ve delivered, 12. how do you stay updated with educational trends and practices, 13. how would you contribute to our school community, 14. what are your career goals as a teacher, 15. describe a time when you had to adapt your teaching style., 16. how do you maintain a work-life balance, 17. do you have any questions for us, top 17 questions to prepare for when introducing yourself for a teacher interview.

While your introduction will serve as a foundation, these top 17 questions will flesh out your qualifications, skills, and suitability for the teaching role. Let’s get started.

This question is likely the first you’ll encounter. It gives the interviewer an overview of your academic history, laying the foundation for subsequent questions.

Sample Answer

“I hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from University X, followed by a Master’s in Education. I’m also certified in Special Education and have taken additional courses in child psychology.”

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The interviewer wants to gauge your passion for the profession, looking for more than just textbook answers.

“Ever since high school, I was drawn to the art of imparting knowledge. I admired my teachers and how they could simplify complex topics. It was a transformational experience, and I want to offer the same to the younger generation.”

This question assesses your classroom management skills and your ability to keep a learning environment conducive for all students.

“I believe that disruptive behavior often stems from unmet needs or frustrations. My first approach would be to talk privately with the student to understand the root of the behavior. Depending on the issue, I would involve parents, counselors, or create an intervention plan tailored for the student.”

Your teaching philosophy reveals your approach to education and how you aim to facilitate learning in your classroom.

“My teaching philosophy revolves around creating an inclusive, interactive, and engaging learning environment. I believe that education should be learner-centered, and I strive to empower my students to take an active role in their learning process.”

Assessment is a crucial aspect of teaching, as it helps you tailor your instruction to meet students’ individual needs.

“I use a mix of formative and summative assessments to gauge student understanding. This includes oral quizzes, written tests, and practical demonstrations. I also incorporate peer assessments and self-assessments to help students develop critical thinking skills.”

In today’s digital age, integrating technology into the classroom is almost a necessity.

“I regularly use multimedia presentations and interactive software to make my lessons more engaging. I also use learning management systems to assign homework and provide additional resources, enabling students to learn at their own pace outside of the classroom.”

This question assesses your organizational skills and your ability to design comprehensive lesson plans that fulfill educational objectives.

“I begin by identifying the learning objectives, followed by the resources needed. I then outline the lesson structure, breaking it down into an introduction, main content, and a closing activity that reinforces the lesson. I also build in time for questions and review.”

This question gauges your viewpoint on parent-teacher collaboration, which is vital for a child’s overall educational experience.

“Parents are integral partners in a child’s education. Regular communication with parents ensures that we’re all on the same page regarding the child’s needs and progress. I encourage parents to be actively involved in their child’s learning journey, both at school and at home.”

This question tests your adaptability and awareness of the diversity in learning styles among students.

“I incorporate a variety of teaching methods, including visual aids, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, to cater to different learning styles. I also differentiate my instruction and provide multiple means of assessment to ensure all students can demonstrate their understanding effectively.”

Your ability to reach every student, even the ones who are less motivated, is critical for a teaching role.

“For reluctant learners, I try to connect the material to their interests or real-world applications. I also employ game-based learning and group activities

to make the classroom environment more engaging, making it easier for them to participate.”

This question gives you an opportunity to showcase your expertise and effectiveness as a teacher.

“In a lesson on renewable energy, I incorporated an interactive simulation where students could build their wind turbines. The lesson was a hit; students were engaged, and the assessments showed a high level of understanding of the topic.”

The educational landscape is continually evolving, and your ability to adapt is essential.

“I regularly attend workshops, webinars, and conferences to stay updated with the latest educational trends. I also subscribe to educational journals and engage with my professional network to exchange best practices and innovative methods.”

This question assesses your fit within the school culture and your willingness to go beyond the classroom.

“I am passionate about community outreach and would love to spearhead initiatives that strengthen the school-community bond. I would also be eager to contribute to after-school programs or clubs related to my subject expertise.”

This question gives insight into your professional aspirations and your commitment to the teaching profession.

“My immediate goal is to become a subject matter expert in my field, consistently delivering high-quality education to my students. In the long term, I aspire to take on leadership roles, such as becoming a department head or participating in educational policy-making.”

Adaptability is a crucial skill for a teacher, as not all classrooms are the same.

“In a previous role, I taught a class with diverse learning needs. I had to adapt my teaching style by incorporating more visual aids and interactive sessions. The adjustments were effective, and the classroom became more inclusive for all students.”

Teaching can be demanding, so your ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance is essential.

“I use time-management techniques like task prioritization and batching to ensure my work is completed efficiently. This leaves me time to relax and recharge, ensuring that I am mentally and emotionally present when I’m in the classroom.”

The questions you ask can be as telling as the ones you answer.

“I would like to know more about the professional development opportunities offered by the school. Also, how does the school support teachers in implementing new teaching methods or technologies?”

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of our extensive guide on how to introduce yourself for a teacher interview. As you’ve seen, interviews for teaching positions can cover a wide array of topics, from your educational background to your teaching philosophy and even your long-term career goals. The key to success is to be prepared, sincere, and passionate about your role as an educator. Remember, it’s not just what you say that matters but also how you say it. Let your enthusiasm for teaching and your care for student development shine through, and you’ll be well on your way to securing that dream teaching position.

Remember to utilize resources like AI Resume Builder , Resume Design , Resume Samples , Resume Examples , Resume Skills , Resume Help , Resume Synonyms , and Job Responsibilities to create a standout application and prepare for the interview.

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Published by Sarah Samson

Sarah Samson is a professional career advisor and resume expert. She specializes in helping recent college graduates and mid-career professionals improve their resumes and format them for the modern job market. In addition, she has also been a contributor to several online publications.

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