Teacher Cover Letter | Examples & Tips
A teacher cover letter describes how well your teaching skills and strengths align with the needs of a specific school and its students. It’s a 1-page business letter that you send along with your teaching resume to provide school and district leaders with evidence of how well you’ll motivate students and improve academic outcomes.
Teacher cover letters include details about your previous classroom successes—such as innovative lesson plans, classroom technologies you leveraged especially well, or ways in which you personalized instruction for different learners. Each cover letter you send should look a little different because the teaching skills and examples should be tailored to each job posting.
The guidelines, examples, and template below will help you create a dynamic and engaging cover letter for a teaching position that you can adapt for different schools.
What to include in a teacher cover letter
A teacher cover letter includes the same basic parts as the standard cover letter format but with details about your teaching experiences and education coursework.
- A heading with your name, city and state, email address, phone number, and (optional) link to your LinkedIn profile, teaching website, or online teaching portfolio
- The date you’re applying for the teaching position (e.g., “March 23, 2025”)
- A salutation to the superintendent, principal, or hiring team (e.g., “Dear Dr. Harriett Martin,” “Dear Superintendent Andrich,” or “Dear Pawnee Elementary Recruiting Team”)
- Introduction paragraph with the classroom teaching position, the name of the school, the reason why you’re drawn to this school or district, and your claim about why your background uniquely qualifies you to teach at this school
- 1–2 body paragraphs that elaborate on the main teaching skills that will help you drive student success and support the school’s objectives (e.g., “a knack for classroom technology” or “a commitment to personalized instruction”)
- Conclusion paragraph that restates your enthusiasm about the school and your ability to improve student outcomes and motivates the reader to contact you for an interview
- Complimentary close (e.g., “Sincerely”) and your full name
- List of enclosures (optional)—such as your resume, references, certification credentials, or teaching portfolio
Although these titles are somewhat outdated in other professional contexts, they’re still common in schools because K–12 students are required to address their teachers as “Ms. Erikson,” etc.
Cover letter for teaching position step-by-step guide
Writing an effective cover letter for a teaching position might seem daunting at first, but it’s more manageable when you break it up into smaller steps. As with any piece of writing, the process goes more smoothly when you start with researching and brainstorming.
Research the school and job posting
When you find a teaching position you want to apply for, start by gathering evidence from the school and district websites and the job posting.
School and district websites
First, peruse the school and district websites to find a specific value, goal, or need that makes you especially motivated to teach here. Look closely at sections such as “About us,” “Our mission,” or “Principal bio” for details about core values, school culture, specific improvement needs, and recent achievements.
This information will help you say why the position appeals to you and how your skills are relevant to the school’s needs.
Job posting
Also analyze the job posting for the required skills. Of all the skills listed, identify the ones that you’ve successfully used in previous classrooms (e.g., your current job or the classroom where you did student teaching).
For each skill, brainstorm examples of specific lessons, activities, or experiences that prove your success. Prioritize examples that led to tangible or measurable results (e.g., increased test scores or more student engagement). A few of the many possibilities for brainstorming evidence of the required skills are illustrated below.
| Skill | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Personalized instruction/
Differentiated instruction |
A lesson plan or assessment that you tailored to specific learning needs |
| Data-driven instruction | A time when you used test score data to modify upcoming unit plans or adjust teaching strategies |
| Classroom technology | Specific tools or technology based lessons that improved outcomes or student engagement |
| Classroom management | A strategy or routine you implemented to reward positive behavior, minimize distractions, or improve time-on-task |
Write an engaging introduction
After you’ve brainstormed details for your teaching cover letter, write an introduction with these details:
- The name of the school and teaching position you’re applying for
- The main aspect of the school or role that appeals to you
- A brief summary of your teaching background and/or philosophy
- Your claim about the main teaching skills that will help you drive student success
Describe teaching skills and achievements
Next, develop body paragraphs about the main skills that qualify you to succeed at this school. For example, you might focus each body paragraph on a different teaching skill or area of expertise. Alternatively, you could write a body paragraph about your classroom experience and another about your achievements in your teacher-education program.
| Lesson planning | Gamification | Multimedia presentations | Project-based learning |
| Reading instruction | Scaffolding | Data-driven instruction | Differentiated instruction |
| Diagnostic software | Parent communication | Formative and summative assessment | IEP accommodations |
In each body paragraph, start with a topic sentence to focus the paragraph on a specific reason (e.g., “My successes with classroom technology have also prepared me to effectively motivate and engage CMS students”). Then, provide 2–4 pieces of evidence that prove your claim is accurate—such as the following:
- Assessments
- Unit plans
- Classroom technologies
- Action research
- Professional conferences
- Professional development
- Projects for education coursework
For each piece of evidence, explain the impact on students. A main purpose of a cover letter for teachers is to convince the principal that your teaching skills and ideas will improve student success.
