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Table of contents

Elementary Teacher Resume Examples
More Resume Examples
Choosing a Resume Format
How to Write an Elementary Teacher Resume in 5 Steps
Add a Cover Letter
Key Takeaways
Questions for Your Job Search

Being an elementary teacher means you play a crucial role in shaping the minds and lives of young learners.

Your expertise in managing classrooms, developing lesson plans and fostering a positive learning environment is essential to your students’ success and it needs to be effectively shown on your resume.

That’s where we come in. With our elementary teacher resume examples and expert advice, you will see how to highlight your teaching skills, achievements and dedication to education, ensuring you impress potential employers.

In this guide, you’ll find:

Resume examples for elementary teachers with different levels of experience.
Tips on how to write a resume that highlights your teaching experience, educational background and teaching philosophy.
What to include in your resume, from essential sections like skills and work experience to optional additions that showcase your individuality.
How to choose the best resume format for your career stage, whether you're a new teacher or an experienced educator.

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Elementary Teacher Resume Examples

Entry-level Elementary Teacher Resume Example

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Why This Resume Works:

Focus on Classroom Management:
This resume showcases the candidate’s use of positive reinforcement increased student engagement by 20%, demonstrating a strong ability to foster a productive and engaging classroom environment.
Curriculum Development Impact:
By adapting lesson plans to meet diverse learning needs and incorporating multimedia resources, the candidate improved student comprehension by 25%.
Proven Assessment and Feedback Strategies:
The candidate conducted regular assessments and provided feedback, demonstrating the candidate’s ability to measure and enhance student performance.

Experienced Elementary Teacher Resume Example

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Why This Resume Works:

Extensive Teaching Experience:
With over 18 years of experience in elementary education, this resume highlights the candidate’s ability to effectively nurture and guide students from grades K-5.
Behavioral and Classroom Management Impact:
The candidate’s ability to manage classroom behavior using positive reinforcement techniques led to a 40% decrease in disciplinary incidents. This shows strong classroom control and the ability to create a conducive learning environment.
Engagement Beyond the Classroom:
The candidate increased student participation by 50% by organizing extracurricular activities like science fairs and book clubs, demonstrating their dedication to student development beyond academics.

More Resume Examples

Looking for more inspiration to craft the perfect resume? Check out these additional resume examples from various roles in education and beyond. Whether you’re interested in a specific teaching position or exploring other industries, we have a range of examples to guide you.

Browse other popular samples

Professional Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Example

Related Guides & Tips

Choosing a Resume Format

It’s very important to select the right resume format when making your resume for an elementary teacher position. The format you choose will help highlight your strengths, whether you’re an experienced educator or just starting your teaching career.

Here’s how to pick the best format for your resume:

Chronological Format: The chronological format is ideal for experienced elementary teachers who have a consistent work history. It lists your job experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position, making it great for highlighting your professional growth and career stability.
Functional Format: The functional format focuses more on skills than work history, making it a good fit for new teachers or those transitioning to the field. Instead of emphasizing employment dates, it spotlights your teaching abilities, certifications and educational background.
Combination Format: The combination format merges the benefits of both chronological and functional formats. It showcases your key skills and achievements while also including your work history, providing a well-rounded view of your teaching experience and competencies.

Regardless of the format you choose, your resume must be clean, organized and easy to read. Select a professional font, maintain consistent margins and use bullet points to make your resume visually appealing and simple to navigate.

Choosing a Template

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Once you’ve chosen the best format for your resume, selecting the right template is your next important step. Your resume template should reflect professionalism and make your qualifications easy to read. Here are a few options to consider:

Modern Template: Ideal for experienced teachers, this sleek design highlights both your work history and teaching skills. The modern template emphasizes career achievements and classroom experience.
Creative Template: If you’re applying for a more creative or unconventional teaching role, this template offers some flexibility to demonstrate your unique personality while keeping the content professional and focused.

Whichever template you choose, make sure it’s clear, visually appealing and fits the job you’re applying for. The right template will help make your resume stand out to hiring managers.

How to Write an Elementary Teacher Resume in 5 Steps

Writing a resume for an elementary school teacher position involves understanding the key sections that will most impact hiring managers.

Let’s break it down into five easy steps to help you create a standout resume.

Step 1

Analyze the Job Description

Before you start writing your elementary teacher resume, carefully review the job description for the role you’re applying to. Understanding what the school or district is looking for in a candidate will help you align your resume with their needs.

Look for specific keywords in the job posting. Incorporating these keywords into your resume not only increases your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS) but also shows hiring managers that you are the perfect fit for the role.

