Write the perfect teacher cover letter with these tips and examples!

Whether you’re a new or highly experienced educator looking for your next teaching job, you need a great cover letter that shows you have the teaching and classroom management skills required to keep your students engaged. Having a well-written cover letter will get their attention and make you more memorable, and that will move your application to the top of the stack. 

This article will give you some tips and guidance on how to create an outstanding cover letter, as well as provide you with two examples of solid cover letters for a teaching position. Here are the topics we’ll cover for you:

• What to put in your teacher’s cover letter

• How to make your cover letter pop

• General tips for your cover letter

• 2 excellent cover letter examples

What should a teacher put in a cover letter?

As a teaching professional, your cover letter needs to be well-written and right on topic. A cover letter is your first chance to get the hiring manager’s interest and gives you an opportunity to put some of your best traits and abilities in front of them right away. This makes it especially important to create a great cover letter.

Personalized greeting

The opening of your cover letter should have a greeting using the person’s name. Avoid generic salutations like “To whom it concerns” or “Dear Hiring Manager.” These are impersonal. It may be tricky to find out exactly who you’re sending your letter to, but it’s worth the effort. Talk to them on the phone, research the school’s website, or use other contacts to determine the person responsible for hiring.

Relevant experience with a focus on achievements

It’s very important to call out some of your best work that matches perfectly with your targeted teaching role. Don’t copy text from your resume or exactly repeat what is in your resume. Your cover letter gives you a chance to talk about things that you may not have had room for on your resume. But, it’s okay to include your most noteworthy experience or achievements on both your cover letter and resume, just make sure the details are relevant because space is at a premium for both documents.

Strong closing

Once you’ve created a fabulous cover letter, you need to have an elegant and enthusiastic closing. Be polite and gracious. Remind them why you’re a good candidate and that you’re excited about the opportunity. Mention the organization and role by name. Thank them for reading your letter and considering your resume and application. Leave them with a call to action—requesting a meeting or follow-up communication. 

How do I make my teacher's cover letter stand out?

Tailor it to the role

The biggest tip we can give you about your cover letter content is to tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for. Look at the job posting and make note of any keywords or repeated usage of tasks or requirements. Utilize those things in your cover letter (and resume) to customize your documents to be a great fit for the job. Include a reference or two to the school or institution you’re looking at. This can create a stronger connection with the reader and lets them know you’ve done your homework.

Use numbers to quantify your success

When you’re writing about your achievements, the most effective way to explain them is through numbers. A quantifiable achievement makes the accomplishment clearly measurable and leaves no ambiguity about it. They are much more impactful than listing responsibilities or tasks with vague references like “significant” or “large.” But, even if you can’t quantify an achievement, listing something successful you did is much better than just including a job responsibility.

Add outside the classroom experience, if relevant

A cover letter is a great place to inject some more personal aspects into your professional profile. Resumes are very formal and usually don’t have much emotional content. In your cover letter, it is okay to include some references to more personal experiences away from the classroom, just make sure it’s relevant to the job. It could be things like volunteer work, team coaching, or hobbies. Use these things to create a more personal connection with the reader. If you can find something that relates to the organization or the person hiring, then that is ideal.

General cover letter tips

• How long should a teacher's cover letter be? A cover letter should be no more than one page, and preferably it doesn’t fill an entire page. Your teacher’s cover letter should be very clear and concise, with the key points jumping out at the reader.

• Review it carefully and have someone else check it. You don’t want your cover letter to have any grammar or spelling errors. That would look very bad for a teacher. So, proofread, proofread, and proofread again, then have a trusted colleague or friend review it. 

2 Example cover letters

For someone new to teaching

If you’re just starting out in your teaching career, then your cover letter needs to focus on your education and abilities. Even if you don’t have a lot of experience in the field of education, you probably have some things you’ve done related to teaching, such as tutoring in high school or volunteering with children at a nonprofit. The goal is to impress your potential employer with your skills and knowledge.

For a teacher with some experience under their belt

For a more experienced education professional, your cover letter should highlight your accomplishments from your work experience. Focus on some of your best and brightest achievements. 

Having a well-written cover letter is how you get your teacher’s resume seriously considered before the last bell rings on hiring for that great teaching job. Take the time to craft a strong letter that is customized to meet the requirements of the teaching position and school you’re applying to. You want to make the grade, so do your homework and write that A+ cover letter.

If you’re struggling to create an impactful cover letter for a teaching position, check out our cover letter builder. 

Key takeaways 

1. Do your homework and customize your cover letter for each position.

2. Make your letter short and easy to read.

3. Highlight your best experience, skills, and achievements. 

4. Make it stand out and get their attention.

5. Proofread carefully and have someone else check your work.