Teacher Cover Letter: Examples & Templates to Use Right Now (2023)

After scouring the classifieds, you’ve located the teaching job of your dreams.

It looks custom-tailored just for you, and you have the teaching skills, leadership abilities, and classroom competence to do the school proud.

After writing your teacher resume, one last thing to do before you hand in your job application.

A teacher cover letter.

However—

It can’t be just any ol’ cover letter.

You need one that boldly underlines your talent like a Sharpie.

In this article, you’ll get:

• Two sample teacher cover letters: one for an experienced teacher and another entry-level teacher cover letter.
• Step-by-step tips on how to write a cover letter for teaching jobs that will land you more school interviews.
• A teaching cover letter template you can copy, adjust, and have ready in 15 minutes.

Save hours of work and get a cover letter like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 18+ cover letter templates and download your cover letter now.

Create your cover letter now

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your cover letter.”
PatrickI love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
DylanMy previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George

Create your cover letter now

If you're looking for a different cover letter sample for education, here are several guides you may want to have a look at:

• Cover Letter For Graduate School
• Research Assistant Cover Letter
• ESL Teacher Cover Letter
• Substitute Teacher Cover Letter
• Elementary Teacher Cover Letter

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all ourGood Cover Letter Examples.

Haven't written your resume yet? Check out these guides:

• Elementary Teacher Resume
• Special Education Teacher Resume
• Teaching Assistant Resume
• Preschool Teacher Resume
• Library Assistant Cover Letter
• Art Teacher Resume
• Substitute Teacher Resume
• School Counselor Resume

To start, check out these two teacher cover letter examples:

1. Teacher Cover Letter Examples

To start things off, we’ll show you two cover letters for different teaching experience levels.

In the first one here below, we have Francine.

Francine has several years of teaching experience already, and she’s now applying to a local school, as her family’s just relocated to Providence, RI. The teacher job description seeks a 4th-grade teaching candidate to instruct students in arithmetic, science, history, and language arts.

Let’s have a look at Francine’s sample cover letter for teacher jobs:

Example #1: Mid-Level Teaching Candidate (Few Years of Experience)

How about that?

Francine is sure to be considered for an interview with this cover letter for teacher jobs, if not immediately hired.

But—

Did the above sample teacher cover letter with experience feel out of your reach? Are you worried that you don’t have the level of teaching job experience Francine has here?

Don’t worry.

Every teacher had no experience at one time or another. However, if you write it right, you can easily make a new teacher cover letter that’ll outperform all the others.

Let’s meet Francine again, but her counterpart from a parallel universe. In this universe, Francine is fresh out of university and eager to become a teacher for the first time.

Though Francine here hasn’t had any paid teaching experience, this entry-level teacher cover letter below shows she’s got the drive, determination, transferable skills, and academic competence to be a great addition to the school’s teaching staff.

Example #2: Entry-Level Teaching Candidate (No Experience)

Well, there you have it!

You’ve just seen two prime teacher cover letter examples for both experienced educators and entry-level instructors.

Now, let’s go through, step by step, and see how you can write a high school or elementary teacher cover letter that earns a gold star sticker.

Want the TL;DR version?

Each section below has quick and easy fill-in-the-blank cover letter examples for teachers, teaching assistants, substitute teachers, and other educators.

Don’t have your teacher resume ready yet? Read our guide on teaching resumes here: Teacher Resume Sample

2. How to Write a Cover Letter for a Teaching Job Step by Step (Template)

Here’s how to write a cover letter for a teaching job:

1. Stick to Business Cover Letter Formatting Rules

The principal’s office can be intimidating, whether you’re a student in trouble or a teaching job applicant.

While a student need only break a rule to get sent there, your teacher cover letter needs to impress them thoroughly to get you called in.

And, before you put pen to paper, there are several rules to follow.

These will ensure your cover letter for teaching positions earns a hmm! of approval rather than a harumph of derision.

So—

Here’s how to format a cover letter:

• Align everything to the left—no right alignment, center alignment, or justified text.
• Apply single line spacing throughout, except for a double space in between paragraphs.
• Use a 1” margin as a border around all 4 sides of the cover letter for teaching jobs.
• Pick a standard cover letter font that is immediately legible (e.g., Calibri, Cambria).
• Stick to a 11pt or 12pt font size through the body text of the teaching cover letter.
• Stay within one page on a primary school or high school cover letter.

Expert Hint: According to the BLS, kindergarten teachers and elementary school teachers will increase by 7% (124,300 new jobs each year) between 2020 and 2030. High school teachers will grow by 8% (77,400 new jobs every year). There will be more opportunities, but this also means more competition!

2. Create a Professional Teacher Cover Letter Header With Contact Info

The first rule of preparing your teacher cover letter heading area?

