Assistant Principal Cover Letter Example & Templates
- 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
- 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡
Our customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
As an assistant principal, you play a critical role in school operations and the overall environment. You help manage administrative tasks, address student behavioral issues, support teachers and liaise between the school and community.
A strong assistant principal cover letter, combined with a well-written resume, helps demonstrate your critical leadership, interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Our guide to writing a compelling cover letter for an assistant principal role will help you highlight your strong fit and improve your chances of landing an interview.
Assistant principal cover letter (text version)
Daren Bernard
Denver, CO 80230
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
May 26, 2023
Alex Fontane
Rocky Mountain Prep
Denver, CO 80231
Phone: 555-555-5555
E-Mail: example@example.com
Dear Alex Fontane,
Ever since I became a teacher, my goal has been to impact the lives of the students I teach. As an assistant principal, I can help shape young minds while allowing teachers to do their jobs. I am a strong candidate for this position because of my understanding of the administration system and my passion for the field.
When the assistant principal at Mountain Valley High School went on maternity leave, I held the title of interim assistant principal. During those months, I gained insight into a school’s budgetary, personnel and maintenance needs. In the year since my first foray into school administration, I have been able to help the assistant principal and principal with many of their duties within a school population of 600 students.
During my 15 years of teaching, I have always strived to give my students a safe place to learn. As an assistant principal, I plan to create that atmosphere for all students at the school by providing teachers with the necessary tools.
I understand the importance of a solid education, which makes me a strong candidate for this role. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing my experiences, skills and achievements during the interview.
Sincerely,
Daren Bernard
How to format your cover letter
A cover letter can be an effective way to introduce yourself to the hiring manager. It also provides the opportunity to further explain some of your most relevant resume skills, establish a connection with the school or institution and demonstrate why you are the right person for the position.
Your assistant principal cover letter should emphasize your job-relevant skills and attributes like your leadership abilities, knowledge of educational laws and policies and ability to successfully resolve conflicts. Demonstrating the type of attributes and abilities that align with the job description will help you paint a clearer picture of how you’re a great fit for the role.
It’s also helpful to include specific examples of how you have applied these skills to achieve positive outcomes, as this will further strengthen your cover letter. That might seem like a lot of information to fit on just one page, but we’re here to help you! It all starts with the correct cover letter format.
Use the business letter format
Cover letters are essentially business letters, so it’s best to use the standard business letter format for your assistant principal cover letter.
Follow the lead of our cover letter example for an assistant principal role and include the following in your document:
- A header with your name, city, state, ZIP code and telephone number.
- The recipient’s address and contact information.
- A formal salutation, like “Dear Sally Wilson,” “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear School Administration Department.”
- A simple closing, like “Best regards” or “Respectfully.”
When formatting and laying out your one-page document, use 1-inch margins on all sides, 1.15 to 1.5 spacing and left alignment. Review examples of a cover letter for an assistant principal job to see what this looks like in practice.
The best way to ensure your cover letter is formatted correctly and can beat most applicant tracking systems (ATS) is to use a cover letter template. Make use of our Cover Letter Builder to get step-by-step guidance and have us do the work for you. In a matter of minutes, you’ll have a professional cover letter for an assistant principal position to accompany your resume.
Remember, including job-relevant skills, experiences and accomplishments in your cover letter will help show hiring managers that you’re a great fit for the position. We’ll offer ready-made content ideas for your cover letter that target essential skills like adaptability, crisis management and mentorship and coaching.
How to write your cover letter
Start with a powerful introduction
Hiring managers usually spend only a few seconds initially reviewing each job application, so it’s crucial to catch their attention quickly with your cover letter.
The introduction of your cover letter should be clear, concise and convincing, almost like your elevator pitch. You should mention your specific interest in both the role and the school or school district, then close out your introduction by briefly and confidently stating why you’re the right person for the position.
Showcase your top skills, like collaboration, conflict resolution, data analysis and decision-making.
Use accomplishments to explain why you’re a great fit for the role
When you review our assistant principal cover letter examples, you’ll see that the body paragraphs give the hiring manager a clear, in-depth understanding of the applicant’s relevant career history, while also providing insights into their professional interests and values.
In one or two paragraphs, you want to give prospective employers a sense of who you are and the potential value or impact that you can bring to the organization.
It’s also ideal to use strong action verbs and include quantifiable metrics to describe your past work accomplishments. For instance, “In my current role with XYZ High School, I spearheaded a schoolwide positive behavior intervention program that resulted in a 15% decrease in disciplinary referrals when compared to the previous year.”
Remember to also highlight both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the role throughout your cover letter.
Close with an invitation
As our sample assistant principal cover letter shows, use the last paragraph to thank the hiring manager for their time, reiterate your interest in the role and express your eagerness to be considered for the job. Finally, close out your cover letter by inviting them to contact you to learn more about your qualifications.
Pair your assistant principal cover letter with a matching resume
FAQ
Do you need a cover letter for an assistant principal job?
In short, yes. A cover letter is an important component of a high-quality job application. While a resume gives a glimpse into your professional career, a cover letter helps fill in the gaps.
Cover letters let the hiring manager know who you are and the value you can provide an organization. They also provide you with a chance to explain any potential career gaps or your motivation to change careers.
See our library of professionally crafted cover letter examples to help you write an impactful letter.
What makes a good cover letter for an assistant principal?
A cover letter for an assistant principal position should follow the standard business letter format and highlight your relevant skills, experience and accomplishments.
Here are some things that hiring managers or superintendents may be looking for in an assistant principal candidate:
- Strong leadership and vision: The ability to inspire and motivate both students and staff, as well as a clear vision that aligns with the district’s goals.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills: Being able to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to build trust, resolve conflicts and foster a positive school culture.
- Track record of instructional leadership: A demonstrated commitment to improving student achievement through data-driven decision-making, teacher development and curriculum implementation.
How long should an assistant principal cover letter be?
The assistant principal cover letter sample on this page shows the ideal length of a cover letter: 250-500 words in total and no shorter than half a page.
While there is a lot to communicate, you should aim to keep your letter no longer than one page.
Best practices
- Address the recruiter or hiring manager directly.
- Explain what attracted you to the school in one or two sentences.
- Customize your assistant principal cover letter for the job.
- Include keywords from the job description throughout.
- End with a clear invitation to contact you.
- Proofread your cover letter more than once.
- Write a generic assistant principal cover letter.
- Write more than one page.
- Use generic salutations, like “To Whom It May Concern.”
- Regurgitate your resume.
- Rely on automatic grammar or spell-checkers.
- Write a fan letter, even if it is your dream job.
Resume examples for the next step in your education career
- Education Assistant Director Resume
- Lead Educator Resume
- College Admissions Representative Resume
- Assistant Principal Resume
- Assistant Superintendent Resume
- Guidance Counselor Resume
- College Counselor Resume
- University Administrator Resume
- Education Administration Executive Resume
- Student Coordinator Resume
- School Counselor
- Residential Counselor Resume
- Resident Assistant Resume
- Superintendent Resume
- Dean Of Students Resume
- Principal Resume
- Registrar Resume
- School Administrator Resume
- Admissions Counselor Resume
CV examples for the next step in your education career
Rate this article
Assistant Principal
Dr. Jasmine Escalera, a seasoned Career Expert with 15+ years of experience, dedicated to supporting professionals in finding the right roles, fostering inclusive workplaces, and advocating for equitable pay.
More Articles by Jasmine Escalera