sample resume for teachers in word format

Teacher Resumes

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A  teacher resume  is a document that teachers use to highlight their skills and experience when applying for teaching jobs. It includes a teacher’s relevant education, certification, and work experience, as well as awards, accolades, or notable accomplishments. Some resumes may include a teaching philosophy, which can communicate a teachers’ attitude about education to potential employers. Despite slight variations between resumes, all templates highlight the teacher’s accomplishments and demonstrate their fitness for a job opening.

How to Write a Teacher Resume

Writing a teacher resume is much like creating a resume for any other job, such as an accountant, marketer, or engineer. The most crucial sections are the opening statement and experience, emphasizing the teacher’s work ethic and overall educator goals. Employers look for ambitious teachers who have a strong desire to impact the world through education.

Follow the steps below to create a resume highlighting your best achievements and teaching qualities.

Step One – Compile Information

Step two – choose a format, step three – draft and revise.

Include the most recent teaching positions, earned degree(s), and certifications. Consider how you can use this information to impress the person reading the resume. For example, if you had a 4.0 GPA, you might want to include those details, so the employer knows that you worked hard in college. Be sure to include each piece of information, even if it is a minor detail. Often, these points make your resume stand out from other candidates.

If an applicant has little-to-no teaching experience, consider including related work, such as tutoring, training, or coaching. Use precise wording that conveys what you did, learned, or achieved during that time. It may even be helpful to include anecdotes from students that you helped to show the employer that you make a difference in the lives of others through your work.

There are different ways to organize a teacher resume. A reverse-chronological format lists the most recent teaching jobs and completed degrees first, followed by the next most recent. This format is the standard and works well for teachers with several years of experience or if they’ve worked for a few different schools. A functional design spotlighting a teacher’s related skills and qualities may work best when beginning their career.

Using a template or an original design, draft the resume. While keeping a resume to one or two pages is recommended, do not fixate too much on the word count. However, if your resume becomes three or four pages, consider ways to format it to make it as short as possible. For example, changing the margins, using single spacing, and smaller text can adjust the length of the resume.

Once it’s finished, go over it again to ensure it is free of errors, typos, or inconsistencies. Use spell check or software that gives you the best suggestions to make your resume sound professional and concise. Furthermore, making sure that the information is clear and organized shows that you care about the application and have a deep interest in taking on the role.

Teacher Resume Samples

Types of Teacher Resumes

Because teaching jobs range from substitute teachers to university instructors, there are several types of teacher resumes. Each type frames information specifically for its corresponding teaching job.

• Pre-K and Kindergarten
• Elementary and Middle School
• High School

Post-Secondary

Teaching assistant.

Teaching assistants (sometimes called paraprofessionals) work alongside a teacher in a classroom, often in elementary school or special education settings. This type of resume highlights the teaching assistant’s role by providing information about their impact on classroom management and learning outcomes. For instance, a teaching assistant’s resume may include specific interventions they used. It also allows teachers to highlight their proudest accomplishments, such as leading a reading group where the children jumped two reading levels in one year.

Because a substitute teacher’s job is versatile and flexible by nature, the substitute teacher resume is no different. This resume highlights the variety in work and communicates effective strategies the substitute uses on the job. A substitute might write on their resume that they “increased student participation to 100%” during a long-term contract.” 

Pre-K and Kindergarten 

This resume emphasizes a teacher’s knowledge and skills in early child development and classroom management. Providing snapshots of a teacher’s skills and accomplishments, such as “adept at positive reinforcement strategies”  or  “prepared in-depth progress notes for 25 students each quarter,”  appeals to principals or other hiring personnel.

Elementary and Middle School 

On this type of resume, elementary and middle school teachers spotlight their achievements in teaching and classroom management strategies and work outside of the classroom. For instance, this type of resume might include the number of field trips the teacher planned and directed, the growth percentage in math scores, or technology implementation into lessons and projects.

High School 

Due to the increased rigor of the high school curriculum, this resume shines best when it presents teacher impact, student outcomes, and specialized experience. A high school teacher’s resume may include “designed and developed original curriculum map for Honors Chemistry” or  “Increased participation and retention in a zero-hour academic lab.” More than a listing of daily tasks, this resume catches an employer’s eye when demonstrating a teacher’s effect.

In higher education, teacher resumes may take the form of a CV (curriculum vitae). This document is typically longer than the standard one-page resume. It details courses taught, publications, presentations, research studies, and other work in academia.

Teacher Resume Templates

How to Make a Teacher Resume Stand Out

There are various skills, responsibilities, and outcomes in a teacher’s day-to-day and throughout their career. Organizing this information clearly and effectively can help it stand out and win interview opportunities.

Create a Strong Opening Statement

Add unique skills, include specialties.

Typically, resumes start with an opening statement explaining an applicant’s career objectives. This section can include teaching philosophy, specializations, and other career highlights. An effective statement captures the teacher’s strengths and demonstrates their fitness for the job.

For example, a strong opening statement can read: “Passionate STEM teacher with 5+ years experience in project-based learning, flipped classrooms, and 1:1 technology integration. Responsible for 30% growth in math test scores and rated Highly Accomplished in evaluations.” 

Most people – especially principals or other hiring personnel – know what a teacher does daily. Instead of putting tasks, such as “graded weekly math tests” or “planned and delivered lessons to 80 students per day,” articulate the teacher’s skills’ impact, outcome, or effect. Here are some examples:

• Averaged over 85% pass rate for the AP English Literature exam in all four years.
• Implemented a school-wide social-emotional learning curriculum that reduced the number of in-school suspensions by 40%.
• Coached the Speech and Debate team to win their first State Championship.
• Won Teacher of the Year in 2014.

Some teachers may have specialties, such as national board certification, membership in professional teaching associations, unique work experience (such as Teach for America or teaching abroad). Some teachers find additional responsibilities, such as mentoring student teachers, coordinating after-school programs, or delivering professional development.

