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High School Teacher Resume Examples: Proven To Get You Hired In 2024

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• High School Teacher
• Secondary School Teacher
• Education Practitioner
• Instructional Facilitator
• Academic Instructor

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• High School Teacher Resume Tips

High School Teacher Resume Template

Download in google doc, word or pdf for free. designed to pass resume screening software in 2022., high school teacher resume sample.

Being a High School Teacher is more than just lecturing in front of a class. It's about connecting with students, understanding their needs and concerns. As such, your resume should not only demonstrate your academic qualifications but also your ability to connect and engage with young minds. Recently, the education sector has been seeing a shift towards personalized learning. Therefore, showcasing your ability to cater to individual student needs can be a game-changer when applying for High School Teacher roles.

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2022

Tips to help you write your high school teacher resume in 2024,    highlight your teaching methodologies.

As a High School Teacher, how you teach can be just as important as what you teach. Your resume should describe your teaching methodologies, whether they're project-based, student-centric, or something else entirely.

   Show your adaptability to technology

Nowadays, the use of technology in classrooms is inevitable. Therefore, you need to show your adaptability to different educational technologies. Include any experience with virtual classrooms, learning management systems, or any other relevant educational tech.

As the name suggests, this teacher teaches in high school to students who are generally aged between 14 and 18 years old. In other countries, you might be called a secondary school teacher. High school teachers specialize in teaching specific subjects so you will be expected to have a bachelor’s degree in education and a specialization in the subjects you teach. Recruiters will also be looking to see years of experience as a high school teacher. Here is a successful resume sample.

   Include virtual learning tools in your skills list.

Covid changed the learning landscape forever. More learning is happening virtually so show recruiters that you are skilled at teaching virtually by including common virtual learning tools like Google Classroom.

   Consider adding your subject specialization in the title or the skills section of your resume.

When schools are recruiting teachers, they are usually looking for teachers to teach specific subjects. So including your subject specialization in the title or the skills section might be a good way to help you get past any ATS resume filters they have put in place.

Secondary School Teacher Resume Sample

Education practitioner resume sample, instructional facilitator resume sample, academic instructor resume sample.

We spoke with hiring managers at top schools across the country, including ABC High School, XYZ Academy, and 123 Preparatory School, to gather their best tips for creating a standout high school teacher resume. These tips will help you showcase your skills, experience, and passion for teaching in a way that grabs the attention of school administrators and lands you an interview.

   Highlight your teaching philosophy

Your teaching philosophy is a critical component of your resume. It gives potential employers insight into your approach to education and how you engage with students. When crafting your teaching philosophy statement, consider the following:

• I believe in creating a student-centered learning environment that fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• My teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of differentiated instruction to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
• I am committed to using technology to enhance student learning and prepare them for success in the 21st century.

Avoid generic statements that don't provide specific examples of your teaching style, such as:

• I love teaching and working with kids.
• I believe all students can learn.

   Showcase your classroom experience

When listing your teaching experience, don't just state the courses you taught and the dates of employment. Instead, provide specific examples of your accomplishments in the classroom, such as:

• Implemented a new project-based learning curriculum that increased student engagement by 25%.
• Developed and taught a successful AP Biology course, with 90% of students earning a score of 3 or higher on the AP exam.
• Created an after-school tutoring program that helped 15 at-risk students improve their grades and pass their classes.

By quantifying your achievements, you demonstrate the tangible impact you've had on student learning and success.

   Emphasize your subject expertise

As a high school teacher, you are expected to have a deep understanding of the subjects you teach. Make sure to highlight your subject expertise on your resume, including:

• Relevant coursework and degrees in your teaching subjects
• Professional development workshops or conferences you've attended
• Any publications, research, or presentations in your field

Example: M.A. in English Literature from XYZ University. Presented research on innovative teaching strategies for Shakespeare at the National Council of Teachers of English conference.

   Include extracurricular involvement

Many high school teachers are involved in extracurricular activities, such as coaching sports teams, advising clubs, or directing school plays. These experiences demonstrate your commitment to student development outside of the classroom and can set you apart from other candidates. When including extracurricular involvement on your resume, be sure to:

• Coached the varsity soccer team to a regional championship and a 20% increase in student participation.
• Advised the student government, facilitating the organization of school-wide events and community service projects.
• Directed the school musical, overseeing a cast and crew of 50 students and managing a budget of $5,000.