By tailoring your resume to the specific job description, you demonstrate that you’ve paid attention to the school’s unique needs and can meet their expectations.

Don’t know if your resume is ATS-friendly? Try our ATS-Resume Checker to find out today!

Step 2

Write a Professional Summary or Resume Objective

The top section of your resume should be a profile that immediately grabs the reader’s attention with a well-written professional summary or resume objective. This short section serves as an introduction to who you are, what you offer and how you align with the school’s needs.

Professional Summary: If you’re an experienced teacher, the professional summary is ideal. This two- to three-sentence introduction should highlight your key accomplishments, years of experience and areas of expertise that are directly relevant to the position. Focus on how your experience has made a measurable impact on student learning and classroom success.
Resume Objective: For entry-level candidates or those transitioning into teaching, the resume objective works best. This section focuses on your career aspirations, relevant skills and enthusiasm for the teaching role. It’s an opportunity to highlight your passion for education and showcase the skills and certifications you bring, even if you lack extensive classroom experience.

Example Professional Summary for an Elementary Teacher Resume:

Dedicated elementary teacher with over eight years of experience fostering student engagement and promoting academic success. Skilled in curriculum development, classroom management and differentiated instruction, with a proven track record of improving student literacy rates by 15%. Committed to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment to help young learners reach their full potential.

Example Resume Objective for an Elementary School Teacher Resume:

Recent education graduate passionate about fostering a love of learning in young students. Seeking an elementary teaching position to apply skills in lesson planning, classroom management and student assessment. Dedicated to promoting a nurturing environment that encourages academic growth and emotional well-being for diverse learners.

Pro tip

Tailor your summary or objective to the specific job you’re applying for by using keywords from the job description. If the school is looking for a teacher with strong communication skills and experience in technology integration, be sure to highlight those points in this section.

Step 3

Focus on Relevant Skills

An elementary teacher’s resume should clearly present the skills that make you an effective educator.

Your skills section should align closely with the requirements outlined in the job description. By listing a balanced mix of hard and soft skills, you’ll make it easier for hiring managers to assess your qualifications.

Hard Skills: Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that you’ve developed through training and experience. As an elementary teacher, these skills are critical to your success in the classroom.
Soft Skills: Soft skills are personal qualities that allow you to connect with students, colleagues and parents. These attributes make a huge difference in fostering a positive classroom environment.

Hard Skills

Classroom management
Lesson planning and curriculum development
Differentiated instruction
Student progress assessment
Parent-teacher communication
Technology integration (e.g., Google Classroom, SMART Boards)
Literacy and numeracy instruction
Special education and ESL (English as a Second Language) support

Soft Skills

Patience and empathy
Strong communication skills
Leadership and collaboration
Creativity in lesson planning
Problem-solving in classroom settings
Conflict resolution
Time management and organization
Adaptability to changing classroom needs

Pro tip

Tailor your skills to match the language used in the job description. For example, if the employer mentions “strong parent-teacher communication” or “technology proficiency,” make sure these skills appear in your resume to improve your chances of passing through ATS.

Step 4

Work Experience Section

Your work experience section is one of the most important parts of your elementary school teacher resume. It’s where you showcase your past teaching roles, the responsibilities you handled and the positive impact you’ve made on students.

This section should clearly demonstrate how your previous roles have prepared you to excel in the classroom.

List your job titles, the schools where you’ve worked, the location and your dates of employment in reverse-chronological order (starting with your most recent position). For each role, include a series of bullet points that detail your main responsibilities and achievements.

Each bullet point should begin with a strong action verb to convey your role actively. Focus on your teaching methods, classroom management techniques and any initiatives or projects you led that improved student outcomes.

Example Work Experience for an Elementary Teacher Resume:

Elementary Teacher
XYZ Elementary School – Chicago, IL | September 2019 – July 2024

Managed a classroom of 25 students, fostering a safe, inclusive and engaging learning environment.
Developed and implemented lesson plans in alignment with state standards, improving literacy rates by 15% in one academic year.
Utilized differentiated instruction techniques to accommodate diverse learners, including students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans), resulting in a 10% improvement in reading comprehension for struggling students.
Collaborated with fellow teachers and administration to organize schoolwide events, including a literacy fair and science week, increasing student engagement.
Maintained regular parent-teacher communication through conferences, progress reports and newsletters, ensuring alignment on student development and academic goals.

Pro tip

Wherever possible, include quantifiable results. Numbers can help show the value you’ve brought to your past roles and make your accomplishments more tangible. For example, instead of saying “Improved student performance,” say “Improved reading levels by 15% over the course of the academic year.” These metrics make your impact clear to hiring managers.