All of these specializations can make an applicant stand out. They tell a principal that the teacher is well-rounded, has developed expertise, and can offer more than the typical daily teaching duties.

Here are some examples of how to write specialties on a teacher resume:

• Scored Highly Effective in student-teacher evaluation by a teacher mentor
• Taught English to students in Taiwan and raised language proficiency by 30%
• Presented about digital literacy at state and national conferences
• National Board Certified in Music Education

Teacher Resume Examples

Key Takeaways

When writing a teacher resume, present the outcome and impact of a teacher’s work, rather than merely listing tasks. Principals want to see how well a teacher will fit into their school’s culture, meet the needs of their student body, and influence potential colleagues. A principal can discern all of these from a strong resume that includes a teaching philosophy or career objective, describes qualifications, and articulates results.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Have You Heard About This Music Honor Society? 🎶

Free Teacher Resume Template and Tips, Plus 21 Teacher Resume Examples

Make a great first impression!

Whether you’re searching for your first teaching job or you’re ready for a change, you’ll need a solid resume. There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there on how to write a resume that will land you an interview, so it’s worth taking some time to review teacher resume examples first. We’ve rounded up examples for pretty much any kind of educator and assembled tips for how to write a strong modern teacher resume.

Best of all, we’ve got a free, fully customizable teacher resume template to get you started quickly and easily. Fill out the form on this page to grab your template, then use our tips to start building your resume today.

Teacher Resume Tips

Teacher resume examples.

Resumes have changed a lot in recent years, so do your research to find out what the latest trends are. For instance, while an “objectives” section used to be a resume standard, people often drop this section today in favor of more space to highlight their accomplishments. Start with these general resume tips, then get more advice for completing our free teacher resume template, section by section.

General Tips

• Keep it to one or two pages. Hiring managers don’t have time to read overly long resumes. Put the most important information up front, and remove anything that doesn’t truly strengthen your application.
• Be honest. While you want to highlight your strengths and achievements, don’t go overboard. If you exaggerate your experience but are unable to perform certain tasks, you may put your future job at risk before you even get started.
• Skip the gimmicks. Some people will tell you the way to make your resume stand out is to use fun fonts or a “creative” design. The fact is, people who are hiring want an easy-to-read, clear presentation that highlights your achievements and credentials. That’s what will land you an interview.
• Tailor your resume. Keep a standard resume document that you can customize for the specific job you’re applying for. That might mean moving sections around, highlighting specific skills or experiences, or deciding which parts of your career deserve to be placed up front. Take a close look at the job description, and tailor your resume accordingly.
• Don’t try to circumvent the system. Years ago, people would tell you to ignore requests to send your resume and instead show up in person. Our advice: Don’t do it! Application systems are nearly all online these days, and for good reason. This helps hiring committees by organizing information efficiently and ensuring they meet all anti-discrimination laws. So just send your resume and application using the method requested.
• Don’t forget a cover letter. A great cover letter really can help your resume stand out. Learn how to make your teacher cover letter special here.

Contact Information

On today’s resumes, your mailing address is optional. In fact, if you’re looking for a job outside of your current geographical area, it can sometimes be helpful to leave it off. This way, employers won’t worry about whether you’re willing to relocate for the job.

Email addresses are not optional. This is the way most schools will contact you today, so be sure to provide yours. You might want to take a look at your address to make sure it sounds relatively professional too. Ideally, it simply contains a version of your name (e.g., “[email protected]”); don’t forget you can grab a free email address from sites like Gmail if you need to. But other addresses are fine too, as long as there’s nothing questionable. “[email protected]” is fine. “[email protected]” is not.

Professional Objective/Summary

As mentioned earlier, resume objectives are used less and less today. Recent college grads or those transitioning to teaching careers might still decide to include a professional objective statement. Those with more experience have replaced objectives with a summary statement that provides an overview of their career. It’s also OK to delete this section altogether if you’d like more space in the Relevant Work Experience section.

Education and Certifications

Include your undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as any certifications or licensures you hold. Note: It’s up to you whether you include your graduation date. Some people worry it can open them up to age discrimination. You’ll likely be asked for this information if you continue in the hiring process, so they can verify your degrees.

Related Experience

This is the real meat of your teacher resume. You can list jobs chronologically starting with the most recent, or choose to place your most relevant experience first. Either way, include your employer’s name, dates of employment, and the position/s you held. Then, highlight your experience and achievements. Strive to make your statements measurable and quantifiable rather than just a listing of your job duties.

Weak statements: ADVERTISEMENT

• Taught fifth grade science and math
• Prepared students for standardized math tests
• Oversaw annual school science fair

Strong statements:

• Instructed 100+ students each year in fifth grade science fundamentals, including human anatomy, electricity and magnetism, and earth and space science
• Improved standardized testing math scores by an average of 8% over a period of five years
• Organized seven annual school science fairs by coordinating 200+ participants, finding qualified judges, and arranging for prizes donated by the community

New college grad? You should definitely include your student teaching or internship experience in this section!

Additional Experience

You can use this section to include jobs you’ve held that aren’t quite as relevant to the one you’re applying for. If you’re new to the working world, it’s OK to include non-teaching jobs here. For those with longer careers, it’s probably not necessary to list every job you’ve ever had. Just highlight any experience that helps support your application or fills any employment gaps.

Professional Honors and Leadership

If you’ve received awards or honors related to teaching, share them here. The same goes for any leadership roles you’ve held in educational professional orgs.

Professional Affiliations

If space allows, you might want to include a short list of respected professional organizations you belong to. You should definitely include them if you play a very active role, have been invited to speak as an education expert at a conference, etc. Otherwise, this section is optional.

Other Teacher Resume Sections

Here are some sections you might consider adding if you have space, and a few to skip altogether.