   Tailor your resume to the school

Just like you would tailor your lessons to the needs of your students, you should tailor your resume to the specific school and position you're applying for. Research the school's mission, values, and educational philosophy, and highlight how your experience and skills align with them. For example:

• Generic statement: Experienced high school teacher seeking a new opportunity.
• Tailored statement: High school teacher with 5 years of experience in project-based learning, seeking to contribute to XYZ High School's mission of preparing students for success in college and beyond.

By customizing your resume for each application, you demonstrate your genuine interest in the school and your potential to be a valuable addition to their faculty.

   Showcase your technology skills

In today's digital age, technology plays an increasingly important role in education. Schools are looking for teachers who are comfortable using technology to enhance student learning and engagement. On your resume, highlight your experience with:

• Learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)
• Educational software and apps (e.g., Kahoot!, Quizlet)
• Multimedia tools (e.g., Prezi, iMovie)
• Video conferencing platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet)

Provide specific examples of how you've used technology in your teaching, such as:

Created interactive lessons using Nearpod, resulting in a 30% increase in student participation and engagement.

By showcasing your technology skills, you demonstrate your ability to adapt to the changing landscape of education and prepare students for success in the digital world.

Writing Your High School Teacher Resume: Section By Section

  summary.

A resume summary is an optional section that can be a powerful tool for high school teachers. It's a brief paragraph at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant qualifications and experiences. While a summary isn't required, it can be especially useful if you're changing careers or have a lot of experience to condense.

On the other hand, an objective statement is an outdated resume feature that should be avoided. Objectives focus on what you want from a job, rather than what you can offer an employer. Instead, use a summary to showcase your value and teaching skills.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your High School Teacher resume, or figure out if you need one, please read High School Teacher Resume Summary Examples , or High School Teacher Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the teaching job

When writing your summary, make sure to customize it to the specific teaching position you're applying for. Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and qualifications the school is looking for in a high school teacher.

For example, if the job emphasizes classroom management and curriculum development, highlight your experiences in those areas:

High school English teacher with 5+ years of experience creating engaging lesson plans and managing classrooms of 25-30 students. Skilled in developing rigorous curriculum aligned with state standards and using formative assessments to track student progress.

Avoid generic summaries that could apply to any teaching job, like:

Passionate teacher dedicated to helping students learn and grow. Strong communication and organizational skills.

2. Showcase your teaching skills and accomplishments

Your summary is the perfect place to highlight your top teaching skills, accomplishments, and areas of expertise. Instead of just listing soft skills like 'communication' or 'leadership', provide concrete examples that illustrate those abilities in action.

Effective summaries for high school teachers often mention:

• Subject areas and grade levels taught
• Curriculum development and lesson planning
• Classroom management strategies
• Student achievement or growth metrics
• Relevant certifications or training

For example:

Creative and organized high school science teacher with 7 years of experience developing hands-on labs and interactive lessons. Increased student engagement and raised test scores by 15% through innovative teaching strategies. Certified in Project-Based Learning.

  Skills

The skills section of your high school teacher resume is where you showcase your teaching abilities, classroom management techniques, and subject expertise. It's a critical section that hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan to determine if you have the qualifications they're looking for. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling skills section:

1. Highlight relevant teaching skills

When listing your skills, focus on those that are most relevant to the high school teaching position you're applying for. Consider the subject(s) you'll be teaching and the grade level.

Some examples of relevant teaching skills include:

• Curriculum development
• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Student assessment
• Differentiated instruction

Avoid listing generic or irrelevant skills that don't directly relate to teaching high school students. For instance, instead of simply stating 'communication skills', be more specific with something like 'effective communication with students and parents'.

To ensure you're including the most relevant skills, carefully review the job description and mirror the language and keywords used. Tools like Resume Worded's Targeted Resume can help you optimize your skills section by checking if you have the right keywords compared to the job description.

2. Showcase your subject expertise

As a high school teacher, you'll likely be teaching specific subjects. Make sure to highlight your expertise in those areas within your skills section. This shows hiring managers that you have the knowledge and qualifications to effectively teach the subject matter.

For example, if you're applying for a position as a high school science teacher, your skills section might look like this:

Science : Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science Lab Skills : Lab safety, Experiment design, Data analysis Instructional Strategies : Inquiry-based learning, Project-based learning, Differentiated instruction

Grouping your skills into categories like this makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly see your relevant expertise.

