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Preschool teachers hold an incredible responsibility of nurturing the youngest minds, a task that requires a unique blend of patience, creativity and educational insight.
However, when it’s time to develop a resume, even the most dedicated educator might feel like they’re facing a parent-teacher conference night without a plan.
Every seasoned preschool teacher can appreciate a little direction in handling an unfamiliar task. The good news is, mastering the art of resume writing is less complicated than it seems, even if you’re writing one for the first time.
Simply follow our in-depth guide, and you’ll assemble a resume that will prompt any school administrator to take notice.
This guide will provide:
- Preschool teacher resume samples for various stages of your career.
- Key elements that contribute to a compelling preschool teacher resume.
- Proven techniques for crafting a resume that stands out in a sea of applicants.
- Thorough analyses of each component of your resume.
- Tips on choosing the most fitting resume organization and style.
Need to make a resume now? Head directly to our Resume Builder. Explore resume examples for professionals who are at different points of their career path. Fill it in a template and download in any file format you’d like.
Preschool Teacher resume examples
What makes this a great preschool teacher resume sample?
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Showcases skills picked up as an aide
This resume does an excellent job highlighting the candidate’s growing skill set, a great way to kickstart their preschool teaching career.
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Features a summary of qualifications
Without much work history to speak of, this resume includes a ‘Summary of Qualifications’ section. It succinctly compiles the candidate’s strengths and competencies to give you a sense of how they’d perform in the field.
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Mentions first aid certification
Understanding the importance of children’s safety and well-being, the resume highlights the candidate’s certification in first aid. This qualification is often a prerequisite for preschool teachers.
What makes this a great preschool teacher resume sample?
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Opens with a compelling professional summary
This resume immediately captures attention with a strong professional summary, emphasizing the candidate’s exceptional communication skills and proven track record in early childhood education.
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Showcases an extensive work history
With a commendable 16 years in the field, the resume dedicates substantial space to a detailed work experience section. It chronologically documents the candidate’s journey to show the rich experience they bring to the role.
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Employs dynamic action verbs
Throughout the resume, there’s effective use of action-oriented language that brings energy to the candidate’s professional experiences. Words like “plan,” “develop,” and “manage” demonstrate a proactive approach in leading classroom activities.
Looking for a different resume example? Here are some related jobs that might interest you.
Choose the right resume format for your preschool teacher resume
Choosing the right resume format is key for preschool teachers, as it helps highlight your most relevant qualifications. Each format serves a unique purpose and offers a different way to organize sections, catering to different professional backgrounds.
- Chronological Resume: This format showcases your experience chronologically, allowing schools to see your career progression, making it ideal for preschool teachers with a solid work history.
- Functional Resume: This format focuses on relevant skills over work history, making it a good fit for job seekers who are new to preschool education or returning after a break.
- Combination Resume: A great option for preschool teachers with several years of experience coupled with valuable educational skills. This style allows you to highlight specific areas of expertise, before diving into work history.
Ultimately, if you’ve dedicated many years to teaching, a chronological resume highlights your experience. If you’re less experienced or transitioning into preschool teaching, a functional or combination resume may suit you better.
After choosing your format, focus on the presentation. Ensure proper font size, spacing and margins for readability. Refer to a reliable formatting guide for help.
Now, let’s move on to styling your resume to make it stand out.
Choose a preschool teacher resume template
Templates serve as the structured design for your resume. They make sure all components such as your teaching experience, qualification and educational background are organized effectively.
For preschool teachers, selecting the right template is crucial as it reflects your professional persona.
If you’re aiming to showcase your artistic side or want to reflect the energetic and imaginative environment that comes with early childhood education, a creative template can be a good fit. For those who want to demonstrate a cutting-edge approach to education, a modern template offers a contemporary design that’s still professional.
On the other hand, a simple template is free of distractions and focuses on your essential qualifications, mirroring the clarity and straightforwardness you bring to your teaching methods.
Given the nature of preschool education, where engagement and creativity are key to effective teaching, you might find that a creative or modern template resonates with your professional approach.
Remember, the template should never lose sight of readability, ensuring that your most significant accomplishments and credentials are easy to locate and evaluate.
Next, we’ll show you how to make each part of your resume as impactful as possible.
How to write a preschool teacher resume in 5 simple steps
Ready to learn how to write a resume? Crafting a resume for a preschool teacher position is simple and uncomplicated — and we’re happy to show you how it’s done.
Let’s tackle these five simple steps one by one.
STEP 1
Review the preschool teacher job description
Building the perfect resume for a preschool teacher means choosing your words wisely. Here’s how it works:
Many schools use special software to scan resumes for certain keywords before a real person sees them. These programs are called applicant tracking systems (ATS). So, your resume needs those magic words, or it might just vanish into thin air. The trick? Pull the language in the job post onto your resume.
