Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Examples & Templates
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An elementary teacher’s work is both challenging and rewarding. They teach various subjects — including math, science and reading — to young students from kindergarten to fifth grade. They play a crucial role in their students’ intellectual, social, physical and emotional development, so they must be patient, creative and organized to teach and support their students effectively.
Even the most well-written resume won’t be enough to land you a job as an elementary teacher. You must pair it with an impressive cover letter to elevate your job application. Use our guide to writing a cover letter for an elementary teacher job, along with our elementary teacher cover letter examples, to help you create an engaging and effective cover letter.
Elementary teacher cover letter (text)
Valerie Burton
San Diego, CA 92111
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Jan. 23, 2024
Joanna Holman,
Elevate Elementary School
San Diego, CA 92115
Phone: (555) 555-5555
E-Mail: example@example.com
Dear Joanna Holman,
I am writing to express my sincere interest in the elementary teaching position at Elevate Elementary School, as advertised. With over a decade of experience in nurturing young minds and fostering a positive learning environment, I am excited about the prospect of contributing my skills and passion for education to your school community. My commitment to personalized instruction, innovative teaching methods and creating a supportive classroom atmosphere aligns seamlessly with your school’s mission and values.
In my previous role as an elementary teacher at Edison Elementary School, I demonstrated exceptional proficiency in designing and implementing effective lesson plans that catered to diverse learning styles for over 500 students. My commitment to student success is reflected in the consistent improvement of standardized test scores and academic achievements. In addition, over the past five years, I consistently increased student proficiency in reading by 20%, and math scores improved by 15%, exceeding district averages.
My classroom management skills include ensuring a conducive and respectful learning atmosphere. I possess excellent communication skills, fostering strong partnerships with parents and creating an open dialogue to support student development. Additionally, my incorporation of technology into lessons has enhanced student engagement and comprehension, earning recognition for innovation in teaching methods.
I am excited about the prospect of joining Elevate Elementary School and contributing to its reputation for academic excellence. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experience align with the goals and values of your school. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Valerie Burton
How to format an elementary teacher cover letter
A cover letter is your chance to connect with a potential employer. In it, you can expand on your resume, introduce yourself to the hiring manager and show them exactly why you’re the perfect fit for the job. That’s a lot for one page, but it can be done!
It all begins with the correct cover letter format.
Use the standard business format for your elementary teacher cover letter
A cover letter is a business letter, so use a traditional business letter to guide your elementary teacher cover letter format.
Here are some tips for formatting your cover letter for an elementary school teacher job:
- Start with a professionally designed cover letter template.
- Use only acceptable fonts, such as Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial in 11 or 12-point size. Unusual fonts like Comic Sans tend to confuse applicant tracking systems (ATS) that employers use to scan cover letters and resumes.
- Create one and ¼-inch margins on all sides of your document.
- Use single spacing with double spacing between paragraphs.
- Align all text to the left margin throughout your elementary teacher cover letter.
- Be concise. Your letter should contain 500 words maximum and fit on one page.
As our elementary teacher sample cover letter shows, you’ll want to include the following in your cover letter:
- A header with your name, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number and a link to your professional website or LinkedIn profile.
- The date.
- The recipient’s address and contact information.
- A greeting, like “Dear Alice Walters,” “Dear Principal Smith,” or “Dear HR Department.”
- An engaging opening paragraph introducing yourself, your experience as an elementary teacher and your job-relevant skills, such as adaptability, empathy and lesson planning.
- Two or three body paragraphs that describe your achievements like “In the last year, I have successfully increased student test scores by 15% and implemented engaging activities that resulted in a 20% improvement in classroom participation.”
- A closing paragraph with an invitation to connect. For example,
“In closing, I am excited to bring my passion for education, dedication to student success, and exceptional teaching skills to your school. I am confident I have the qualifications and experience to positively impact your students and school community. I look forward to meeting you soon to discuss my qualifications for this position. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
- A simple but professional signoff, like “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”
How to write an impressive cover letter for an elementary school teacher job
Start with a persuasive introduction
Don’t waste a potential employer’s time with a generic letter. Think of your elementary teacher cover letter introduction as an elevator pitch and draw them in immediately with a compelling opening paragraph. Set the tone by telling the hiring manager why you’re interested in the job and highlight why you’re the best candidate. Do so with enthusiasm and confidence in your abilities, and incorporate keywords from the job description to pass the ATS test and pique the hiring manager’s interest.
Here’s an example:
“When I saw your job ad for an elementary teacher experienced with diverse student populations and innovative teaching methods, I could not believe how much the job description matches my skills and work experience, so I jumped at the chance to apply. In my 10 years as an elementary teacher, I’ve worked with students with disabilities and advanced students in public and private institutions. In addition to traditional elementary teaching techniques, I’m experienced in project-based learning, gamification, personalized learning and inquiry-based methods.