If you have any special certifications or training related to your teaching subject, consider including those in your skills section as well. This can further demonstrate your qualifications and help you stand out from other candidates.

3. Optimize for applicant tracking systems

Many schools use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter resumes based on keywords. To ensure your resume makes it past these filters, include relevant keywords from the job description in your skills section.

For instance, if the job description mentions 'classroom management' as a required skill, make sure to include that exact phrase in your skills section. However, avoid simply listing keywords without context. Instead, provide specific examples or details to back up your skills.

Here's an example of what not to do:

Classroom management Lesson planning Assessment

Instead, try something like this:

Classroom management: Implemented positive behavior support strategies resulting in a 20% reduction in disciplinary issues Lesson planning: Developed engaging, standards-aligned lessons incorporating technology and hands-on learning Assessment: Created and administered formative and summative assessments to track student progress and inform instruction

After crafting your skills section, consider using a tool like Resume Worded's Score My Resume to get instant feedback on how well your resume, including your skills section, aligns with what hiring managers are looking for. It can help ensure you're putting your best foot forward in your job search.

4. Tailor your skills to the school and position

Different schools and teaching positions may prioritize different skills. To make your resume stand out, tailor your skills section to the specific school and position you're applying for.

For example, if you're applying to teach at a school known for its innovative use of technology in the classroom, highlight your skills related to educational technology:

Educational Technology : Google Classroom, Smartboards, iPads, Kahoot, Nearpod

On the other hand, if the school emphasizes project-based learning, showcase your experience with that instructional approach:

Instructional Strategies : Project-based learning, Inquiry-based learning, Collaborative learning

By tailoring your skills section to the specific school and position, you demonstrate that you're a strong fit for their unique needs and priorities.

As you tailor your skills section, be careful not to simply copy and paste from the job description. Use the keywords and phrases as a guide, but put them in your own words and provide specific examples to back them up. This shows that you truly possess those skills, rather than just parroting back the job requirements.

Skills For High School Teacher Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from High School Teacher job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

• Leadership Development
• Classroom Management
• Teacher Training
• Curriculum Development
• Educational Technology
• Microsoft Access

Skills Word Cloud For High School Teacher Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on High School Teacher job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.

How to use these skills?

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Resume Guide: Detailed Insights From Recruiters

• Teacher Resume Guide & Examples for 2022

Improve your High School Teacher resume, instantly.

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•  Get a resume score compared to other High School Teacher resumes in your industry.

•  Fix all your resume's mistakes.

•  Find the High School Teacher skills your resume is missing.

•  Get rid of hidden red flags the hiring managers and resume screeners look for.

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High School Teacher Resumes

• Template #1: High School Teacher
• Template #2: High School Teacher
• Template #3: High School Teacher
• Template #4: Secondary School Teacher
• Template #5: Education Practitioner
• Template #6: Instructional Facilitator
• Template #7: Academic Instructor
• Skills for High School Teacher Resumes
• Free High School Teacher Resume Review
• Other Other Resumes
• High School Teacher Interview Guide
• High School Teacher Sample Cover Letters
• Alternative Careers to a High School Teacher
• All Resumes
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• High School Teacher Resume Example

Resume Examples

• Common Tasks & Responsibilities
• Top Hard & Soft Skills
• Action Verbs & Keywords
• Resume FAQs
• Similar Resumes

Common Responsibilities Listed on High School Teacher Resumes:

• Developing and delivering lesson plans to students
• Creating and grading assignments and assessments
• Providing feedback to students on their work
• Maintaining student records and grades
• Organizing and managing classroom activities
• Communicating with parents and guardians
• Participating in faculty meetings and professional development activities
• Supervising extracurricular activities
• Enforcing school rules and regulations
• Mentoring and advising students
• Collaborating with other teachers and staff

Speed up your resume creation process with the AI-Powered Resume Builder . Generate tailored achievements in seconds for every role you apply to.