Not sure which words to use? The job ad is your map.
Every teaching role is different, but the ad will point out the must-haves, like “early childhood education,” “classroom management” or “curriculum development.” Use these exact phrases to make your resume ATS-friendly. Sprinkle them in your summary, skills and experience sections. It’s like speaking the secret language of the job ad.
It might feel like homework, but those extra few minutes can mean catching the eye of your future employer. Think of it as hiding Easter eggs in your resume for the ATS to find. Who said job applications couldn’t be a bit like a preschool scavenger hunt, right?
Now it’s time to start writing.
STEP 2
Write a professional summary or resume objective
Starting your preschool teacher resume requires a brief introduction known as a resume profile, which can be either a professional summary or an objective statement.
A professional summary showcases your significant achievements and skills, perfect if you’ve amassed a wealth of experience in early childhood education.
A resume objective, on the other hand, outlines your career aspirations, tying your abilities to the objectives of the school or educational institution. This approach is fantastic if you’re relatively new to the preschool teaching world or stepping in from a different educational level.
Here’s how these could look for a preschool teacher:
Preschool teacher professional summary example:
Dedicated preschool teacher with over eight years of experience in early childhood education. Passionate about fostering nurturing learning environments, developing creative learning activities and promoting emotional, social and intellectual growth in children. Recognized for exceptional classroom management and a commitment to achieving parental and institutional goals.
Preschool teacher resume objective example:
Compassionate educator aiming to transition into a preschool teaching role, bringing a strong background in child psychology, innovative educational activities design and a patient, positive demeanor. Excited to contribute to School ABC’s commitment to providing holistic early childhood education and to grow as part of a dedicated teaching team.
STEP 3
Highlight relevant preschool teacher skills
Now, let’s focus on identifying the key preschool teacher skills for your resume.
Hiring personnel look for particular skills, and as a preschool teacher, you require a blend of hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are your specific, teachable abilities that can be defined and measured, such as literacy teaching techniques or understanding of early childhood development. For instance, you may be skilled in crafting lesson plans tailored to young learners or using educational software. Conversely, soft skills are your inherent, personal attributes that are more difficult to quantify, like patience or creativity — extremely important in pre-K education.
It’s not about choosing hard skills vs soft skills or vice versa — both are essential in shaping the ideal preschool teacher.
To give you a clearer picture, here’s a breakdown of typical hard and soft skills for a preschool teacher resume.
Hard and soft skills for a preschool teacher resume
Example of a preschool teacher skills section:
- Demonstrated ability in creating inclusive lesson plans that cater to the diverse needs of students.
- Experienced in early childhood developmental evaluations and applying tailored education techniques.
- Patient and effective communicator, skilled in engaging with children and encouraging their questions.
- Creative in approach, devising fun and educational activities that foster learning and classroom engagement.
- Proficient in using educational software to enhance learning experiences.
Don’t underestimate your digital know-how! In an age where education often involves computer skills, showcasing your competence with educational software or virtual learning tools is a huge plus.
STEP 4
Write a strong work experience section
Your work experience is the heart of your resume. It’s your golden opportunity to shine and show the wonderful things you’ve achieved in your teaching career.
Because school administrators need to make quick decisions, it’s important to lay out your experiences clearly and concisely.
Here’s how you can detail your journey as a preschool teacher:
Preschool Teacher, Early Learning Center
Springfield, IL
September 2015 – Present
- Crafted and implemented lesson plans that nurtured student literacy and numeracy, evidenced by 80% of students exceeding learning milestones.
- Managed a vibrant classroom of 20+ children, developing a nurturing learning environment that enhanced student well-being and social skills.
- Initiated a parent-teacher collaboration strategy, increasing family involvement in educational activities by 40%.
- Coordinated a classroom behavioral plan, reducing disruptions and fostering a positive learning atmosphere.
- Led creative learning activities, introducing an art-based approach that improved student engagement and expression.
Make your work history sing by using dynamic action words like “crafted,” “nurtured” or “coordinated.” These words are energetic and show that you’re proactive and deeply involved in your role as an educator.
STEP 5
Add education and training to your resume
Your educational background is a cornerstone of your qualifications, reflecting your commitment to early childhood development. It’s essential to spotlight this in the education section of your resume, as specific credentials are required for preschool teachers.
For preschool teachers, having specialized training or a degree in early childhood education is often mandatory. These credentials underscore your readiness to engage with young learners effectively.
