Cover letter writing tips for teachers and school administrators are in abundance. I’ve decided to organize many strategies and helpful tricks in a fun and unique way. This alphabetized list of teacher writing tips will help you create a letter to compliment your teacher’s resume and generate interviews.
Whether you are a primary, elementary, middle, secondary, or high school teacher, these cover letter writing tips will help you get your resume in top-notch shape.
A few months ago, I wrote a similar style or formatted post containing A-Z resume writing tips specific to writing a teacher’s resume.
Let’s get started!
Cover Letter Writing Tips for Teachers Displayed Using the Alphabet
A: Accomplishments
There are many cover letter writing tips for teachers, and this one is at the top of the list of importance. Include your most significant, relevant accomplishments in your cover letter. If they are on your resume, don’t word them the same. You may need to be slightly restructured to flow with the cover letter. If you have more than two, incorporate them into bullet points. Briefly explain how you executed these achievements.
B: Buzzwords – Keywords
When writing your cover letter, you want to seem knowledgeable about the job you are applying for. The best way to achieve this is to learn and incorporate job-specific buzzwords, known as keywords. Incorporate buzzwords into your cover letter by showing examples of using them in your teaching. Each sentence does not need to contain a buzzword; use them where appropriate and ensure they are used properly and in context.
C: Consistency is Key
It’s essential to remain consistent with your resume and cover letter. If you use a border on your resume, use the same border in your cover letter. The same goes for any matters about formatting – layout, design, color, font style, font size, etc. Make sure that all job application documents have the same overall structure.
There needs to be uniformity. This will also help ensure your documents stay together and attract the employer’s eye. Furthermore, it demonstrates your keen eye for detail and ability to remain consistent. Some cover letter writing tips for teachers or other educators may come and go; this will always remain vital.
D: Discuss Past Positions
Think of your past positions not simply as jobs but as learning experiences that helped you blossom into who you are today. Provide a brief list of relevant jobs you have done and briefly discuss which skills you have developed as a result. Even though you may not be able to think of many technical skills, you have probably learned how to communicate, work with others, solve problems, etc. These are all relevant to your new position, regardless of what it is you are applying for.
E: Establish Career Goals
If space permits, you clearly know your goals and devote a few sentences or paragraphs to them. An example may include “Providing a solid education for all students” if you are a teacher.
If you apply for an administrator position, you may state, “My goal is to embrace and promote the school district’s philosophy and vision.” You may also include your goals as an opener to your concluding paragraph. Consider what to offer as a new teacher when writing a cover letter.
F: Finish Strong
In your concluding paragraph, recapture what kind of employee you are and convey what you can offer to the school district. Express your enthusiasm for a meeting or speaking with the hiring manager/ potential principal, and thank them for taking the time to consider you.
G: Generate a Tailored Letter
Specific and general cover letters both have their positives and negatives. A tailored application letter will allow you to personally interact with the hiring manager, letting them know you have researched the school district, understand their needs, and help them meet their goals.
Discuss specific future endeavors and suggest ways in which you may be of assistance. The reader will feel that you have developed the letter exclusively for their district instead of receiving one out of a hundred letters.
H: Humble, Honest Words
When writing your cover letter, avoid using elaborate or unnecessary language. Keep this in mind, mainly when writing your introductory paragraph for your resume. For some people, it’s easy to get carried away with writing about yourself. Don’t make yourself seem pompous.
Keep your wording honest, easy to read, and humble. This doesn’t mean dumbing down your accomplishments or the importance of your past positions but keeping your writing respectable and appealing to a potential employer.
I: Introduction
The first line or two of your cover letter must convey which position you are applying for. This is also where to start discussing your education and related years of experience. If you apply for a preschool teacher position, reviewing resume writing tips for preschool teachers would be beneficial.
Let the reader know that you are excited about applying for this opportunity and confident in your ability to be an asset to them. Your introductory paragraph should be concise and to the point to make an excellent first impression.
J: Just Flow
Do not string together random sentences that do not fit well together. Ensure there is an order to your thoughts. Think of your cover letter not as a series of independent paragraphs but as a story you want to tell.
The story must have a beginning, middle, and end, with cohesion and relevance throughout. If you have trouble connecting your thoughts, sentences, or paragraphs, ask a friend for advice regarding your cover letter.
K: Keep It One Page
Your cover letter is just an introductory document. It does not need to cover all past positions, credentials, etc.; that is what the resume is for. However, you do not want your letter to be bare-bones either; finding balance is the key.
Keep it concise and easy to read. If you cannot keep it to one page, re-read your cover letter and assess what elements are necessary and which are not. Structuring the letter correctly will help you to keep it on one page.
L: List Strengths
Analyze the job advertisement, if available, and see how the mentioned requirements correlate with the strengths you have demonstrated in other careers or positions. Perhaps you excel at collaborating with colleagues to assess a situation and devise an appropriate reaction or solution.
Maybe you are great at interacting with parents and working with them to meet student’s unique needs. On the other hand, you may be proficient in differentiated instruction to ensure all learners are reached and successful. Ensure you include these strengths in your letter to show a school district what you can bring to the position. This is one of the most essential cover letter writing tips for teachers.
