A great elementary teacher cover letter should capture your unique story and experience as an educator by featuring your most defining achievements. Emphasize your ability to improve the quality of education and facilitate both academic and emotional student growth. This guide provides expert tips and examples to help you build an eye-catching cover letter.
Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write an Elementary Teacher Cover Letter
The key to writing a great elementary teacher cover letter is to tailor your content toward individual job opportunities. As you review the job description, pay close attention to the instructional techniques and teaching strategies the school employs. Keep these terms in the back of your mind during the writing process, and feature tangible examples of you employing these teaching methodologies throughout your career. Below, we’ll provide guidance to build each section of your elementary teacher cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
In the header of your elementary teacher cover letter, list your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. This allows potential employers to easily reach you for interview opportunities. It’s also important to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. This shows that you’ve taken the time to research the company before applying, which demonstrates your genuine enthusiasm for the position. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use some variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” as an alternative.
2. Introduction
Build a powerful introduction to set the tone for your elementary teacher cover letter. Because hiring managers have limited bandwidth to review each application thoroughly, it’s important to grab their attention as quickly as possible. Feature your years of experience in education and highlight specific instructional techniques that match the school you’re applying to. Convey your passion for teaching and emphasize the positive impact you’ve had on the social, academic, and emotional growth of your students.
Example
I’m reaching out in regard to the third-grade teacher position with North Philadelphia Charter School. During my six years as an educator, I’ve increased goal attainment for students from 75% to 83% using a variety of innovative teaching strategies. I can achieve similar success for your learning institution in this position.
3. Body paragraphs
In the body paragraphs of your elementary teacher cover letter, highlight your most notable achievements in education. Start by mentioning something specific about the school’s reputation or mission statement and why this entices you to apply for the role. Incorporate numbers and hard data to demonstrate how you’ve helped to improve student performance and facilitate long-term growth. Demonstrate your ability to build positive relationships with parents, faculty, and multidisciplinary education teams.
Example
North Philadelphia Charter School’s mission of fostering student growth through technology and arts draws me to apply for this opportunity. Throughout my career, I’ve collaborated with faculty and parents to improve education equity by improving access to learning technology and artistic programs. I am confident I can provide quality education to your students based on previous successes:
- Managed a classroom with 20 to 25 third-grade students, developed curriculum and group learning activities to facilitate academic growth and enrichment, and successfully increased goal attainment for students from 75% to 83%
- Established a positive classroom environment centered on diversity and inclusion
- Collaborated with faculty and parents to lead diversity initiatives to support equity in education, including the implementation of holistic learning methodologies
4. Elementary teacher skills and qualifications
Instead of providing a list of skills on your elementary teacher cover letter, tactically integrate key terms and instructional techniques into your paragraphs. Although much of this information has already been featured on your resume, you can use this as an opportunity to show potential employers how you’ve applied cutting-edge teaching strategies to support your students. Below, we’ve compiled a list of elementary teacher skills to consider adding to your document:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Behavioral analysis | Classroom management |
| Communication | Cooperative learning |
| Curriculum development | Differentiated instruction |
| Education technology | E-learning |
| English as a Second Language (ESL) | Holistic learning |
| Individualized education plans (IEPs) | Interactive learning |
| Lesson planning | Secondary education |
| Student advocacy | Student assessment |
| Student-centered learning | Teaching |
| Team leadership | Tutoring |
5. Closing section
Think of the closing paragraph of your elementary teacher cover letter as a call to action that invites the hiring manager to interview you. Reinforce how your unique background in elementary education can help their students grow academically and emotionally. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence.
Example
I look forward to speaking with you further about how my knowledge of holistic learning methodologies can benefit your students and organization. Feel free to contact me via phone or email for any additional questions you may have about my background. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mina Sayed
Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Tips
1. Quantify your teaching achievements
Incorporating hard numbers, student data, and metrics can help elevate your cover letter and differentiate you from other candidates during the job search. This sends a clear message to hiring managers that you have a proven track record of helping students grow and excel academically. For example, you might feature goal attainment metrics for a specific school year or a notable increase in average test scores.
2. Feature specific instructional techniques and methodologies
Be sure to demonstrate your experience using various types of instructional techniques and learning methodologies in your cover letter. Focus on teaching strategies mentioned specifically in the job description. This shows prospective employers you’re up to date on cutting-edge trends in education.
3. Highlight communication and interpersonal skills
Building relationships with students, faculty, and parents is a critical aspect of being an effective teacher. As you build your cover letter, emphasize your interpersonal skills using tangible examples from your career. For example, you might showcase your ability to interface with diverse student populations and ensure safe and inclusive learning environments.
Elementary Teacher Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Mina Sayed
Elementary Teacher | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Philadelphia, PA 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Pat Martin
Senior Hiring Manager
North Philadelphia Charter School
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Pat Martin,
I’m reaching out about the third-grade teacher position with North Philadelphia Charter School. During my six years as an educator, I’ve increased goal attainment for students from 75% to 83% using a variety of innovative teaching strategies. I can achieve similar success for your learning institution in this position.
North Philadelphia Charter School’s mission of fostering student growth through technology and arts draws me to apply for this opportunity. Throughout my career, I’ve collaborated with faculty and parents to improve education equity by improving access to learning technology and artistic programs. I am confident I can provide quality education to your students based on previous successes:
- Managed a classroom with 20 to 25 third-grade students, developed curriculum and group learning activities to facilitate academic growth and enrichment, and successfully increased goal attainment for students from 75% to 83%
- Established a positive classroom environment centered on diversity and inclusion
- Collaborated with faculty and parents to lead diversity initiatives to support equity in education, including the implementation of holistic learning methodologies
I look forward to speaking with you further about how my knowledge of holistic learning methodologies can benefit your students and organization. Feel free to contact me via phone or email for any additional questions you may have about my background. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely
Mina Sayed
Elementary Teacher Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I include an elementary teacher cover letter?-
Cover letters often carry more weight in education than in other industries. Schools want to ensure the person they’re hiring is the right fit for their institution. Mentioning something specific about the organization’s reputation or mission statement makes cover letters valuable in this situation, as you wouldn’t normally include these types of details on a resume.
How do I make my elementary teacher cover letter stand out?-
To make your cover letter stand out during the job search, avoid listing generic work responsibilities and relying on buzzwords. Tell your unique story as an educator and how you’ve positively impacted the lives of your students. This will help you make a lasting impression on the reader and increase your chances of landing the interview.
How long should my cover letter be?-
It’s typically best to keep your cover letter concise and focused, limited to no more than three or four paragraphs. If your document is too long, you run the risk of overwhelming the reader. Submitting a well-written, concise cover letter ensures that the hiring manager’s attention is drawn to your most defining achievements.
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