This guide gives teacher cover letter examples and templates to help you craft a clear, targeted letter that supports your job search. You will find practical tips and a simple structure you can adapt for different grade levels and schools.
View and download this professional resume template
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💡 Pro tip: Use this template as a starting point. Customize it with your own experience, skills, and achievements.
Key Elements of a Strong Cover Letter
Start with your name, phone number, email, and city, followed by the date and the school's contact details. This helps the hiring team reach you quickly and shows you can present information clearly.
Lead with the position you are applying for and one specific reason you are drawn to the school or program. A focused opening grabs attention and sets the tone for the rest of your letter.
Highlight measurable outcomes such as improved test scores, growth in reading levels, or successful project implementations. Specifics show your impact and give hiring teams a clear sense of what you will bring to the classroom.
Explain how your instructional strategies, classroom management, or curricular experience match the school’s needs. Use one brief example that illustrates how students benefited from your approach.
Cover Letter Structure
1. Header
Place your contact details at the top, followed by the date and the recipient’s name and school address. Keep this section clean so the reader can contact you easily.
2. Greeting
Address the hiring manager or principal by name when possible, using titles like 'Dear Ms. Lopez' or 'Dear Principal Chen'. If you cannot find a name, use 'Dear Hiring Committee' or 'Dear Search Committee' instead.
3. Opening Paragraph
Begin with a concise sentence that names the role you are applying for and a short hook that ties you to the school. Mention a relevant accomplishment or a reason you admire the school to show you researched the role.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
Use one paragraph to present a clear teaching achievement with a measurable outcome, such as reading gains or improved behavior metrics. Follow with a second paragraph showing how your methods match the school’s priorities and include a short classroom example to make it concrete.
5. Closing Paragraph
Finish by summarizing why you are a good fit and expressing your interest in an interview to discuss the role further. Thank the reader for their time and invite them to contact you for next steps.
6. Signature
Use a professional closing like 'Sincerely' or 'Best regards' followed by your full name. Under your name include your phone number and email so they can follow up easily.
Dos and Don'ts
Tailor each cover letter to the school and job description, pulling in one or two details from the posting. This shows you read the listing and helps the reader see your fit quickly.
Quantify at least one accomplishment, such as test score gains, graduation rates, or the number of students served. Numbers give concrete evidence of your classroom impact.
Keep paragraphs short and focused, using two to three sentences each to improve readability. Short paragraphs make it easier for hiring teams to scan your letter.
Use active language and specific verbs to describe your teaching, such as 'designed', 'led', or 'improved'. Concrete verbs make your contribution clearer and more believable.
Proofread carefully for grammar and tone, and ask a colleague to read it if possible. A second pair of eyes can catch errors and flag unclear wording.
Do not repeat your entire resume line for line, instead highlight two to three key achievements that add context. The cover letter should complement the resume, not duplicate it.
Avoid vague statements like 'I am a hard worker' without examples that show how you helped students. Specific outcomes are more persuasive than general claims.
Do not use too much educational jargon, keep language simple and focused on results for students. Clear language helps non-teacher hiring staff understand your impact.
Avoid sending a generic cover letter to every school, as this reduces your chances of standing out. Personalizing the letter takes a little more time but improves response rates.
Do not include salary expectations or negative comments about past employers in the cover letter. Keep the tone positive and forward looking to maintain a professional impression.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting with a weak opening that merely repeats the job title can lose the reader’s interest quickly. Begin with a brief accomplishment or a reason you want to join the school instead.
Listing classroom duties without showing outcomes makes it hard to see your impact on student learning. Focus on results and how your actions benefited students.
Using overly long paragraphs that cover many topics can make the letter hard to follow. Break content into short paragraphs so each one makes a single point.
Neglecting to match your skills to the school’s priorities can make your letter feel off target. Refer to the school’s mission or the job posting to show clear alignment.
Practical Writing Tips & Customization Guide
Open with a student-centered accomplishment to show your priorities from the first sentence. This helps hiring teams see your focus on learning outcomes.
If possible include a brief anecdote that illustrates a teaching success, keeping it short and results focused. A 1-2 sentence example can make your skills more memorable.
Save space to explain how you will contribute in the first year, such as ways you would approach curriculum or parent communication. This forward-looking detail shows readiness to step in.
Keep a template with interchangeable sections for different grade levels or subjects, then customize the school-specific lines for each application. A template speeds up applications while keeping them personalized.
Cover Letter Examples
### Example 1 — Recent Graduate Dear Hiring Team, As a recent B. Ed.
graduate with a 3. 9 GPA and a year of student teaching at Lincoln Elementary (class size 24), I increased 4th‑grade math scores by 14 percentage points using weekly formative checks and targeted small‑group instruction.
