There’s no shortage of demand for quality educators, but to secure a position in your ideal school district, you need to build a strong student teacher cover letter to complement your resume. Emphasize your genuine passion for education and highlight the methodologies you’ve used to help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our guide features examples and expert tips to help you craft an accomplishment-driven cover letter and land your first teaching position.
Student Teacher Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Student Teacher Cover Letter
A great student teacher cover letter has five main elements:
1. Heading. Use a professional template to enhance the style and presentation of your cover letter. Be sure your heading includes:
- Your name, title, and contact info
- The current date
- The addressee’s details
2. Salutation. Greet the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”
3. Introduction. To grab the reader’s attention, open your cover letter with one of your proudest career achievements. While this may be difficult for a student teacher due to limited work experience, it’s essential to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. If possible, feature an accomplishment you can quantify using academic data or other metrics, immediately sending a message you have the teaching acumen to succeed in the position.
Example
As a student teacher at Amherst High School, I delivered first-year language arts courses to four classes of over 30 high school students. I also developed engaging lesson plans to aid students in developing critical analysis skills and acquiring a broader understanding of literary themes and historical significance. My ability to improve student engagement will allow me to thrive in the high school teacher position at your school.
4. Body paragraphs. These should continue to feature achievements from your student teaching experience. Start by mentioning something specific about the school’s reputation, values, or mission statement and how this aligns with your background. Emphasize your ability to collaborate with faculty and build positive relationships with parents and students. Consider adding a list of bullet points to break up the text on the page and enhance the reading experience.
Example
Newark Elementary’s reputation for delivering high-quality experiential instruction strongly aligns with me as an education professional. My ability to utilize multiple learning modalities to reach students will be an asset to your organization based on my past career achievements:
- Utilized differentiated and experiential instruction techniques to foster engagement across three fourth-grade classrooms, which resulted in a 10% increase in grade point averages for reading
- Collaborated with faculty and school administration to support the transition from in-classroom instruction to virtual learning, which included developing classroom management strategies for e-learning settings and Zoom classrooms
- Attended regular meetings with parents and students to discuss academic progress
5. Closing section. Think of your conclusion as a call to action. Ask the hiring manager to contact you so you can learn more about the position. Be sure to thank them for their time and consideration.
Example
I would like to schedule an interview to provide more details regarding how my expertise in differentiated instruction can help drive student success for your learning institution. Feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience for any questions you may have regarding my experience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Paul Dimarco
Student Teacher Cover Letter Tips
1. Quantify your teaching achievements
Although it may be challenging to incorporate student data and metrics into your cover letter as a student teacher, it’s important to quantify your achievements whenever possible. This adds a new dimension to your accomplishments and illustrates your capacity for driving both academic and emotional growth for your students. In the example below, the candidate specifically focuses on how their teaching strategies helped increase grade point averages:
- Utilized differentiated and experiential instruction techniques to foster engagement across three fourth-grade classrooms, which resulted in a 10% increase in grade point averages for reading
- Collaborated with faculty and school administration to support the transition from in-classroom instruction to virtual learning, which included developing classroom management strategies for e-learning settings and Zoom classrooms
- Attended regular meetings with parents and students to discuss academic progress
2. Emphasize your interpersonal skills
Communicating effectively with students, parents, and faculty is a key aspect of being a successful teacher for any grade level. As you build your cover letter, be sure to provide tangible examples that demonstrate your interpersonal skills. In the example below, the candidate showcases how they utilized positive reinforcement strategies to improve student conduct and behavior in the classroom:
- Created dynamic lessons to drive cognitive development and emotional growth, including designing activities that combined math lessons and sports to drive student engagement
- Communicated with parents to discuss student progress, behavioral issues, and learning strategies to facilitate academic and personal growth
- Oversaw all aspects of classroom management and utilized positive reinforcement strategies to improve student conduct
3. Tailor your cover letter to the school you’re applying to
A generic cover letter rarely generates the results you’re looking for during the job search. Before applying for a position, take the time to research the organization you’re targeting and demonstrate how your background and values align with the school. In the example below, the applicant mentions specific aspects of the high school’s English program and explains how they can engage and challenge students to excel:
Falmouth High School has a reputation for providing high-quality English courses that challenge and engage student minds, which strongly aligns with my background as an educator. I can continue to help improve the English program at your high school based on the following achievements from my career:
Student Teacher Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Paul Dimarco
Student Teacher | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Wilmington, DE 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Andrew Carter
Hiring Manager
Newark Elementary
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Carter,
As a student teacher at Wilmington Elementary, I taught language arts, math, and science lessons to classes of 20-25 fourth-grade students. I monitored student performance over the course of the year and utilized differentiated instruction to drive academic growth. My secondary education background will help me excel as the new elementary school teacher with your organization.
Newark Elementary’s reputation for delivering high-quality experiential instruction strongly aligns with me as an education professional. My ability to use multiple learning modalities to reach students will be an asset to your organization based on my past career achievements:
- Utilized differentiated and experiential instruction techniques to foster engagement across three fourth-grade classrooms, which resulted in a 10% increase in grade point averages for reading
- Collaborated with faculty and school administration to support the transition from in-classroom instruction to virtual learning, which included developing classroom management strategies for e-learning settings and Zoom classrooms
- Attended regular meetings with parents and students to discuss academic progress
I would like to schedule an interview to provide more details regarding how my expertise in differentiated instruction can help drive student success for your learning institution. Feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience for any questions you may have regarding my experience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Paul Dimarco
Student Teacher Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I include a student teacher cover letter?-
Even if a job application lists the cover letter as optional, going the extra mile to write one can help increase your odds of landing the interview. This allows you to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager and express passion for education using a more personal approach, which may help differentiate you from other candidates.
How long should my cover letter be?-
The ideal length for a cover letter is roughly between 200 to 400 words, limited to three or four strong paragraphs. Hiring managers have limited bandwidth to thoroughly review each applicant, so it’s important to keep your content focused on the most compelling and relevant aspects of your teaching experience.
Should I use artificial intelligence to write my cover letter?-
It’s generally not advisable to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT to build your cover letter. While you could potentially use AI as a starting point, allowing it to write all your content will normally result in a generic, uninspiring document. Remember, the goal of the cover letter is to tell more of your story as an education professional, and the best way to accomplish this is through your own unique voice.
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