• Professional skills: Don’t include this section if your skills are simply those expected of any teacher. But if you’ve built up any unusual and relevant teaching skills through experience or professional development, you could include them here. (Fluency in multiple languages, for example.)
• Community involvement or volunteer work: If you’ve been heavily involved in community organizations that work with children or education, consider highlighting those achievements on your resume.
• Publications: Have you published articles in an educational or professional journal, or had your work featured on a trusted, well-known website? Include any relevant articles and links.

Here’s what you don’t need on your resume:

• Hobbies or “unique” unrelated skills (like “juggling” or “Cordon Bleu chef”).
• Any information about religious or political affiliations, or your marital status, gender, race, or age. These could lead to potential bias or discrimination in the hiring process.
• References: Most people leave this section off their resume these days, as job applications or hiring committees will ask you for them separately. Line up your references and gather their contact information, but hang onto them until you’re asked to provide the info. You don’t even need to put “References available upon request,” since hiring managers already assume that.

As you complete your teacher resume template, use these examples for ideas about what to include and how to word it.

1. First-time teacher

This is a great resume for teachers with little to no experience.

2. Another first-time teacher example

Here’s one more example of a great teacher resume for those with limited experience.

3. Experienced elementary teacher

This one allows you to showcase your skills in a compact, visually appealing design.

4. Another experienced elementary teacher

This is one of those teacher resume examples that work best for those with some experience but who are still early in their career. (Note: Click the link above and scroll down to find it.)

5. Summer school teacher

Use this resume to highlight the unique skills of summer school teachers who work with students who are either repeating a course or trying to get ahead for the following school year.

6. Assistant teacher

Applying for an assistant teacher job will be much easier using one of the five fantastic teacher resume examples through this resource.

7. Special education teacher

As a special educator, your responsibilities may change from minute to minute and your skills need to adapt. This template helps you simplify your experience in a one-page resume.

8. School counselor

This resume will help you showcase your excellent mentoring, counseling, and leadership skills.

9. School guidance counselor

As a guidance counselor, your role is to guide students through academic development as well as personal growth. Use this template to show you how to highlight your unique talents.

10. Library media specialist

Showcase your ability to collect and maintain the valuable resources needed to foster a strong learning environment for students.

11. High school English teacher

Use this guide to create a great English teacher resume that will highlight your communication, interpersonal, and planning skills to edge out the competition.

12. Technology teacher

Emphasize your commitment to the ongoing professional development necessary to continue integrating the latest technology into the existing curriculum, and coming up with new lesson plans for today’s classrooms.

13. Music teacher

Share and showcase your love of introducing music to students with this straightforward teacher resume.

14. Drama teacher

This resume example is simple but perfect for drama teachers who want to emphasize their experience as well as their knowledge of acting techniques and production.

15. World language teacher

Establish yourself as the ideal candidate by demonstrating teaching skills, language proficiency, communication, and organizational skills.

16. Sports coach

As a coach, this template will help you demonstrate your ability to manage teams and sports programs as well as encourage academic performance.

17. ESL teacher

This teacher resume example allows you to highlight your classroom management skills, as well as your commitment to empathy, patience, and cultural awareness. (Note: Click the link above and scroll down to find it.)

18. Math teacher

This clean resume template showcases a math teacher’s ability to break down complex math concepts through patient, meaningful engagement with students.

19. Pre-K teacher

It takes a special person to be a great pre-K teacher. Working with young children while creating lesson and activity plans, monitoring progress, and providing quality supervision takes patience and kindness.

20. Business teacher

Put your best foot forward with this business teacher resume that emphasizes teaching methods and a commitment to ongoing professional development.

21. International school teacher

Use this resume to let hiring managers know that you’re not only motivated to help students learn but uniquely qualified. Be sure to highlight any experience living or traveling abroad as well as foreign language skills.

Get Your Free Teacher Resume Template

Just fill out the form on this landing page for instant access to a free Google Doc featuring a fully customizable teacher resume template.

Plus, check out tips for teacher job fairs and the most common teacher interview questions.

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Teacher Resume Sample 2024

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Download this teacher resume example for free in Word format

This free teacher resume sample in <strong>Word format is perfect for those in the education sector. Download and customize it to your liking. A teacher resume plays a crucial role in presenting your qualifications, experiences, and skills to potential employers. Get this free template resume today!

• File format:  Word (Microsoft)
• File size:  165 KB
• Ready-to-use:  fast, easy, and free

Whether you are an experienced teacher or a fresher looking to start your teaching career, a well-crafted resume can significantly enhance your chances of securing a teaching position. Follow our expert’s advice to write a job-winning CV when filling in your free teacher resume sample in Word.

This guide will include :

• Your free teacher resume template to download in Word.
• A teacher resume example that you can copy and use as inspiration.
• How to make a job winning teacher CV that gets you hired on the spot.
• Examples of the different sections of a resume and how to showcase your best skills and experience.

Also download: Education Resume Sample

Teacher Resume Example (Text Format)

John DOE [email protected] (555) 555-5555 linkedin.com/johndoe

Dedicated and passionate educator with a strong background in [mention the relevant subjects or fields, e.g., mathematics, history, science], seeking a challenging teaching position to inspire and empower students to reach their full potential.

Professional Experiences

High School Math Teacher , XYZ High School, NY September 20XX – Present

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive curriculum for 9th and 10th-grade math classes, resulting in a 15% improvement in student performance on standardized tests.
• Collaborated with fellow educators to create engaging and interactive lesson plans, incorporating technology to enhance the learning experience.
• Organized and led after-school tutoring sessions, helping struggling students grasp challenging concepts and improve their grades.

Middle School Science Teacher , ABC Middle School, IL August 20XX – June 20XX

• Designed and delivered hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons for 6th and 7th-grade students, fostering a deep interest in the subject and promoting critical thinking skills.
• Implemented a student-centered classroom environment, encouraging active participation and creative problem-solving.
• Served as the Science Department Head, leading professional development workshops for colleagues and spearheading curriculum updates to align with state standards.

