High school teacher
resume examples
What makes this a great high school teacher resume sample
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Eye-catching resume template
The applicant chose a colorful, creative resume template for this art teacher resume. The whimsical design is perfect for someone seeking employment in a creative role.
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Robust skills sections
Because this applicant is new to the workforce, she chose a resume format highlighting her extensive skill set. Her resume features three skills sections listing her skills and explaining how she has used them in her work. This helps employers imagine her in the role.
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Extra sections
A strong point of this entry-level art teacher resume is her addition of an “Exhibitions” section to show potential employers that she is a serious artist whose work has been featured in exhibits.
What makes this a great high school teacher resume sample
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Proper resume format
For his English teacher resume, this applicant chose a chronological resume format to showcase his strong work history and career trajectory.
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Choice of resume template
This applicant used a traditional resume format with a pop of color. This allows him to show some personality while keeping his resume clean and easy to scan.
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Certifications and licenses section
What makes this English teacher resume a knockout is adding a section listing his certifications and licenses. This shows potential employers his special training and dedication to improving his skills.
Choose the right resume format for your high school teacher resume
Teaching is a field that attracts people of all ages and experience levels. Whether you are new to the field or have been teaching for decades, to land the high school teaching job you want, you need to write a resume that shows that you are the right person for the job at-a-glance. To do that, you’ll need to select the right resume format.
Here are the three formats to choose from:
- Chronological: Focuses on work history, beginning with the most recent job and working backward. This resume format makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to see your work experience and career progression
- Functional: Makes skills and qualifications the centerpiece of the resume, often downplaying work experience, making it perfect for those with little to no work experience.
- Combination: Balances work experience with a prominent skills section. Applicants with some work experience and a strong skill set like this format.
Once you select your format, check out our resume-formatting guide for ideas on how to handle the margins, font and more.
Select an appropriate high school teacher resume template
Whether you are a veteran teacher or fresh out of school yourself, every high school teacher resume should contain five basic sections — a header, a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education. However, the design of your resume is entirely up to you. You can customize the look and feel of your document by selecting the right resume template.
Since teaching is a vast and varied field, select your resume template according to the school or institution you are applying to. For example, choosing an understated professional or simple resume templates would be appropriate for an application to teach at a conservative religious school. However, if you are applying for a job at a hip charter school, one of our colorful, creative resume templates or sleek modern resume templates might be more your style.
How to write a high school teacher resume in 5 simple steps
While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, top candidates for teaching jobs know that the key to getting noticed is to write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek.
STEP 1
Study the high school teacher job description
A well-written resume is customized to the teaching job. A well-written job ad will tell you everything you need to know about the key requirements the employer is looking for in applicants. If it doesn’t list the skills and experience required to succeed in the role, research your own to learn more about what employers in the field look for in top candidates. If you can incorporate those into your resume successfully, you’ll improve your chances of landing a job interview.
STEP 2
Write a professional summary or resume objective
Depending on your experience level, your high school teacher resume should include either a professional summary or a resume objective to start. Applicants with more direct experience in a teaching role should use a professional summary outlining your skills and experience and highlighting some of your most notable professional accomplishments. Candidates with less experience in the classroom should choose a resume objective which states your transferable skills and your career goals.
Here are some strong examples for your high school teacher resume:
High school teacher professional summary example:
Experienced High School Teacher with over 10 years of teaching in various subjects, including English, History, and Social Studies. Dedicated to providing a stimulating and engaging learning environment for students in classes of up to 25 kids. Reputation for promoting critical thinking and creativity. Skilled in using various teaching methods and technology to cater to students’ diverse learning styles. Adept at assessing student progress and tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Strong communication skills with students and colleagues, fostering a collaborative and positive classroom atmosphere. Proven track record of improving student performance and achieving high academic standards.
High school teacher resume objective example:
Highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education seeking an entry-level High School Teacher position. Committed to creating a positive and engaging learning environment for all students and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Strong ability to work well under pressure and quickly adapt to new situations. Strong communication and organizational skills and a passion for helping students reach their full potential.
STEP 3
Highlight your most relevant high school teacher skills
Whether you are a highly experienced high school teacher or are just starting out, hiring managers will be looking closely at the high school teacher resume skills you list. Skills for a high school teacher resume should be added to your resume skills section and peppered into your professional summary (or resume objective) and your work experience section.
It’s critical that you showcase a solid mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the measurable skills needed to perform a teaching job. Think of these as skills that are easily taught in a classroom, and that can be measured. Soft skills, on the other hand, are personality traits — behaviors and personality traits that help you do your job well — which make them difficult to measure. Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.