Make it identical to the one on your teacher resume.

Both the teaching cover letter and teaching resume header need to display your name and contact details. Your job title or branding statement is optional.

Since a cover letter for teacher jobs is a formal affair, add the date of writing, followed by the address of the hiring principal or school board member.

Use this template for the contact details:

Teacher Cover Letter Template Header

3. Introduce Yourself & Identify the Teaching Position to Which You’re Applying

Whether you’re applying to be a substitute teacher, history teacher, or teacher assistant, the opening of a cover letter has to do one thing:

Satisfy the principal, so they’ll want to keep reading.

How?

Begin the cover letter by introducing yourself and stating the exact teaching position you’re applying for (e.g., kindergarten teacher, 2nd grade teacher assistant). Also, give a quick summary of your teaching skills and experience.

Address them by name in the first paragraph. Research the school online to identify who the principal and assistant principal are.

Here’s a fill-in-the-blanks intro template for your use or reference:

Sample Cover Letter for Teacher Jobs: Introduction

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

This is a template for teacher cover letters with a bit of experience. If you’re writing a new teacher cover letter, follow our entry-level example at the beginning.

Expert Hint: Try to show you’re proactive as a teacher candidate and more than just the skills they ask for. Have you learned novel teaching methods or frameworks (e.g., OECD Learning Framework 2030)? Mention it in your cover letter for a teaching position to surely impress them.

4. Highlight Relevant Educational Strengths & Teaching Skills

You’ve established your background in the first paragraph of the teacher or substitute teacher cover letter.

Now—

The following paragraph needs to refer to the teacher job requirements for the position to which you’re applying.

Look at the teacher job description to locate particular skills and abilities they require. Explain to them how you meet and exceed their expectations. Highlight an example or two of a past teaching accomplishment or how you faced a particular challenge.

Have a look at this fill-in-the-blank example.

Cover Letter for Teacher Example: Middle Paragraph

In the job ad, you stated you’re searching for a[Teaching Position]adept at[Particular Teaching Skill Mentioned in the Job Ad]. At my last position at[Former School’s Name],I successfully[A Few Responsibilities and Teaching Duties, Using Numbers to Quantify, Whenever Possible]. I know I can bring similar results over to[School’s Name].

Expert Hint: Teacher turnover is high throughout the United States, with an average of 4.6% of teachers turning over during the school year alone. If you show the hiring principal or faculty member you’re in it for the long haul, you’ll put yourself far ahead of the other applicants.

5. Explain Why You Want to Teach at This School

The third paragraph is all about compliments.

Hiring a teacher who’s able to be an effective educator is one thing. But, the principal and faculty want also to hire a teacher who is eager to teach and eager to teach at this particular school.

So—

Compliment them. Congratulate their school’s values, team spirit, or academic standing. Let them easily picture you in the role.

If you’re unsure, feel free to use this sample teacher cover letter template:

Teaching Cover Letter Example: Your Motivation

I especially admire[School’s Name]for[Something You Hold in High Regard]. The school’s culture and value statement mirror my own beliefs and values entirely. Obtaining the teaching position at your school would be the ideal chance for me to progress as an educator and further develop my teaching skills, all while providing a pleasant, inclusive, and effective learning environment at[School’s Name].

6. Close It Out Using a Clear Call to Action and a Fitting Sign-Off

When ending a cover letter, ask for a meeting in person or a call. Emphasize your proposal, and request a meeting to further discuss how you can bring value to their teaching faculty.

Here is a sample teacher cover letter ending to use as a guide:

Sample Cover Letter for Teaching Jobs: Call to Action & Formal Closing

With ResumeLab’s resume builder you’ll write your resume in a flash. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 21 resume templates and get started now.

Key Points

To sum it all up—

Here’s how to write a cover letter for teaching positions:

• Format teacher cover letters as you would a formal business letter.
• Address the principal, assistant principal, or other hiring faculty member by name.
• Introduce yourself as a teaching candidate, state the teaching post you are applying to, and give them a brief run-through of your background.
• Underline relevant accomplishments, past teaching jobs, and academic skills to show them you can handle any teaching responsibilities they throw at you.
• Show that you’re motivated and dedicated to be a part of this school’s staff.
• End with a cover letter teacher call to action requesting a call or interview to discuss further.

Need more cover letter resources? Check out these guides:

• How to Write an Email Cover Letter
• Free MS Word Cover Letter Templates
• General Cover Letter That’s Not Generic
• Are Cover Letters Necessary?

Got any application letter questions? Need more assistance writing cover letters for teachers or a cover letter for teacher assistant jobs? Head to the comments section below and leave a message. We’ll be happy to help!