ESL Instructor , Language Learning Institute, IL March 20XX – July 20XX

• Taught English as a Second Language to adult learners, tailoring lessons to meet the unique needs and goals of each student.
• Developed and administered proficiency assessments to track student progress and adjusted instructional strategies accordingly.
• Enhanced students’ language skills, enabling them to achieve their career and personal objectives, with several achieving advanced language proficiency levels.

Master of Education (M.Ed) , University of Teaching Excellence 20XX

Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in English , State University 20XX

• Curriculum Development
• Classroom Management
• Educational Technology (e.g., Google Classroom, interactive whiteboards)
• Assessment and Data Analysis
• Differentiated Instruction
• Special Needs Education
• Effective Communication
• Classroom Leadership
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• English (Native)
• Spanish (Fluent)
• French (Intermediate)
• Outdoor Education
• STEM Outreach Programs
• Travel and Cultural Immersion
• Cooking and Culinary Exploration
• Hiking and Nature Photography

How to Write a Good Teacher Resume

Crafting an effective teacher resume involves strategic decision-making regarding the sections to include, each playing a crucial role in presenting a comprehensive and compelling professional narrative. We’ve put together this list below to help guide you as you edit your free teacher resume sample. Don’t worry. We absolutely have got your back throughout this whole process. Let´s do this!

• Write your work experience incorporating keywords from the job description for a better match.
• If you have published any scholarly articles , include them in your resume. Do the same for teaching awards.
• Add at least two reputable references from the educational institutions you have worked at.
• Update your information . Remember to revise your resume with each application.
• If you include an interests section , write ones related to your teaching profile, especially if you are applying for early childhood education or kindergarten.
• Do not exceed one or two pages . Your resume should be straight to the point and only include work experience relevant to the position you are applying for.

Recommended Sections

• Contact Information
• Career Objective or Summary
• Teaching Certifications
• Teaching Experience
• Professional Development
• Awards and Honors
• Memberships

Optional Sections

• Volunteer Work
• Languages Spoken
• Hobbies and Interests

Check out more Free Resume Examples

Teacher Resume Objective Examples

The resume objective serves as a concise introduction that captures the attention of hiring managers and highlights your career goals and qualifications. For a teacher resume, your objective should reflect your passion for education , your teaching philosophy, and your desire to positively impact students’ lives.

You can also incorporate specific goals or objectives you have for your teaching career to showcase your dedication and enthusiasm.

Art teacher resume summary sample

Passionate and results-driven art teacher with a proven track record in curriculum development and instructional design. Proficient in devising innovative and interactive lessons that not only foster artistic expression but also cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Adept at integrating technology seamlessly into the art classroom to augment the learning experience.

Elementary school teacher profile summary

Experienced elementary school teacher known for creating a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment. Skilled in developing age-appropriate lesson plans and implementing creative teaching strategies to engage young learners. Strong knowledge of early childhood development principles and ability to adapt instruction to meet diverse student needs. Excellent communication skills to collaborate with parents and address any concerns or questions.

Profile summary sample for a high school teacher resume

Highly effective high school teacher specializing in mathematics and passionate about equipping students with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Proven ability to simplify complex concepts and tailor instruction to different learning levels. Experienced in preparing students for standardized tests and facilitating a high level of academic achievement. Dedicated to fostering a supportive and challenging classroom environment.

Entry-level teacher resume sample

Passionate and enthusiastic entry-level teacher dedicated to making a positive impact on students’ lives. Recently completed a teacher education program. Eager to apply theoretical knowledge and implement innovative teaching strategies to foster a supportive and engaging learning environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.

Also read: How to Write a Career Objective

Experiences in a Teacher Resume

This instructional guide empowers you to present your teaching journey authentically, emphasizing not just what you’ve done but how your experiences have shaped you as an educator. Navigate through it, and let this sample be the anchor that elevates your teacher resume to new heights.

Example of experience for a teacher resume

5th Grade Teacher , Oakridge Elementary School, IL August 20XX – Present

• Improved standardized test scores by 15% through engaging, student-centered lessons.
• Implemented a successful classroom management strategy resulting in a 30% reduction in disciplinary issues.
• Led a school-wide STEM project, enhancing students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

High School History Teacher , Central High School, IL September 20XX – May 2019

• Developed and delivered a comprehensive U.S. History curriculum, resulting in a 25% increase in student performance.
• Organized educational field trips to historical sites, enriching students’ understanding of the subject.
• Led a history club, fostering a passion for the subject among students.

Special Education Teacher , Inclusion Academy, IL January 20XX – June 20XX

• Tailored individualized education plans for students with diverse learning needs, leading to a 20% improvement in their academic progress.
• Collaborated with speech therapists and occupational therapists to enhance the learning experience for special needs students.
• Facilitated parent-teacher conferences, maintaining open communication and support for students’ development.

Education for Teacher Resume

As you explore how to edit your teacher resume education section on your free sample in Word, pay attention to the delicate balance between brevity and informativeness. This section is an opportunity to convey not just the titles of your degrees but also the specialized knowledge and skills gained during your academic endeavors.

Consider aligning your educational experiences with the specific requirements of the teaching positions you’re targeting.

Teacher resume education sample

Master of Arts in Teaching , NYU August 20XX – May 20XX

Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education , NYU September 20XX – May 20 XX

Are you looking to teach abroad? Check out Teach for All for any global teaching opportunities!

Listing Hard Skills for Teachers

Highlighting your hard skills is a crucial component of any CV, as it demonstrates the technical and specific competencies necessary to excel in your role. As a teacher, it is paramount to showcase your proficiency in various subjects, technologies, and teaching methodologies .

The hard skills listed below will assist you in identifying what recruiters are seeking while you edit your free teacher resume sample in Word.