High School Teacher Resume Example:

• Developed and implemented a differentiated instruction approach, resulting in a 15% increase in student engagement and a 10% improvement in overall academic performance.
• Collaborated with a team of teachers to design and implement a school-wide literacy program, leading to a 20% increase in reading proficiency among students.
• Organized and facilitated a successful college and career fair, connecting students with various post-secondary opportunities and achieving a 30% increase in college enrollment rates.
• Implemented a data-driven approach to instruction, analyzing student performance data to identify areas of improvement and tailoring lesson plans accordingly, resulting in a 25% increase in student achievement.
• Collaborated with colleagues to develop and implement a school-wide behavior management system, leading to a 40% reduction in disciplinary incidents and creating a positive learning environment.
• Organized and led a successful community service project, engaging students in meaningful volunteer work and fostering a sense of civic responsibility among the student body.
• Designed and implemented a project-based learning curriculum, resulting in a 20% increase in student motivation and a 15% improvement in critical thinking skills.
• Developed and facilitated a successful after-school tutoring program, providing additional support to struggling students and achieving a 30% increase in homework completion rates.
• Collaborated with the school administration to develop and implement a comprehensive school improvement plan, resulting in a 10% increase in standardized test scores and meeting all state accreditation requirements.
• Differentiated instruction
• Curriculum development
• Data-driven instruction
• Behavior management
• Community engagement
• Project-based learning
• Tutoring and academic support
• School improvement planning
• Literacy program development
• College and career counseling
• Team collaboration
• Student engagement strategies
• Critical thinking instruction
• Use of educational technology
• Assessment and evaluation
• Classroom management
• Understanding of diverse learning styles
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Time management skills
• Organizational skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Knowledge of state accreditation requirements
• Ability to analyze and interpret student performance data
• Ability to foster a positive learning environment
• Ability to promote civic responsibility among students.

Top Skills & Keywords for High School Teacher Resumes:

Hard skills.

• Lesson Planning and Curriculum Development
• Classroom Management
• Differentiated Instruction
• Assessment and Grading
• Technology Integration in the Classroom
• Data Analysis and Student Progress Tracking
• Special Education and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
• Classroom Technology and Software Applications
• Behavior Management and Conflict Resolution
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Subject Matter Expertise (e.g., Math, English, Science)
• Student Engagement Strategies

Soft Skills

• Leadership and Classroom Management
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Time Management and Organization
• Empathy and Understanding
• Decision Making and Planning
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation
• Creativity and Innovation
• Active Listening and Feedback Incorporation
• Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Building

Resume Action Verbs for High School Teachers:

• Facilitated
• Collaborated
• Differentiated
• Implemented
• Coordinated
• Demonstrated

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Resume FAQs for High School Teachers:

How long should i make my high school teacher resume, what is the best way to format a high school teacher resume, which keywords are important to highlight in a high school teacher resume, how should i write my resume if i have no experience as a high school teacher, compare your high school teacher resume to a job description:.

• Identify opportunities to further tailor your resume to the High School Teacher job
• Improve your keyword usage to align your experience and skills with the position
• Uncover and address potential gaps in your resume that may be important to the hiring manager

Complete the steps below to generate your free resume analysis.

Related Resumes for High School Teachers:

English teacher, math teacher, music teacher, spanish teacher, special education teacher, substitute teacher, teacher assistant, experienced teacher.

High School Teacher Resume Examples

Writing a great high school teacher resume is important because it is one of the first things a potential employer will see when they are considering you for a position. It is your opportunity to make a good first impression and sell yourself as the best candidate for the job.

Create your resume Select from 7 professional resume templates

If you're looking for inspiration when it comes to drafting your own high school teacher resume, look no further than the samples below. These resumes will help you highlight your experience and qualifications in the most effective way possible, giving you the best chance of landing the high school teacher job you're after.

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Essential Components of a High School Teacher's Resume

As a high school teacher, your resume is a critical tool for showcasing your pedagogical expertise, classroom experience, and passion for education to prospective employers. A well-crafted resume not only highlights your qualifications but also demonstrates your ability to inspire and educate adolescents. Understanding the key elements of a high school teacher's resume is crucial for making a positive first impression. Let's delve into the essential sections of a resume, their significance, and what to include, along with tips to make each part stand out.

1. Contact Information

At the top of your resume, ensure your contact information is clearly listed so potential employers can easily reach you for interviews or further discussion. Include your full name, phone number, and a professional email address. If applicable, add your LinkedIn profile to provide additional insight into your professional background.

While it's less common to include a full home address, mentioning your city and state can be helpful. Ensure all contact details are current and accurate to avoid any confusion or mistrust.

2. Objective Statement

The objective statement serves as a concise introduction to your career goals and what you bring to the table. Tailor this section to each application, highlighting skills and experiences that align with the school's mission and the specific role.