Use accomplishments to showcase why you’re an excellent fit for the role
As you can see in our elementary teacher sample cover letter, the body of your cover letter should paint an in-depth picture of your career history and relevant skills while offering insight into your interests and values. But a cookie-cutter cover letter won’t pass muster. Make yours shine with measurable achievements.
Here’s what we mean:
“As a 4th grade teacher in my current school, I instituted a reading program that increased student test scores by 15% and implemented collaborative activities that resulted in a 35% improvement in classroom participation. I have also received recognition from my colleagues and school administration for my innovative teaching methods and have maintained a 98% parent satisfaction rate for the last five years”
Pro tip: Use action verbs like “demonstrate,” “prepare,” “nurture,” “engage” and “motivate” for impact.
Close with an invitation
Follow the lead of our elementary teacher cover letter example and use the final paragraph of your cover letter to reiterate your interest in the job. Then, thank the hiring manager for their time and invite them to connect.
For example: “I am excited about the opportunity to bring my passion for teaching and my proven track record of success to make a positive impact and contribute to the growth of the fifth grade students in The Crispin School. Thank you for considering my application. Please call me at your earliest convenience to talk about how we might work together.”
Ready to write your cover letter? Our Cover Letter Buildercan help you write an engaging, professional cover letter in no time, using expert-backed suggestions, step-by-step guidance, editing features, industry-specific examples and ATS-friendly templates.
Pair your elementary teacher cover letter with a matching resume
Elementary teacher cover letter FAQ
How to write a cover letter for an elementary teacher position?
Your cover letter needs to give the hiring manager a sense of who you are, clearly convey why you want this particular job and illustrate why you’re the best match for the position.
Here are six tips for writing an exceptional elementary teacher cover letter:
- Review the job requirements against your qualifications and then draw parallels in your letter.
- Detail relevant work achievements using numbers and percentages where possible.
- Highlight notable technical and interpersonal skills, while explaining how you could apply them to the role.
- Show that you’re serious and enthusiastic about the job, school, or institution by discussing what excites you about them.
- Before you send off your cover letter, proofread it.
- Use a professional cover letter template for an elementary teacher position and check out elementary teacher cover letter examples to get inspired.
How should I address my elementary school cover letter?
Use the hiring manager’s name in your cover letter salutation. Write out their name in full (for example, “Dear Susan Wong,”) and use titles like “Miss” or “Mrs” only if you are certain of the person’s gender. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, do some research to try to find it — check the school’s website, LinkedIn and other professional networking sites.
If you still can’t locate it, then use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Principal Stern.” You can also address your letter to a whole department — “Dear HR Department” or “Dear School Administrators,” for example — if it’s more appropriate. Whatever you do, don’t use an outdated, impersonal salutation like “To Whom It May Concern” and never use informal greetings like “Hello John,” or “Hi!”
How do you start a cover letter for an elementary teacher?
Start your elementary teacher cover letter with a bang to encourage the hiring manager to keep reading. Get a bit creative to keep the first three to four sentences intriguing: include an anecdote that highlights your enthusiasm for the role or passion for elementary education; reference a unique fact about the institution to show you’ve researched them; or drop the name of a respected colleague from the school.
Is it necessary to tailor my elementary school teacher cover letter for each school I apply to?
We recommend tailoring your elementary school teacher cover letter for each school you apply to. Researching the institution and understanding its values, mission, and needs allows you to highlight your relevant experiences and skills that align with the school’s requirements.
How do you write an elementary teacher cover letter with no experience?
No experience? No problem! Here are some tips for writing a professional elementary teacher cover letter with no experience
- Focus on your education, soft skills such as communication, organization, time management, and your passion for teaching.
- Highlight your relevant volunteer work, part-time gigs, coursework, certifications, or field experiences working with children.
- Emphasize your strong communication and organizational skills.
- Showcase your enthusiasm and dedication to teaching.
- Explain how you will bring creativity and innovation into the classroom.
Do’s and don’ts for building an elementary teacher cover
- Address the recruiter or hiring manager directly.
- Explain what attracted you to the school in one or two sentences.
- Customize your elementary teacher cover letter for the job.
- Include keywords from the job description throughout.
- End with a clear call to action.
- Proofread your cover letter more than once.
- Write a generic elementary teacher cover letter.
- Write more than one page.
- Use generic salutations, like “To Whom It May Concern.”
- Regurgitate your elementary teacher 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 teaching career
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- Language Professor Resume
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- English Teacher Resume
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- High School Teacher Resume
- Middle School Teacher Resume
- Elementary Teacher Resume
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Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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