How to Write a New Teacher Cover Letter

A cover letter, also called an application letter or covering letter, is a one-page document that introduces your professional skills, work history, and personal interest in applying for a job. The purpose of a cover letter is to showcase your personality, expand on the accomplishments in your resume, and discuss why you would be a good fit for the organization or company. In general, your cover letter, together with your resume, helps employers or hiring managers screen your job application. A well-written cover letter can impress hiring managers and set you apart from other candidates. To avoid writing a generic cover letter, make sure to carry out thorough research on the organization or employer and the position you are applying for before you begin writing your cover letter.

Learn more: How to Write an Entry Level Cover Letter

As a teacher with little teaching experience, it can be discouraging when you have applied for several positions and received zero responses from employers. While you might feel like you want to give up on your job search, it is important to keep going and continue writing a cover letter that will impress potential employers. Here are the steps to writing a new teacher cover letter for a teaching job when you have little experience:

1. Indicate your complete name and contact information

At the top of your cover letter, indicate your first and last name, and write your contact information below. List your street address, city, zip code, state, contact number, and professional email address. Here’s an example:

James Young

123 Main Street, New York, NY 10001

102-456-7891 

james.young@email.com

2. Specify the date

Under your name and contact information, write the date you are sending the cover letter. Write it under your contact information, but make sure there’s a single space between them. 

3. Write the name and contact information of your recipient

List the first and last name of your recipient under the date, and make sure there’s a single space between them. Indicate the recipient’s job title, name of the school, street address, state, city, and zip code. 

4. Write a salutation

If you’re writing to a person in a professional capacity that you have known personally for several years, you can use their first name. For example, “Dear John.” However, if you don’t know the person well, make sure to use Dr., Mr., or Ms. as an appropriate salutation. Never begin your cover letter with information salutations like “Good morning,” “Hi there,” “Greetings,” or “Hello” if you don’t know your recipient’s name. 

5. Include an introduction

The introduction of your cover letter is your opportunity to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. This section should explain who you are, the position you are applying for, the school’s name, and how you discovered the job opportunity. The introduction is also a great opportunity to state any connections you have with the school. For instance, if you know a previous alumnus or intern who worked for the school, you can mention his or her name in your introduction. 

Express your enthusiasm about the opportunity to teach in the school. It may also help to state any recent awards the school has received, accomplishments it has made, or other positive news or report you have heard about the school. Including this information demonstrates your genuine interest in the school and enthusiasm to contribute to their success. 

Here’s an example of a well-written cover letter introduction:

“My name is David and I am a recent graduate from Harvard University. I graduated in March with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. An alumnus forwarded me a job advertisement about your teaching position at East Elementary School. I am highly interested in this job opportunity, as I would make a great fit for your school.”

Learn more: 5 Perfect Opening Lines for Your Cover Letter

6. Highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments

The body of a cover letter might be the biggest challenge for candidates with little experience. It is also the section where many applicants make mistakes, as they don’t know how to emphasize their classroom experience and skills. 

Focus on your achievements, your training as a teacher, or your student teaching experience. Discuss how your training, achievements, and student teaching experience have made you a great fit for the teaching position you are applying for. If you have any non-teaching or volunteering experience where you worked with children, make sure to reference it. Also, express your love for teaching or working with children and your passion for making a difference in the field of education. Here’s a good example:

“I have experience working with children through student teaching and volunteering. I observed a fifth-grade class and worked under the supervision of a certified teacher. I helped write lesson plans and engaged learners in learning content through a range of formats. I also helped improve student engagement and saw a 30% increase in test scores during my time as a student teacher. This student teaching experience helped me learn some of the best teaching practices and greatly improved my patience, creativity, and organization skills.”

Learn more: 7 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

7. Emphasize your best qualities and explain why you are a good fit

Many schools want to hire teachers who are creative team players with excellent time management skills. While you consider yourself a great fit for a teaching position, you have to use examples that demonstrate your suitability for the role. The reality is, simply mentioning that you have strong time management and leadership skills won’t land you a job. When talking about your qualities or traits, it is important to talk about real-life examples. Make sure your examples are visual and succinct. 

Learn more: How To Write A Job-Winning Cover Letter

8. Include a strong closing paragraph

Your closing paragraph should include a statement that reiterates your enthusiasm and interest in working for the school. You may also reiterate why you are a great fit for the role. Make it brief and include a statement that tells them you are looking forward to hearing back from them at their earliest convenience.

9. Write a formal sign-off

Under your closing paragraph, include a sign-off such as “Respectfully yours” or “Sincerely,” and then write your name in print underneath. Make sure to have a single space between them for your signature.

Here’s a template to help you properly format your new teacher cover letter template:

 

[First name, last name]

[Street address]

[City], [state] [zip code]

[Phone number]

[professional email address]

 

[Date]

 

[First name and last name of the hiring manager]

[Hiring manager’s job title]

[Company name]

[Company address]

[City], [state] [zip code]

 

Dear [Mr., Ms., Miss, or Mrs. Hiring manager’s last name],

[Introduction]

[Body]

[Closing paragraph]

 

Respectfully yours, 

 

[Your first name and last name]

Here’s an example of a new teacher cover letter:

 

Alissa McCarthy

6666 Apple Avenue

Calabasas, California 6666

666-666-6666

alissamaccarthy@email.com

 

March 26, 2021

 

Henry Smith

Principal

West Elementary School

666 Clear Lake Drive

Calabasas, California 6666

 

Dear Ms. Smith,

I’m writing to express my interest in the fourth-grade teaching position at West Elementary School, which I saw posted on Glassdoor. I believe my combination of communication and critical thinking skills, along with my teaching degree, makes me suitable for the position.

I have experience working with students through student teaching and volunteering. When I was a student teacher, I supervised and observed a fifth-grade class and worked under the supervision of a certified teacher. I helped develop lesson plans and engaged learners in learning content through a variety of formats. I also helped improve student participation and saw a 40% increase in test scores. This experience helped me improve my patience, creativity, and organization skills and helped me learn the best teaching practices. 

Combined with my degree in teaching, I plan to use my skills to foster the educational development of children and make sure they reach their academic potential. I believe that my passion and skills for teaching have prepared me for this teaching job at West Elementary School. 

I’m eager to learn more about this teaching opportunity as it continues to provide quality education in the Calabasas area. You can contact me at your convenience to schedule a time to discuss the job in greater detail and how my skills or qualifications align with the school’s vision, mission, and goals. Thank you very much for your consideration. 

 

Respectfully yours, 

 

Alissa McCarthy

 

Just because you only have a little experience doesn’t mean you can’t create an impressive cover letter. By following the above tips, you can write a cover letter that gets you noticed by schools and lands your first teaching job.