Examples of hard skills on a teacher resume

• Curriculum development
• Classroom management
• Assessment and grading
• Technology integration
• Subject matter expertise
• Interactive whiteboards
• Educational software
• Lesson planning

Also download: Substitute Teacher Cover Letter Sample

Listing Soft Skills for Teachers

This is a vital part of any CV. Showcasing your skills illustrates your interpersonal and technical abilities to get the job done. As a teacher, it is very important to be able to exhibit skills like empathy and the ability to establish good rapport with your students . Use the skills we have listed below to help you get inspired when writing your own resume. Don’t be afraid to copy/paste the ones that resonate with you the most 😉 .

Examples of soft skills on a teacher resume

• Communication
• Collaboration
• Organization
• Problem-solving

Teacher Job Titles

The job title on your resume Teacher should be tailored to the position you are applying for. Use details from the job description to optimize it even further.

Job title example for teachers

• Special education teacher
• Curriculum specialist
• Online educator
• Instructional coach
• School counsellor
• Teacher assistant

Teacher Resume FAQs

How to download the teacher resume sample.

Follow the steps to get this free teacher resume example :

• Go to the top of this page and click on download.
• Choose the right Word version for your device.
• Click on it. The automatic download will complete in a matter of seconds.
• Edit the teacher resume format with your own information.
• Finally, download and send the application in PDF for an optimal result.

What is the best teacher resume format?

A job-winning resume format follows reverse-chronological order and is a combination of a functional resume, and a classic resume. The resume sample available on our website follows this style which has been pre-approved by HR specialists. 

Download this free teacher resume sample in Word now !

Expert resume and career advice writer

Updated May 24, 2024

• Free Resume Example
• Written Example
• Profile Summary
• Hard Skills
• Soft Skills
• Resume Examples
• Resume Templates
• Basic Resume Templates

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26 Teacher Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

• Teacher Resume
• Teacher Resumes by Grade Level
• Teacher Resumes by Subject
• Teacher Resumes by Type

Formatting Your Teacher Resume

Teachers are the backbone of society. You spend more time with the children you educate than their parents do! And effective teachers like you are compassionate, intelligent, and organized, among hundreds of other things.

It can be difficult to highlight all your experience and skills on your teacher resume, and you’ll want to save some for your  teacher cover letter .

These 26 teacher resume examples are helping teachers with varying levels and types of expertise land jobs in 2024 . They’re a great place for you to get started building or  updating your resume .

Please note that this guide is geared toward educators in the K-12 space. If you’re applying to teach at the college level, you’ll likely need to  write a CV . 

Teacher Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• When listing your student teaching experience, focus on what you contributed instead of your responsibilities. 
• Since you want to make the resume reviewer’s job as pleasant as possible, clearly state the subject and grades you taught in a resume bullet.
• When you go to make a cover letter , this is your ticket to dive deeper into how you helped your students achieve greater success in the classroom.

Daycare Teacher Resume Example

• If you’re a pro at integrating play-based learning like building blocks or water play into your daycare environment, do more than list it in your skills section. Use your work experience to show your skills in action.

First Grade Teacher Resume Example

• Rather, fill your first grade teacher resume with software like ABCmouse, ClassDojo, and Kahoot! Show potential employers that you’re an expert at dealing with little ones and know exactly what technology to use to develop their test scores and talents.

Elementary Teacher Resume Example

• Include licenses or certifications in a dedicated “Certifications” section on your elementary teacher resume. Our  user-friendly resume templates  and  Google docs resume templates  let you add a section just for certificates and licenses.
• For example, “Improved students’ passing rates on the statewide annual exam by 13%” effectively shows competency through an estimate.

Middle School Teacher Resume Example

• Including a  career objective  can help explain why you’re a strong candidate if you have limited work experience or if you’re undergoing a career change.
• Certifications are typically required qualifications for teachers, so it’s best to list any relevant certificates you’ve acquired. 
• Projects can be a great place to highlight experiences not technically work-related but still highly relevant to your passion for teaching. 
• An activities section is the spot for interesting, quirky experiences or  hobbies on your resume ; just be sure you can explain  why  they’re relevant when you get an interview! 

First Year Teacher Resume Example

• Succinct, to-the-point, and intriguing are everything your career objective should be-it should be two to three sentences summarizing your teaching career goals and demonstrating your readiness to help the hiring institution attain its objectives. Weaving in mentions of past relevant experiences like a teaching internship can leave a solid impression that gets you hired.

High School Teacher Resume Example

• The “Education” section of your  high school teacher resume  should list the degree you’ve earned. No need to list high school since that’s a given.
• For example, instead of saying, “Prepared students for standardized exams,” say, “Helped improve standardized testing performance by 3%.”
• If you list “collaboration” as a skill, then somewhere in your resume’s work experience bullet points, it should be clear that collaboration is part of your repertoire.

Kindergarten Teacher Resume Example

• Just below your list of skills, drop in a succinct certifications section showing off credentials like Certified Child Life Specialist, Early Childhood Education Specialist, or Child Development Associate (CDA. Besides validating your seemingly vast industry knowledge, these elevate you from the crowd of folks who’ve got the experience but might be missing those credentials.

Transitioning Teacher Resume Example

• Let phrases like “Designed a new life skills curriculum supported by zSpace’s virtual simulations, increasing student competency in daily tasks by 38%” and “Utilized Kurzweil 3000 to provide reading support for 18 students, improving comprehension and retention of transition materials” take center stage in the work history of your transitioning teacher resume.

PE Teacher Resume Example

• Save a small section on your resume’s side column for role-relevant tertiary educational background, much like how Amanda flaunts her bachelor’s degree (Physical Education) from the University of Central Florida. It’s about showing you’ve put a great deal of work into amassing the necessary knowledge and skills.

Spanish Teacher Resume Example

• Having a degree like a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Portuguese or a certificate like “Single Subject Teaching Credential in Spanish” in your Spanish teacher resume are great ways to prove your professionalism in teaching foreign languages. ¡Feliz búsqueda de empleo!

