Teacher resume examples & templates

Teachers are the foundation of the school system, educating children and young adults in a variety of subjects, organizing extracurricular activities and helping kids socialize. Having a stellar teacher resume is vital for getting a great job, so check out the example & guide below!

Resume guide for a teacher resume

How to write a teacher resume
• Choosing the best resume format for a teacher
• Make use of a summary
• Outline your teaching experience: your career syllabus

Build a snapshot of your key teaching skills
• List the education that elevates your teacher candidacy
• Choose the right resume layout and design for a teacher resume

Teacher job market and outlook
• What type of salary you can expect in teaching

Key takeaways for building a teacher resume

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
• Speaking
• 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

List the education that elevates your teacher candidacy

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.

Choose the right resume layout and design for a teacher resume

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):

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