An example objective statement might be: " Experienced science teacher seeking to contribute to a dynamic high school STEM program, fostering academic excellence and innovation. "

Remember, a well-crafted objective sets the tone for your resume, so invest time in creating a compelling and relevant statement.

3. Education and Certification

The " Education and Certification " section validates your qualifications to teach at the high school level. List your degrees and certifications in reverse chronological order, including any additional training or professional development that enhances your teaching capabilities.

Highlight relevant advanced degrees and certifications, but ensure they align with the job you're applying for. This section is not just about academic achievements; it's about demonstrating your commitment to professional growth and your readiness to excel as a high school teacher.

4. Teaching Experience

The " Teaching Experience " section is where you detail your professional history. Include the names of schools, locations, dates of employment, and job titles. Go beyond mere listings by using bullet points to describe key responsibilities and achievements, starting each with strong action verbs.

Quantify your successes where possible, and for those new to teaching, include relevant internships, tutoring, or other educational roles. Tailor this section to the job by emphasizing experiences that closely match the role's responsibilities and requirements.

5. Skills and Abilities

Highlight your teaching talents , such as curriculum development and classroom management, as well as interpersonal skills , organizational abilities, and leadership qualities. Showcase any unique skills, like multilingualism or special education expertise, and provide examples to illustrate how you've applied these skills in practice.

Related : High School Teacher Skills: Definition and Examples

6. Achievements and Awards

In the " Achievements and Awards " section, list recognitions that underscore your dedication and effectiveness as an educator. Provide context for each accolade to help employers appreciate your contributions to education. Include relevant grants, fellowships, and leadership roles, ensuring each item strengthens your candidacy for a high school teaching position.

7. References

References are a testament to your professional reputation. Choose individuals who can attest to your teaching style and effectiveness. Obtain their consent before listing them and provide their contact details along with a brief description of your professional relationship.

Strong references can significantly enhance your job prospects by affirming your ability to connect with students, manage classroom dynamics, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute positively to the school environment.

In crafting your high school teacher's resume, remember that each section should be thoughtfully composed to reflect your strengths and suitability for the role. With attention to detail and a focus on relevance, your resume can be a powerful asset in your job search.

Related Resume Examples

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10 High School Teacher Resume Writing Tips With Example Accomplishments

Are you looking for high school teacher resume writing tips to improve your existing secondary school teaching resume? Perfect!

Here you will find ten tips I’ve gathered from my experience helping high school teachers find rewarding jobs ushering adolescents through these critical years.

Whether it is girls becoming too model-thin, boys being too rambunctious on and off the football field, or the drama of romantic heartbreaks, high school students pose unique problems to high school teachers. If you are a part social worker, coach, big sister, and academic instructor, all rolled into one; you are ideally suited for a position as a high school teacher.

Conveying your unique teaching qualities and accomplishments to a potential high school is vital to landing a job interview.

High School Teacher Resume Writing Tips to Land an Interview

1.    write a skills rich high school teacher resume profile.

Your resume profile is your first introduction to the school hiring manager. You must distinguish yourself from other applicants in these first few lines to ensure she reads on. Avoid a generic introduction. Instead, focus on the unique skills you bring to the classroom to promote adolescent students’ academic and personal growth. Here are a few examples:

• A student-focused and dedicated teacher who applies math and science instruction to the real-world challenges and experiences of teenagers and the societies in which they live.
• Inspiring educator and social worker supporting each student’s academic and personal growth in their formidable teenage years through an empathetic ear and differentiated learning instruction.

2.    Develop a Teen Targeted Education Resume Section

The more general your resume, the higher the chance you will be overlooked and placed in a pile with other non-distinguishing teacher resumes. Get your reader’s attention early by highlighting any relevant special training you have received.

First,  list your degrees. If you have taken special courses such as Adolescent Psychology or Early Childhood Development, note them. Also, list any relevant certifications such as Working With Young Adults With ADHD or Preparing Students for AP Exams, and so forth. If you are writing a high school science teacher or music teacher resume, list the special certifications, programs, and technologies you have training in.

Note how this physical education teacher’s resume focuses on the development of the whole student. These students leave Phys. Ed class with significantly more than basketball techniques. They also learn gross and fine motor skills, teamwork, classroom, and relationship skills – all-important life skills a young person needs to develop.