For example, if you completed any projects that helped you learn more about a particular teaching style or teaching philosophy, they can be pieces of evidence in the cover letter for your first teaching job.
End with a call-to-action
After you write body paragraphs, end a cover letter for a teaching position with a conclusion and a complimentary close.
- Reiterate your enthusiasm for the school and your main teaching strengths.
- Thank the principal for reviewing your application.
- Call the reader to action (e.g., “I’m eager to talk more about how I can enhance the success of your WAC program”).
After the conclusion and complimentary close, you might also add an enclosures line, especially if your application includes multiple documents besides your resume (e.g., “Enclosures: resume, teaching portfolio, CO teaching certificate”).
Proofread carefully
Before you submit a teaching application, always proofread your cover letter and resume carefully. If you’re a college student finishing up your teaching degree, your school or department might have a career center that offers free resume/cover letter review. You can also run the draft through the QuillBot Grammar Checker to instantly find and fix errors.
Teacher cover letter examples
These fictitious teacher cover letter examples illustrate common approaches to applying for teaching jobs. Each sample cover letter for a teaching position includes examples from the writer’s classroom or education coursework.
Teacher cover letter sample for K–6
In this example of a new teacher cover letter, a BSEd student applies for a 1st grade teaching position and provides evidence of classroom success from the past year of student teaching.
Monica Chaterjee
Athens, GA | mchaterjee@email.com | (706) 555-4444
April 1, 2025
Dear Dr. Nathan Wychowsky:
I am thrilled to apply for the 1st grade teaching position at Walker Grove Elementary because I admire your school’s commitment to personalized instruction. As a graduating senior in UGA’s BSEd program in Elementary Education, I’m eager to build on my successful student-teaching practicum at Clark Elementary. With detailed expertise in reading instruction and classroom management, I’m confident that I can inspire our next generation of lifelong learners.
Throughout my student teaching and coursework, I’ve utilized evidence-based strategies to support early literacy development. By incorporating phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency-building techniques, I’ve seen firsthand how the Science of Reading fosters critical reading skills and boosts student confidence. My students demonstrated significant pre to post-test gains in comprehension and decoding and significant strides in classroom participation. Through strategic analysis of DIBELS data, I also created customized versions of 1st grade math and social studies curricula so that students at all reading levels in my class could succeed. I’m well-prepared to use the same evidence-based practices at Walker Grove.
I’ve also developed strong classroom management skills that created a positive learning environment. While teaching 1st graders this past year, I established consistent routines and used positive reinforcement to create a culture of excellence. I used cooperative group work, 1:1 conferences, and small-group instruction to ensure students were engaged. By fostering a classroom community built on mutual respect and proactively addressing learning gaps and students’ social and emotional needs, I minimized disruptions and created a supportive classroom environment.
It would be an honor to bring my skills, knowledge and passion for personalized learning to Walker Grove Elementary. I would love to discuss my qualifications further in an interview. Thank you for reviewing my application.
Sincerely,
Monica Chaterjee
Enclosures: Resume, sample lesson plan, K–5 teaching certificate
Teacher cover letter sample for 9–12 math
In this example, a high school math teacher who is relocating to a new area describes his success with project-based learning and classroom technology.
Manuel Escalante
Placerville, CA | escalante@email.com | misterescalante.com | (530) 555-4444
April 15, 2024
Dear Principal Greer:
As a huge fan of Washington High School’s focus on project-based learning, I’m excited to apply for the math teacher position. For almost 4 years, I’ve successfully taught 6 sections of Geometry and Algebra in Oakland, CA. With my devout enthusiasm and strong aptitude for project-based learning and classroom technology, I’m well-prepared to motivate and inspire WHS math students.