Science Teacher Resume Example

• You see, few other things piss off hiring managers as much as a resume littered with grammatical mistakes, from typos, punctuation errors to awkward phrases. And that brings us to the essence of staking the time to meticulously proofreading yours before hitting the send button. Better yet, involve a second pair of eyes, be it a friend, family member or career coach.

Math Teacher Resume Example

• Such unique achievements make your math teacher resume shine and grab the attention of your dream employer. Identify such feats in your career and let them take center stage in your application.

Art Teacher Resume Example

• Your also have to prove that you go beyond the curriculum to offer students more opportunities such as through showcasing their work to the world.

Social Science Teacher Resume Example

• Ask a friend, colleague, or even a co-worker to proofread your resume. If you’re low on time, invest in a spell-check system like Grammarly or run your resume through our  resume checker  to catch any typos or comma errors. 
• All our example resumes include the essential sections, and you can add your own sections to customize your template to your specific needs.

English Teacher Resume Example

• Summaries are two to three-sentence paragraphs that can be thought of as a recap of your best self on your resume. 
• Purely optional, you can include one if you have years (10+) of experience in your field.
• Summaries work best to showcase your tried and tested years in the education field and any specializations you’ve honed, such as teaching AP-level courses.

Foreign Language Teacher Resume Example

• Why?  Hard skills are more specific to your profession and easier to demonstrate throughout your resume. Plus, they show school admin that you’ve already got some technical know-how for the job. 
• Aim to include six to eight specific skills, emphasizing hard skills (like “bilingual” and “lesson planning”) over soft skills (like “organization” and “caring”).
• If you’re hoping to switch from teaching German to teaching history, you don’t need to include many details on your strategies for teaching verb conjugation, for example.

Experienced Teacher Resume Example

• It’s perfect time to turn to your technology skills and how you’ve tapped them to solve everyday teaching challenges. Show how you’ve leveraged Zoom and Google Classroom for virtual teaching, Quizizz for tailored tests that improved average students score, and so on.

New Teacher Resume Example

• Also, show how it has been a lifelong process for you, and how you are ready to bring in your set of pedagogical skills in the learning environment.

Student Teacher Resume Example

• Schools know you have to start somewhere, so what they’re really looking for is that you show the promise and potential to step inside their classrooms and successfully manage and teach a class.
• If you’ve volunteered as a teacher after school, provided tutoring or homework help, or even assisted in a teacher’s grading load, you have valuable experience to add to your resume.

Teacher Assistant Resume Example

• Instead of vaguely stating, “Worked with assistants and teachers,” give concrete details, like “Worked with 2 assistants and teacher to provide instruction to 60+ 2nd graders with IEPs.”
• An objective is valuable if you’re light on experience and need to fill some white space, but it loses its value if it’s not customized.
• Tailor your objective by mentioning the target school by name and sprinkling in some keywords from the  teacher job description , so long as they honestly describe you!

Substitute Teacher Resume Example

• If you’re a certified substitute teacher (or teacher) in your state, include that in a dedicated “Certifications” section on your substitute teacher resume. This will help you stand out from other applicants, as this is not required in every state.
• Any prior subbing experience should highlight maintaining a disciplined classroom. One of the toughest aspects of being a sub is commanding a classroom, so demonstrating your strength will increase your chances of getting an interview.
• Another way to impress is by  formatting your resume’s  work history in reverse-chronological order; it lists your most current and relevant experience first, so the admin can glimpse your best stuff first.

Collaborative Teacher Resume Example

• Choose one or two key areas, such as section titles or your header, to include a pop of conservative color.
• Use two contrasting fonts on your resume template . Just don’t pick anything hard to read—remember, recruiters scan resumes within seconds, so it has to be understood at a glance.
• Even if your projects aren’t teaching-related, highlight skills you used or developed, like working with kids, collaborating with co-workers, or taking a leadership position.

Special Education Teacher Resume Example

• Does your resume take up the entire page?
• Does it have half to one-inch margins? (Either half an inch or one inch is fine.)
• Does your resume include separate sections for contact information, education, skills, and work experience?
• Start each bullet point with action words, like “spearheaded” or “brainstormed.” 
• Either end all bullet points with a period or none at all. Be consistent with punctuation.
• Write your work experience in the past tense.
• Avoid using personal pronouns like “me” or “I” on your resume. We’re pretty sure the employer already knows you’re writing about yourself!

Assistant Teacher Resume Example

• Consider a certifications section in which you proudly spotlight credential like Child Development Associate (CDA), just as Matthew does. Of course, a proven understanding of early childhood education best practices is sure to get a nod from the hiring manager reading your piece.

Teacher Aide Resume Example

• Begin by spotlighting your most recent, senior position (paired with key quantified achievements and relevant tool applications) and backtrack through your junior roles. This technique is golden for illustrating your career progression in a resume and should show an increment of responsibilities and wins as you go up.

Related resume guides

• Teacher Assistant
• Preschool Teacher
• Elementary Teacher
• Substitute Teacher

Formatting ensures your teacher resume is readable, logical, and complete. Imagine understanding a book without chapter headings or margins and no discernable organization. It would be a nightmare to parse out any information when nothing follows a clear structure and doesn’t lend itself to being read correctly. It’s an extreme example, but it proves the necessity of formatting. 

Just as you create lesson plans to help your class learn best, format your resume so your qualifications are conveyed and understood. We’ll cover three important formatting elements in the following sections: resume formats, your contact header, and resume readability for ATS.