3.    Emphasize Deliverables in the Teaching Work Experience Section

Teaching adolescents can pose unique challenges to educators. Provide quantitative and qualitative evidence demonstrating your ability to handle multiple classroom challenges.

How do you handle and measure classroom behavioral performance?

What techniques and methods do you use to address students’ attitude problems?

You will gain points for showing how you have turned negative situations into positive outcomes. Are your students getting the grades they need to graduate and be accepted into competitive colleges?

Providing numbers to demonstrate how you have met or surpassed benchmarks is always more influential than boasts. Learning to uncover teaching accomplishments and communicate them in your high school teacher resume will be vital to increasing job interviews.

Examples of Accomplishments from High School Teacher Resumes:

• Reduced absenteeism and classroom behavioral problems by 15% through student-led committees on classroom behavioral expectations.
• We have developed a student-speaking program on drug abuse resistance strategies, which the school district has adopted.
• Incorporated real-world examples, guiding students to above-average AP Math and Science exam performances.

Would you not love to have this math teacher on your team?

Review this job applicant’s high school math teacher resume . You will find it full of impressive deliverables: improving student performance; cutting classroom technology costs; introducing new thematic units; and applying new programs, technology, and manipulatives. I am ready to hire him.

4.    Demonstrate Ability to Meet the Special Needs of High School Students

Adolescents have entered a stage of their lives in which they are braving the world directly without their parents’ shield. Parents no longer choose their playgroups. They may make bad decisions on whom they decide to befriend – mischief-makers, drug users, hooky players, etc.

Many teenagers right themselves after learning painful lessons, but most need special handholding during this sensitive development stage. Here are examples of skills from teachers who meet these unique challenges.

• We liaised with educational psychologists, social workers, and special education teachers to develop individualized learning programs according to individual needs and abilities.
• It implemented a bullying awareness and counseling program that addresses online social media and offline abuse.

Some high school classrooms will be more challenging than others. Developing your discipline or behavior management philosophy is worthwhile if you are writing a high school teacher resume . Clearly, articulate your behavioral management strategies for managing your classroom. Teachers unable to handle the classroom are challenged to produce positive learning outcomes.

5.   Critical  High School Teacher Resume Writing Tip: Add Relevant  Teaching Keywords

Education keywords are critical to your job search success. Resume keywords serve several essential functions. They:

Act as guides to lead school hiring managers to your resume when conducting online searches. They also help your resume to get through the resume scanning software that schools use to sort through the piles of resumes they receive. As I am sure you know, writing a resume can be challenging , so you need an action plan to get the desired results.

To get noticed, be very specific:

• High School Teacher – Math and Science
• High School Teacher- Special Education Specialist
• High School Teacher – Physical Education

This high school mathematics teacher’s resume is rich in math-related keywords. He is sure to pop up in an online job search. But what if the school is seeking a high school computer teacher now? His computer education and experience also appear throughout the resume, so his resume is a hit again. An interview could always lead to a future position as a math teacher.

If you only place ‘high school teacher’ on your resume, you will not come up if someone searches “high school teacher” + “math” + “science” search.

Show the depth of your experience.

Once again, I encourage you to read the math teacher’s resume mentioned early. This job seeker has researched the math courses, programs, technologies, and manipulatives he uses to teach math. A school will be pleased to see he is already trained in their programs and introduce their classrooms to a few new approaches.

6.    Choose Action Verbs That Show Mastery Of High School Classroom Challenges

Use action words, verbs, and phrases in your secondary school teacher resume to convey your skills and talents. The following comments show recognition of the quasi- counselor’s unique role and mentor a high school teacher often plays.

Counseled Mentored Safeguarded Motivated Guided

Match your keywords to those in high school teacher job ads. If you are writing a high school science teacher resume, research those ads and the specific skills they seek.

7.    Use Transferable Skills in Place of Limited Experience

Draw on your life experience. Examples of transferable experiences are:

• Summer camp coach
• Student leadership positions
• Tutoring jobs
• Librarian assistant
• Teaching Assistant
• Any job or volunteer work in which you were a team lead or member of adolescents or children

Transferable hard skills may emphasize your teaching approach:

• Differentiated Instruction
• Cooperative/Whole Group Learning
• Performance Assessments

Examples of transferable soft skills are:

• Strong communication skills
• Student motivation
• Empathetic listener

Tailor your keywords to your areas of specialty. If you are a high school science teacher, use science education keywords .