Cover Letter Writing Tips for Teachers Continue with M – Z
M: Mean What You Say
If you genuinely want the job you are applying for, act like it! Make sure that your writing comes across with conviction. If you do not believe in yourself and what you express, how can you think anyone else will? Be confident in yourself and let that shine through in your cover letter. Let your words exude passion, enthusiasm, and excitement for this new opportunity you are seeking and committed to obtaining.
N: Noteworthy Accomplishments
Take the most relevant accomplishments from your resume and include them in your cover letter. They shouldn’t be worded differently; restructure them to flow with the application letter. If you have more than two, incorporate them into bullet points.
Briefly explain how you executed these achievements. Once again, it is hard to determine the number one cover letter writing tip – but this one ranks high on my list of cover letter writing tips for teachers, school administrators, or other educators. Accomplishments build credibility and sell the candidate’s value.
O: Outline
A cover letter has critical parts to it that you need to include. After your contact information and the line separating it from the rest of the document, start with the date, the school district’s name and contact information, and a salutation.
There will be anywhere from three to five paragraphs in the body of your cover letter, covering relevant education, job experience, skill set, statements to show personality and passion, and other pertinent information. Close your document with a concluding paragraph, and the type and sign your name between the salutation and before your typed name.
P: Proofread
This may seem obvious, but many people forget to do this simple step. It will definitely hurt your chances if you have missed simple errors in your cover letter. Watch for a misspelled word, an incoherent sentence, or an out-of-place punctuation mark. By submitting mistake-free documents, you will let the school know that you are detail-oriented and take the time to get the job done right – something they will be looking for in their prospective candidates.
Q: Quantify Your Accomplishments
Whenever talking about your cover letter accomplishments, it is best to have an exact or approximate number to emphasize how big of an achievement it was. For instance, if you have secured a grant… how much was it? If you decreased absenteeism, by what percentage?
R: Recognize Your Audience
Assessing job advertisements is an excellent first step to understanding your audience, discovering what they are looking for, and how to write an important document that will capture their attention. Don’t focus exclusively on a job ad. Search the internet for the school district’s website, discover their unique attributes and demographics, etc.
S: Stand Out
All the cover letter writing tips for teachers on this page have one thing in common – they will help you stand out. Remember, when you write your teaching cover letter, you are selling yourself first and foremost. Coming across as a desirable candidate using the right words is essential to engage, generate interest, and move to your resume.
Assess the school district’s job advertisement, if available, and ensure you have touched on all required qualifications in your cover letter.
T: Tell Them What You Can Do
Make them want you! This is the critical message you must remember when crafting your cover letter; use this letter to appeal to their needs and desires. If you have an outstanding education, qualifications, and/or experience, ensure they know it. However, always ensure you are not bragging, exaggerating, or coming across as arrogant. As well as let the reader know that you want to help the school district thrive. Researching the school district is essential to communicate how you can be of value to their school.
U: Uniformity
Your cover letter should complement your resume. This means there needs to be uniformity between the two documents concerning formatting, style, font, borders, etc. They should both have the same overall layout. Furthermore, it demonstrates your keen eye for detail and the ability to remain consistent.
V: Value Enthusiasm
School districts seek passionate, energetic go-getters, not unenthusiastic drones who hate coming to work. Write with enthusiasm, passion, and conviction when developing your cover letter.
Make the reader feel your genuine desire and excitement to work for the school district in the teaching or educational leadership role. You may want to use lines such as “As a dedicated and energetic elementary teacher, I am eager to become a valuable member of your school community” or “As a person who is truly dedicated to educating young children and serving your school district, I am excited to speak with you soon.”
W: Write Professionally
Everything you write in your cover letter must also sound professional. Use appropriate words and phrases and avoid words such as “thing(s).”
If you are uncertain how to express yourself, ask someone else for their opinion or try completely rewriting the sentence or paragraph until you get it right. Reading these in-depth cover letter writing tips for teachers will enhance your professionalism during a job search.
X: Xerox
WOW! What an old word. Of course, don’t use photocopies of your teacher’s resumes and cover letters. Each one should be printed out on top-quality resume bond paper.
Y: Yourself
Be true to yourself! Make the cover letter show your uniqueness and awesomeness – communicate with your voice to show your value, passion, and personality.
Z: Zero Problems
Not every school district is perfect; they all have their times of ups and downs and areas that need improvement. So if you can help them solve their hidden problems, they will want to hire you.
The trick is finding out what areas are lacking and how you can be of service as a newly hired teacher or school principal. If you research the district enough, you will know where its needs and problems lie.
When demonstrating how you can help solve their problems, do not declare what kind of problems they have. Instead, hint at your abilities via sections on your cover letter’s greatest strengths and past accomplishments. Oh, and add some ZEST and ZEAL.
Well, there you have it! Twenty-six cover letter writing tips for teachers are listed alphabetically. You can check out these helpful cover letter strategies if you want to read information from another website. Follow these writing and formatting tips, and you will be off to an excellent start in writing a cover letter.
You can review the cover letter and resume samples for teachers on our website.
If you don’t have the time or would like help writing your cover letter and resume, I’d be happy to partner with you to ensure your move your career forward.
I hope you enjoyed reading these cover letter writing tips for teachers. If you need some help, please review our resume and cover letter writing services.
Don’t hesitate to contact Candace Alstad-Davies at candoco@telus.net or call toll-free:
1-877-738-8052