I design lesson plans aligned to state standards and use Google Classroom for parent updates. I am excited to bring hands‑on assessment skills and a growth mindset to Jefferson Elementary’s 4th‑grade team.
Why this works: Quantifies impact, cites class size and tools, and shows alignment to the school.
### Example 2 — Career Changer (Industry to Teaching) Dear Principal Alvarez, After seven years as a project manager delivering training to 200+ staff, I transitioned to K–5 substitute teaching and led a reading intervention that lifted struggling students’ fluency by 20% in 10 weeks. I use data trackers, create behavior systems, and collaborate with specialists.
I’m seeking a full‑time role where my curriculum design and adult coaching experience will support tiered instruction. Why this works: Bridges past experience to classroom results and provides a measurable student outcome.
### Example 3 — Experienced Teacher Moving Into Literacy Coach Dear Dr. Chen, In 12 years teaching grades 2–5, I raised schoolwide literacy proficiency from 58% to 76% by launching a peer‑coaching cycle for 18 teachers and running monthly data meetings.
I build training agendas, model lessons, and measure progress with benchmark assessments every 6 weeks. I want to scale those systems as your literacy coach.
Why this works: Shows leadership, scale (18 teachers), and concrete assessment cadence.
Practical Writing Tips
1. Open with one clear achievement.
Start with a specific result (e. g.
, “raised reading scores 18% in one year”) to grab attention and prove impact immediately.
2. Mirror the job posting language.
Use 2–3 keywords from the listing (e. g.
, "RTI," "IEP collaboration") so ATS and the reader see a direct match.
3. Keep paragraphs short and purposeful.
Use three short paragraphs: hook, select evidence, and a closing that requests an interview; hiring managers scan quickly.
4. Quantify outcomes wherever possible.
Replace vague phrases with numbers: class size, percent growth, number of students coached, or weeks to improvement.
5. Show how you solve problems.
Describe one challenge, your action, and the measurable result to demonstrate practical classroom problem‑solving.
6. Use active verbs and concrete nouns.
Prefer “designed a phonics unit” over “responsible for curriculum,” which reads stronger and more specific.
7. Match tone to the school.
For public schools use professional, collaborative language; for progressive schools show creativity and student‑centered practice.
8. Avoid repeating your resume.
Use the letter to explain context, decisions, and student impact that the resume can’t show.
9. End with a specific next step.
Close with availability for a demo lesson or interview and include a phone number: it increases callback rates.
10. Proofread aloud and get one external reader.
Read aloud for awkward phrasing and have a peer confirm accuracy of dates, titles, and percentages.
How to Customize for Industry, Employer Size, and Job Level
Strategy 1 — Tailor by industry (tech, finance, healthcare)
- •Tech: Emphasize data, tools, and efficiency. Example: “Used formative-data dashboards to reduce reteaching time by 30%.” Name platforms (Canvas, Seesaw) and any coding or ed‑tech pilots you ran.
- •Finance: Stress measurement, compliance, and budget awareness. Example: “Managed a $2,500 budget for intervention materials while staying within district procurement rules.” Highlight progress tracking and audit readiness.
- •Healthcare (special education, school nursing collaboration): Focus on outcomes, documentation, and interdisciplinary work. Example: “Co‑wrote 12 IEPs and met 100% timelines for evaluations.”
Strategy 2 — Adjust tone for employer size
- •Startups/small schools: Show flexibility and initiative. Cite examples like launching extracurricular programs or creating new rubrics; mention wearing multiple hats.
- •Large districts/corporations: Emphasize systems, compliance, and scale. Note experience with district curricula, pacing guides, and professional development for groups of 20+ staff.
Strategy 3 — Adapt for job level (entry vs senior)
- •Entry level: Highlight classroom internships, measurable practicum wins (e.g., raised small‑group reading scores 12% in 8 weeks), and eagerness to learn. Offer specific availability for observations or demo lessons.
- •Senior roles: Focus on leadership metrics (number of teachers coached, percent growth schoolwide, budget managed). Example: “Led a district literacy initiative across 7 schools that increased K–3 proficiency by 10% in one year.”
Strategy 4 — Concrete customization tactics
- •Map three job posting phrases to three bullet proof points in your letter.
- •Swap one paragraph to stress either technical tools, budget/metrics, or leadership depending on the posting.
- •End with a role‑specific ask: demo lesson (entry), program proposal meeting (mid), or leadership interview (senior).
Takeaway: Read the posting closely, pick 2–3 matched examples with numbers, and change tone and closing to fit industry, size, and level.