Step 5

Education and Certifications

For elementary teachers, your education and certifications are critical in proving that you meet the qualifications necessary to succeed in the classroom. This section should be clear and concise, listing your degrees, relevant certifications and any specialized training that enhances your candidacy.

List your degrees in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most advanced degree you’ve earned. Include the name of the degree and the institution. If you’re currently pursuing a degree or certification, be sure to include the expected completion date.

Certifications are especially important for teachers, as most states require specific teaching credentials. In addition to your teaching license, you may also hold other certifications that make you a more versatile candidate (e.g., ESL certification, Special Education endorsement or First Aid/CPR). List these certifications with the issuing body and the date of issue or expiration.

Example of an Education Section:

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
University of Texas – Austin, TX
Graduated: May 2016

Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Austin Community College – Austin, TX
Graduated: May 2010

Example of a Certifications Section:

Certifications:

State Teaching License – Texas, Certified in Elementary Education (Valid through 2026)
ESL (English as a Second Language) Endorsement – Texas (Issued 2020)
First Aid/CPR Certified – American Red Cross (Valid through 2025)

Pro tip

If you have multiple certifications, it’s best to create a separate section for them to highlight your qualifications more clearly. This will make it easier for hiring managers to spot the certifications they’re looking for.

Optional Resume Sections

Professional Memberships

Belonging to professional organizations demonstrates your commitment to staying informed about the latest trends and best practices in education. Include any memberships you have with local, state or national education associations.

Example:

Member, National Education Association (NEA) – 2019 to Present
Member, Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) – 2020 to Present

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer work, especially in educational settings, shows your dedication to the community and your willingness to go above and beyond. This section can be especially valuable if you have limited paid teaching experience.

Example:

Volunteer Tutor – Reading Buddies Program, Austin Public Library (2018–2020): Provided one-on-one reading instruction to elementary students, helping improve literacy skills for 20+ children.
Math Club Volunteer – XYZ Elementary School (2019–Present): Assisted with after-school math enrichment activities, encouraging student interest in STEM subjects.

Languages

If you’re fluent in multiple languages, this section can be a valuable addition, especially for schools with diverse student populations and can make you a more versatile candidate.

Example:

Spanish: Fluent
French: Conversational

Add a Cover Letter

Create your cover letter

Including a well-crafted cover letter with your elementary teacher resume can significantly boost your chances of getting hired. A cover letter allows you to expand on your resume by providing more context about your experience, explaining your teaching philosophy and showcasing your passion for education.

While your resume highlights your qualifications, your elementary teacher cover letter allows you to connect personally with the hiring manager. It’s an opportunity to highlight your enthusiasm for teaching and why you’re a great fit for the school.

Just like a resume, tailor your cover letter to the specific school and role you’re applying for. Research the school’s mission and values and mention how your teaching approach aligns with their goals. This shows you’ve taken the time to understand their needs and demonstrates your genuine interest in the position.

Not sure where to start? Try our easy-to-use Cover Letter Generator to create a custom letter that complements your resume perfectly. With customizable templates and expert tips, you can have a professional cover letter ready in minutes!

Get started with a cover letter example today to see what you can do to improve your chances of getting your next job as an elementary school teacher.

Key Takeaways

Choose the Right Resume Format
Whether you’re an entry-level teacher or a seasoned educator, choose the format that best showcases your strengths.
Include Quantifiable Achievements
Highlighting achievements using numbers, such as “improved literacy rates by 15%” or “reduced disruptive incidents by 20%” makes your contributions stand out to potential employers.
Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Identify the keywords and skills the employer is looking for and integrate them into your resume to increase your chances of passing ATS screening and catching the hiring manager’s attention.
Balance Hard and Soft Skills
Be sure to include a mix of hard skills and soft skills. Tailor your skills section to match the job description and showcase your ability to connect with students, colleagues, and parents.
Highlight Your Work Experience
Use action verbs and quantify your successes in your work experience section. Show how your teaching methods and classroom management strategies have led to positive outcomes for your students.
Don’t Forget Education and Certifications
Your education and certifications are essential to prove your qualifications as an elementary teacher. Ensure your state teaching licenses or ESL endorsements are clearly listed.
Consider Adding Optional Sections
Enhance your resume with optional sections like awards, volunteer experience or professional memberships to paint a fuller picture of your dedication to education and your extracurricular contributions.
Add a Personalized Cover Letter
A tailored cover letter can make all the difference. Use it to expand on your qualifications, explain your teaching philosophy, and show why you’re the perfect fit for the school.

Questions for Your Job Search

Last Updated: January 01, 2025

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Conor is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches dedicated to helping job seekers excel in their careers.