How to list your preschool teacher education:
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
State University of [Your State]
[City], [State]
Graduated: May 2023
Relevant Coursework:
- Child Development
- Classroom Management
- Special Education Basics
Certifications:
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
- Certified Early Childhood Educator (CECE)
- First Aid and CPR
Your certifications are a testament to your skills and dedication — they matter a lot in this field. Consider giving them a dedicated section, especially if you have several. This way, principals or hiring managers won’t just skim over them.
Optional sections for your resume
Honors and awards
Your dedication to education doesn’t go unnoticed, and any awards in your teaching career deserve their spotlight. They speak to your passion, expertise and respect within the education community.
How to list honors and awards on your resume:
- “Teacher of the Year”: Awarded by [Institution’s Name] for exceptional child-led instruction methods and positive parent-teacher collaborations.
- “Innovative Teaching Practices Recognition”: Received for integrating technology and interactive activities that cater to various learning styles in the preschool environment.
- “Community Advocate Award”: For outstanding contribution to local community events, demonstrating a commitment beyond the classroom to childhood development and learning.
Language proficiency
In our diverse communities, being multilingual is a tremendous asset. It shows your ability to communicate with and understand students from various backgrounds, fostering inclusivity.
How to list language proficiency on your resume:
- Fluent in Spanish and English, enabling more inclusive communication and engagement with bilingual families.
- Proficient in American Sign Language (ASL), facilitating effective communication and support for students with hearing impairments.
Volunteer experience
Volunteering reflects your dedication to education and community service beyond paid work. It’s the spirit of giving that enriches your professional journey.
How to list volunteer experience on your resume:
- Coordinated and participated in a weekend literacy program for underprivileged children in the community, promoting access to education and learning resources.
- Organized a community summer craft fair to raise funds for educational toys and materials for low-income family support centers.
Workshops
Ongoing professional development showcases your commitment to staying current in educational practices. It emphasizes your pursuit of growth and learning.
How to list workshops on your resume:
- Participated in an Early Childhood Behavioral Management workshop, implementing innovative techniques for positive discipline in the classroom.
- Attended a seminar series on ‘Integrating Technology in Early Childhood Education,’ applying insights to enhance interactive learning in the classroom.
Professional affiliations
Being part of professional bodies indicates your commitment to the broader educational community. It suggests a proactive stance in your professional development and contribution.
How to list professional affiliations on your resume:
- Active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), participating in forums, local chapters and national conferences.
- Contributing member of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), staying abreast of global trends and practices in childhood education.
Add a cover letter
Now that your resume is shiny and bright, it’s time to craft a cover letter.
Think of your cover letter as a personal letter to a friend — with examples to back you up. Here, you share your journey, the little triumphs with your students and even the bumps along the road. It’s your story of passion, patience and the magic you bring to a classroom, as well as the impact you’ve made on your students and previous administrations.
For example, if you’ve ever turned a chaotic day into a fun, impromptu singing session, or if you’ve helped little ones overcome their first-day jitters, these stories show your unique abilities. And, if you took some extended time off for a new learning adventure or to catch your breath, here’s your chance to share your growth from that journey.
But you’ll need to keep it neat and tidy. Just like organizing your classroom, your cover letter needs to be clear and inviting. Peek at some cover letter examples to guide you on the letter’s look — the right font, space and a friendly layout. It shows you’re as careful with documents as you are with your students.
Scared of the blank page? You’re not alone. Tools like a cover letter builder can start you off with easy ideas that you can make your own.
Your cover letter is your resume’s best friend. They should go together, showing off your professionalism, your care and the big heart you have for early education.
Alright, before the final bell rings, let’s recap the important stuff.
Key takeaways for your preschool teacher resume
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Add the right keywords
Just like finding the right learning tool for your students, ensure your resume speaks the right language by using important words and phrases from the job description.
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Plan your resume’s structure
Pick a resume format that puts your best foot forward. If you’ve been teaching for years, a style that lists your experience like a timeline might be just perfect.
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Dress your resume up like it’s picture day
Choose a resume look that is as professional and joyful as your approach to teaching. It should be easy to read and feel like a gold star you put on your classroom’s bulletin board.
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Show off your tools
List your skills, both the ‘book smarts’ like lesson planning, and the ‘street smarts’ like your incredible patience (especially when there’s a spilled paint emergency!).
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Certifications set you apart
Shine bright by highlighting essential certifications. Whether it’s your early childhood education certification, first aid or special classroom management workshops you’ve attended.
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Emphasize your achievements
Instead of just listing your past jobs’ duties, share what you achieved in each one. Maybe you introduced a new way of learning colors that the kids loved, or perhaps your class had the best-behaved ‘indoor voices’ thanks to your innovative approach.
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Include a heartfelt note
Consider a cover letter your chance to share your teaching philosophy. It’s a little note from you, explaining why you adore teaching and how you could make a world of difference at their school.
Commonly asked questions about resume writing
Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.
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