8.    Present Your Educational Philosophy Relevant to Teaching High School Students

An educational philosophy is of particular importance for high school teachers. It is where you will present your teaching style and dedication to your students and help them build an education and private foundation to meet their life challenges ahead. Not all secondary teaching approaches will work well with these sensitive adolescents, so communicating what you have learned does work will be noticed.

Some secondary teachers fall into the trap of using a generic philosophy of teaching statements. It is in this document a teacher’s real passion for teaching is conveyed. Although the resume has little room to expound on your philosophy, a few references to your approach to teaching in the Resume Profile and Experience sections can convey your commitment to, and passion for, your profession.

Review how this high school teacher’s resume convincingly discusses the classroom environment and teaching approaches she has learned work best in her classroom in her secondary school teacher cover letter .

9.    Include Recommendation Quotations

A citation from a credible recommendation letter is a compelling testimonial to your teaching abilities. Having someone else speak to your teaching abilities is a powerful tool to help you stand out. As shown in this teacher resume sample , the quotation is the most effective when placed at the bottom of the Resume Summary or Profile sections.

10. Attach a Separate Page of References

Now that you have the school hiring manager’s attention, you do not want to lose it. By supplying your recommendations with your resume, you can avoid being tossed onto the great resume heap of resumes pending further information, such as recommendations or proof of qualifications.

You have three options to avoid being tossed aside, at least temporarily:

1) Insert your recommendations in the resume.

2) Supply a list of recommendations on a separate page.

3) The delivery of any resume in electronic form provides a third option – provide a link to an online document with your recommendations.

I hope you found these high school teachers’ resume writing tips helpful and can incorporate any relevant to your situation.

If you want to become a high school principal , you can acquire the qualifications and skills you need to make the leap when ready.

Need some writing help to create a stellar high school teacher resume, cover letter, or CV curriculum vitae? Take the time to review and order one of our resume packages or individual services .

Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing this about me page . From that page, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.

Do you have any questions about the high school resume writing tips in this post?

Please connect by sending an email to Candace or calling toll-free at 1-877-738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.

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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.

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17 Teacher Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

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

Writing 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 17 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.

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! 

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.

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!

Related resume guides

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

Formatting Your Teacher Resume

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. Try using our  resume builder  to ensure your structure is logical and readable. 

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  resume builder tool  to work with our AI from the ground up. We can’t wait to see you land your next teaching role!

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Jennifer ratliff named wood county schools teacher of the year.

Jennifer Ratliff, second from the right, was named as the 2025 Teacher of the Year during the Wood County Board of Education’s regular meeting Tuesday night. Also pictured are, from left, South Principal Betsy Patterson, South student Haylee Reynolds, who nominated Ratliff, and WCS Superintendent Christie Willis. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg South High School choir director Jennifer Ratliff has been named the 2025 Wood County Schools Teacher of the Year.

Ratliff was honored Tuesday evening during a Wood County Board of Education meeting at Jefferson Elementary Center.

This year, members of the community submitted nominations for 127 Wood County Schools teachers, 41 of whom submitted applications to be considered for Teacher of the Year. Ratliff was one of five finalists interviewed last week by the Wood County Schools Teacher of the Year Selection Committee.

The committee includes representatives from county teacher organizations, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, The Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley and the two most recent Teachers of the Year.

Ratliff has been an educator for nearly nine years, eighth of which have been as a music teacher at Parkersburg South High School. She is choir director and sub-head of the South Music Department under the Fine Arts Department. She is president of the West Virginia American Choral Director’s Association, Region IV Chair of the West Virginia Vocal Music Association, and is Region V Solo and Ensemble Vocal Chair of the West Virginia Music Education Association.

In her application, Ratliff said one of the most important aspects of being an educator is to guide and encourage students through those difficult times.

“It is important to realize that through this journey of gaining an education, mistakes are going to be made along the way, and that is okay,” she said. “If a student gives up, they may never see the full potential they are able to reach throughout their lifetime. It is how a student gets through their mistakes that enables them to make a difference in their knowledge, in their future, in the world.”

Ratliff will represent Wood County Schools this fall in the 2025 West Virginia Teacher of the Year competition. The winner of that event will move on to represent the state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

A full story on Tuesday’s board of education meeting will appear in Thursday’s edition of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

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