Hard and soft skills for a high school teacher resume resume
Here is an example of a strong high school teacher skills section:
- Lesson planning and curriculum development
- Time-management and organizational skills
- Creativity and innovation in lesson planning and instructional strategies
- Classroom management and discipline strategies
- Assessment and evaluation techniques
- Positive attitude and enthusiasm for teaching
Pro Tip
Teachers must possess a unique mix of hard and soft skills to succeed in the role. In this role, soft skills like communication and empathy are critical. Be sure to emphasize those. Employers seek candidates who already possess these skills because they are difficult to teach.
STEP 4
Write a strong high school teacher work experience section
While the required background and experience will differ for each high school teacher role, the key to getting noticed is to write a work experience section that shows employers what you will bring to the table if you are hired.
Here is an example of a great high school teacher work experience entry:
Science Teacher, Downtown High School
Broken Bow, Oklahoma
September 2015 – Present
- Develop and implement engaging lesson plans for 11th and 12th-grade science classes, incorporating a variety of teaching methods such as class discussion, group work, and project-based learning to promote critical thinking and active learning.
- Increased student pass rates on state standardized tests by 20% through implementing differentiated instruction strategies and using technology tools to personalize learning.
- Utilize technology tools, such as Google Classroom and educational software, to enhance classroom instruction and provide students with various learning experiences.
- Developed and implemented a service-learning project that provided students real-world experiences, resulting in a 95% student participation rate and positive feedback from community partners.
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop and implement school-wide initiatives, such as literacy and peer tutoring programs, to support student success and promote a positive school culture.
Pro Tip
Make your high school teaching credentials pop by using action words, data and metrics to capture a hiring manager’s attention.
STEP 5
Showcase your education and training on your high school teacher resume
To be hired as a high school teacher, you’ll need to show employers that you have the required education and training. Top candidates for this role often list a bachelor’s degree in education. There is no need to list your graduation year unless you are a very recent grad.
How to list your high school teacher education:
Education
Fairfield University
Bachelor of Arts in Education
Fairfield, Conn.
Certifications
- CPR
- Connecticut Educator Certification
Pro Tip
If you have professional certifications or special training, add them to your resume. You can include them in your education section or add a special section to your high school teacher resume.
Optional sections for your high school teacher resume
Awards and Certifications
Adding awards and honors to your high school teacher resume is a smart way to show off your abilities, achievements and qualifications. Awards emphasize exceptional performance or leadership, whereas certifications offer hard evidence of your expertise and skills as a teacher.
Including certificates and awards on your resume sets you apart from other contenders. They tell the employer you are truly dedicated to your field and capable of making significant contributions to their organization — ultimately increasing your chances of landing the job.
How to list awards on your high school teacher resume:
2022 Connecticut Educator Certification
2021 Teacher of the Year, Kent School
2019 CPR and First Aid Training, American Red Cross
2022 Certificate to Teach English as a Foreign Language (CTEFL)
Projects
Projects are a great addition to your high school teacher resume because they show you’re capable of using the knowledge you’ve learned in school in real-world situations. It’s one thing to learn something in class — it’s another thing to put the ideas into practice.
Projects are also a tangible demonstration of skills — from problem-solving and time management to teamwork and leadership — that are valuable to employers. Not only that, but also a relevant project can highlight your long-standing passion and expertise in a given subject.
Here are some projects to consider for your high school teacher resume:
- Creative writing workshop
- Service learning projects
- Science fair
- Technology integration project
- Community service projects
Languages
Being a teacher who speaks more than one language will give you an edge. Being fluent — or even just able to carry on a simple conversation in another language — expands your communication abilities, allowing you to work with different kinds of students.
In many cases, if a job opening comes down to equally qualified candidates and one lists multiple languages on their resume, the multilingual candidate will be more attractive to the school.
How to list languages on your high school teacher resume:
- Fluent in English and Spanish.
- Proficient in French and Portuguese.
Interests and Hobbies
Adding hobbies to your high school teacher resume is a great way to show potential employers that you are well-rounded. Adding hobbies and interests to your resume gives a hiring manager a glimpse into your personality. For teachers, hobbies can also show employers what you’ll bring outside of your teaching abilities.
Take care to only add neutral hobbies. Never add hobbies or interests related to religion or politics since these can be polarizing and introduce bias into the hiring process.
How to list interests and hobbies on your high school teacher resume:
- Avid volleyball player
- Horseback riding
- Yoga enthusiast
Add a cover letter
Adding a high school teacher cover letter to your application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job. Learning how to write a cover letter for a teaching job starts with familiarizing yourself with the six primary cover letter sections: the header, salutation, introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion and signoff. Review our collection of cover letter examples to learn how to highlight your unique skill set compellingly and how to format your cover letter for success.
Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Builder which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.
Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.