Three resume formats

The most popular  resume formats  for 2024 are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid. Here are some of the pros and cons of each:

• Reverse-chronological : This format highlights your career progression in an easy-to-scan list, making it ideal for recruiters and ATS. However, this format exposes time gaps and can be repetitive if you’ve held the same position at multiple schools.
• Functional : This format focuses on your skills, ideal for limited teaching experience or gaps. However, it’s commonly known to confuse potential employers and ATS.
• Combination/hybrid : This leverages an in-depth skills section and a small experience section to accurately summarize why you’re the best candidate for the job. However, it’s easy to structure this poorly, and it can look like you’re hiding a lack of work experience.

We advise the reverse-chronological format for your teacher resume because it proves you have practical knowledge and a steady career. This format tells the story of your teaching career in under  six seconds , which is how long recruiters will take to read your resume.

Include the right details in your contact header

Your contact header should be easy to locate and read. Some suggest not adding contact information in the header, but that’s why formatting your contact header properly is so important. With good formatting, none of your information gets buried, and it can distinguish you from other applicants. You should include:

• Job title you’re seeking
• Phone number
• City, State (optional)
• Professional links (optional)

Per industry standards, place the header in either the top left-hand corner or centered beneath your name. Not enough space? Remove the optional elements or go down a font size. Choose a sans-serif font that’s no smaller than your resume’s body text. 

Like the example below, you can put your header in a color block to grab attention quickly and add personality. It’s best not to use obnoxious colors (neon green would be a hard no), and always double-check that the color works well with black body text or white font. 

Sometimes, the ATS won’t read your resume properly despite having a beautiful header. That’s why we recommend submitting it as a .docx (friendly for ATS) and as a PDF (friendly for employers). 

We have plenty of  excellent resume samples  you can check out for inspiration on your header, and if you’re rushed, choose one of our  free resume templates  to start and finish your teacher resume in record time. 

Ensure the ATS and employers can read your resume

To ensure your resume reaches principals and department heads, you’ll need to pass muster with the ATS. The good news is formatting for the ATS also results in a resume easy to read by employers. 

Resume tips to steer you on the right path:

• Not only is a one-page resume faster for recruiters and ATS to scan, but it forces you to be concise and include only what’s relevant. 
• Most ATS don’t recognize documents in Open Office, Adobe Pages, HTML, or PDF (on occasion). The wisest option is to submit your resume as a .docx and  as a PDF to give employers options if one doesn’t work.
• The standard 10–12-point font is the best readability range for employers and ATS.
• Even at a reasonable size, some fonts are hard to read, unprofessional-appearing, and ATS-unfriendly. Stick to standard sans-serif fonts like Helvetica or Arial.
• One-inch margins are standard, but you can be flexible. Avoid going smaller than a half-inch or larger than one inch to keep your teacher resume professional and tidy.
• You may confuse the ATS and the school if you have odd header titles. Use standardized headers, as you see in our resume samples , to make each section easy to find (and comprehend). 
• ATS uses keywords to determine your eligibility, including skills (Google Classroom, modifying lessons, parent communication, etc.) matching what’s in the job ad. 
• If your resume sections aren’t in the recommended order, they may confuse ATS. Yet again, it’s best to stick to the standard by using an AI resume generator .

Writing Your Teacher Resume

Writing an effective resume  may feel daunting, but it’s far more manageable if you take it section by section. You may even want to use one of our  fresh Word resume templates  designed just for teachers. Let’s dive into each resume section you’ll want to consider:

Does an objective/summary on your teacher resume matter?

Teaching history, top skills for educators.

• Listing education, certification, and optional sections

Customize your teacher resume for the job

Revise and edit your teacher resume.

Principals and their hiring teams may see hundreds of resumes across a wide array of teaching roles, so it’s crucial to showcase your talents and personality quickly. Objectives and summaries can work as excellent introductory tools, but many end up being generic, boring, or vague. 

First, consider whether you’ll use an  objective or summary statement (or neither). An objective highlights your interest and qualifications for the role, while a  resume career summary  distills your specialized skills and experience in a few lines. Use an objective if you’re seeking your first teaching position or switching from teaching one subject to another. On the other hand, veteran teachers may opt for a summary (or no statement at all).

Regardless of your circumstances, if you use either of these introductory statements, you should always tailor your message to the position. Let’s look at specific examples to contrast a D+ resume objective with one worthy of an A. 

A generic, vague objective tells recruiters nothing about you beyond the bare minimum:

New high school teacher seeking employment at a local high school closer to family. Talented at communicating with teenagers and teaching. Received many compliments and letters at last place of employment.

The above objective lacks personality and neglects to mention anything specific. This next objective, however, is focused and tells the principal about the applicant’s skills:

Compassionate algebra tutor with 4+ years of experience. Excellent at coaching students in formulas and helping them develop analytical thinking skills and mathematical competency at all levels of ability. Seeking to use my communication and interpersonal skills to build meaningful student relationships and improve their mathematical abilities at Joaquin High School.

Like the visual example below, the above objective works because it details the applicant’s experience and how it’s relevant to their new goals within the classroom. 

With summaries, it’s difficult to narrow down years of experience into one paragraph, so they often end up looking like this:

Skilled and experienced teacher who loves working with littles. Adept at communication and care. Excited to use my skills for Sunnyside Elementary. 

For starters, repeating “skilled” and “experienced” won’t tell employers anything. A good summary should sell your experience and qualifications, making principals wish they’d had the chance to hire you years ago:

Elementary education teacher with 12+ years of experience managing 25-30 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders’ classrooms. I am a patient, personable, and compassionate professional eager to bring my expertise to Sunnyside Elementary. Awarded Teacher of the Year in 2020 and 2021 for creating online individualized lesson plans for over 65 students during the height of the pandemic.

This summary works because it tells the recruiter their specific qualifications, namely personalized lesson plans and classroom management, and their skills (in this case, two awards). 

It’s tempting to list every job you’ve ever had to prove you’re qualified, but this becomes either overwhelming or redundant. It also means you can’t include much about each position, which won’t inspire principals to hire you. 