In my current teaching role, I’ve incorporated a variety of project-based units to help students connect mathematical concepts to the real world. For example, I guided students in researching and presenting examples of the Golden Ratio in Bay Area architecture, which allowed them to explore the intersection of math, aesthetics, and history. Additionally, I mentored my students in organizing and hosting a district-wide Pi Day math competition, where students applied mathematical knowledge in a team-based, hands-on environment. The projects transformed my students’ motivation and even inspired some to pursue advanced math electives and AP courses after excelling in my class.
In addition to a passion for project-based learning, I have a knack for leveraging technology to personalize instruction and engage students. I regularly use computer adaptive testing tools to diagnose learning needs, create tailored units and lessons that fill in the gaps, and measure student progress with California Common Core State Standards. Additionally, I’ve created game-based learning experiences and implemented leaderboards to motivate students. These tools dramatically increased student participation and attendance year after year.
I am thrilled about the possibility of collaborating with you and your staff to encourage creativity and critical thinking through project-based learning. I’ll be relocating to the Placerville area this June but will happily travel for an in-person interview or meet with you on Zoom to discuss the position further. Thank you for your consideration thus far, and best wishes for the last few weeks of school.
Sincerely,
Miguel Escalante
Cover letter for teaching position template
To help you get started on your own teacher cover letter, QuillBot offers a teacher cover letter template, which you can customize with details from your own classroom or teacher training program.
The template shows you where to add contact information, the greeting, an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion, and a complimentary close.
Frequently asked questions about teacher cover letter
- Is a substitute teacher cover letter necessary?
-
A substitute teacher cover letter is necessary when the job posting specifically asks for a cover letter or when the application portal has space/instructions to upload one. If a cover letter is optional or if you’re unsure, writing one is the safest option.
Some school districts don’t need substitute teacher cover letters because they require substitute teacher applicants to write answers to specific questions (e.g., “Describe your previous experiences working with children”).
However, teacher cover letters for full-time positions are almost always necessary because districts and principals need to see evidence of your written communication and teaching skills.
If you do write a cover letter for substitute teaching, include evidence of relevant skills—such as patience, verbal and written communication, classroom management, and organization.
When you’re writing a teaching cover letter, make sure that it’s error free. QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker instantly finds and fixes errors.
- What skills should I highlight in an elementary teacher cover letter?
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The skills you should highlight in an elementary teacher cover letter should be the required skills on the job posting that are also your greatest teaching strengths. Some examples include the following:
- Lesson planning
- Reading instruction
- Reading diagnostics
- Gamification
- Scaffolding
- Hands-on learning
- Presentation skills
- Data-driven instruction
- Differentiated instruction
- Small-group instruction
- Classroom management
- Instructional technology
- Social-emotional learning
- IEP accommodations
- Age appropriate assessment strategies
- Parent communication
Always review the job posting for details about which elementary teaching skills the school or district specifically requires, and focus your elementary teacher cover letter on those.
No matter what skills your cover letter describes, it needs to be polished and error free. Why not try the QuillBot Grammar Checker for help with proofreading?
- What is the best font for a cover letter?
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A cover letter is your chance to make a good impression on a potential employer. Both content and cover letter format are important.
The best fonts for a cover letter are fonts that are professional, legible, and familiar to the majority of readers. A few of these are:
- Arial
- Times New Roman
- Georgia
- Garamond
- Calibri
- Helvetica
No matter how good the font, your cover letter won’t make a good impression if it has grammar and spelling errors, so use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure your cover letter is error-free.
- Should your cover letter match your resume?
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Your cover letter should match your resume format stylistically, but their content should not match.
Fonts, colors, and any design elements should match in both documents. Likewise, if you write a CV, your cover letter and CV should match in terms of style.
On the other hand, they should have complementary—not matching—content. Your resume outlines your qualifications and experience. The purpose of a cover letter is to showcase your personality and tailor your application to the specific job.
Both your cover letter and resume must be free of grammar and spelling errors, so run a QuillBot grammar check before sending.
- What are some hard skills for teachers?
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Examples of hard skills for a resume if you’re a teacher include:
- Classroom management tools (e.g., Google Classroom)
- Game-based learning platforms (e.g., Kahoot)
- Learning management systems (e.g., Sakai)
- Lesson planning
- Unit planning
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you write compelling descriptions of the hard skills on your teaching resume.
