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Teacher Career Templates

Resumes, cover letters, teaching philosophy statements, portfolios and growth plans for your next teaching job.

Which Document Do You Need?

Most teaching applications ask for some of these. Here is what each one shows.

Which teacher career document to use
DocumentWhat It ShowsWhen You Need It
Teacher ResumeYour certification, teaching experience, education and skillsEvery application
Teacher Cover LetterWhy you want this job at this school, with an example of your teachingMost applications
Teaching Philosophy StatementWhat you believe about teaching and how it shows in your classroomWhen a school asks, and in most university applications
Teacher Recommendation LetterHow a principal or colleague sees your teachingApplications, graduate school and awards
Teacher PortfolioEvidence: lesson plans, student work, photos and evaluationsInterviews and evaluations
Professional Growth PlanGoals for your own development and how you will reach themEach school year, with your evaluator

How to Apply for a Teaching Job, Step by Step

Six steps from the first draft of your resume to the thank-you note.

  1. Check Your Certification

    Make sure your license covers the grade and subject, or note when it will. Districts often screen for it first.

  2. Build One Master Resume

    List everything once: jobs, student teaching, coaching and training. Cut from it for each application.

  3. Tailor Each Application

    Match your resume and cover letter to the posting, using the school's own words for its grades and programs.

  4. Line Up Your References

    Ask two or three people who have seen you teach, like a principal or mentor teacher, before you apply.

  5. Prepare a Demo Lesson

    Many schools ask for a short sample lesson. Pick one you know well and plan how students will take part.

  6. Follow Up

    Send a short thank-you email within a day of the interview, and mention one thing you talked about.

Resume Bullets That Show Results

A strong bullet says what you did, for whom and what changed.

Too VagueTaught 5th grade math.
Specific and MeasurableTaught math to 28 fifth graders; the share meeting the state benchmark rose from 64% to 81%.
Too VagueCommunicated with parents.
Specific and MeasurableSent a weekly newsletter to 25 families and called every family before the first conference.
Too VagueUsed technology in the classroom.
Specific and MeasurableMoved weekly quizzes online, which gave students same-day feedback and cut grading time.
Too VagueResponsible for classroom management.
Specific and MeasurableBuilt a classroom jobs system that cut transition time between lessons from five minutes to two.

Teacher Career Questions