Instead, pick two to four of your most relevant teaching positions. Quantify your responsibilities and incorporate skill keywords to improve your ATS score with each. 

No teaching experience yet? Add internships, student teaching, volunteering, or other special projects like the example below that can highlight your soft skills like leadership. Certifications and awards are helpful additions, too. 

How to write your job description bullet points

Whether you’re describing a past job, an internship, or a college project, you’ll need to craft your bullet points with care. Every word counts, so use active verbs, definitive language, third-person pronouns, and consistent verb tenses. Pay careful attention to consistency with punctuation—using periods at the end of some bullets while none for others is sloppy.

Based on these resume writing tips , here are some examples of well-crafted bullet points suited for a teacher resume:

• Taught mathematics, English, general science, art, geography, and history to 60+ 3rd grade students
• Collaborated with parents to discuss student performance and options for an improved learning experience, such as individualized instruction for students with learning disabilities
• Hosted annual fundraiser to raise $6,500 for 10+ teachers to attend the RAISE conference and led yearly trips to RAISE meetings, resulting in overall more effective teaching strategies and a renewed passion for academia

These bullet points work because they’re descriptive and results-oriented. Strive for conciseness and specificity with your job description bullet points.

Maximize your classroom impact with numbers

From an employer’s mindset, metrics cement your abilities by proving that your actions resulted in a desirable outcome. If possible, include metrics on 50 percent of your job description bullet points to showcase the results of your effective teaching. 

When talking about past teaching roles, it’s a good idea to discuss the following metrics:

• Increase in test scores, passing rates, or grade point averages
• Number of students/classes taught
• Increase in student participation/improved behavior

The following examples use the metric types listed above to describe a teacher’s impact further: 

• Co-founded a S.T.E.M. club with the aid of 4 fellow teachers, increasing student passing rates in science and mathematics by 13%
• Established weekly one-on-one student conversation sessions to intentionally build student-teacher relationships, resulting in a 15% overall increase in classroom participation and attendance
• Hosted monthly Write-Til-You-Drop sessions for high school students struggling in English and offered expertise for outlining thesis development and argument structure, which resulted in 31% higher essay scores for participating students

The  skills section of your resume  is a quick guide to what you bring to the table as a teacher. That means choosing the right skills for each job is crucial. You might be organized and great at time management, but if employers want to see that you’re compassionate and great at lesson planning instead, your resume may be set aside. 

Since teachers fulfill many roles, employers will want to see a host of varied skills, including soft, hard, and technical capabilities, such as these:

Common teacher skills

• Collaboration
• Problem-solving
• 1:1 communication
• Organization
• Class management
• Active listening
• Lesson planning
• Google Classroom
• Parent communication
• Gradebook software

These skills demonstrate aptitude and support the responsibilities a teacher must complete on the job. Remember that while the above list outlines common and popular teacher skills for your resume, defer to what the job description is explicitly seeking. 

Education, certifications, and optional sections

You’ll need to include different elements on your resume depending on your education level, years in the workforce, and any specializations or concentrations you possess. All teaching positions require a bachelor’s degree, and an increasing number of teachers hold a master’s. Also, ensure you’re up-to-date on your state certifications, like the California candidate below.

If you hold many certifications, you don’t necessarily need to include them all if you’re applying for one specific role. For example, suppose you’re an ESL-certified teacher with a graduate ESL certificate seeking an ESL role. In that case, you’ll need to include  that  certification either in a summary/objective, in your work experience, or in your education. 

This candidate’s education speaks volumes with a classic bold font and color.

While including education and certifications is required, a projects section is optional. If you’re a drama teacher, for example, new to directing but experienced with leading drama camps, including a projects section to describe the drama camps you’ve led or assisted with can add a relevant impact. List and discuss projects on your resume, just like a paid position.

Additionally, consider adding  interests and hobbies to your resume . Most teacher resumes should save room for other information, but it’s a good idea to add these sections when the job you’re applying for stresses the importance of school spirit and culture.

Choose your interests that reflect the school’s values. However, be picky about what you include. Finding every Easter Egg in the entire timeline of Zelda games might be your favorite pastime, but that doesn’t mean you should list it on a resume (unless you’re applying for Nintendo, in which case this might be appropriate, and you’re reading the wrong resume guide). 

It’s up to you whether you include any optional sections on your resume, but always be sure to be as specific as possible. Your interests should also be specific. “Reading” doesn’t say much about you, but “leading classic book clubs” is far more likely to get you a job as an English instructor.

Generic resumes are easy to spot and will likely get tossed. To avoid the trash, tailor your resume to every position you apply for. This tells principals you’ve researched the school and the role, and you genuinely care about the position.

To customize your resume, scan the  job ad  to know what responsibilities, accomplishments, and keywords to include in your skills section and your bullet points. You should also tailor your objective/summary (if used) to have the school’s name and speak to anything unique about the school that particularly interests you. Check your resume against the job description to ensure you’re addressing their concerns. 

As a teacher, you already know the pitfalls of submitting drafts before they’re revised, so don’t let minor mistakes slip through the cracks. Instead, take a break and hand your resume off for peer review. You can also use our free resume checker  to get tips from our AI software. 

After a day, return to your resume and consider the constructive criticism you received. Edit and check for errors, inconsistencies, or gaps. Read through your resume at least twice more, one for content and one for proofreading. Once you’re sure it’s error-free, you can submit it proudly. 

Start Setting up Your Classroom (Almost)

Go ahead and celebrate because if you’ve made it this far, you’re well on your way to that A+ resume! By spending more time throughout each phase of the writing process, you’re vaulting yourself closer to your next teaching job. It’ll be time to turn in a simple resignation letter at your current job and start setting up your new classroom before you know it!

If you’re not quite satisfied with your current resume, upload it to our  resume checker  for our AI-powered tips. If it’s time to start from scratch, use our  free resume maker  to work with our AI from the ground up. We can’t wait to see you land your next teaching role!