How to Write a Substitute Teacher Resume
Your resume can be a powerful instrument to finding job opportunities in education. With this guide, you’ll learn how to create a persuasive resume that shows your skills, experiences, and passion for teaching. We’ll give you examples of substitute teacher resumes and show you how to align yours with the specific roles you’re pursuing. Follow our expert tips and strategies to enhance your chances of standing out from the competition and landing the teaching jobs you desire.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Catch hiring managers’ interest with a brief summary of your top qualifications. As a substitute teacher, focus on your adaptability, classroom management skills, and passion for educating students. Also, review the job posting and mirror relevant keywords that show you’re suited to the role. Customizing your profile to each position reveals your dedication and willingness to learn more about the school.
Senior-Level Profile Example:
Substitute Teacher with strong experience providing math instruction in San Francisco high schools. Skilled at tailoring lesson plans to the needs of students with SEN and English as a second language. Draw on broad knowledge of the math curriculum to quickly generate lesson plans when called in on short notice. Master of Science in Education.
Entry-Level Profile Example:
Dedicated Substitute Teacher with one year of experience delivering high-quality cover lessons for all elementary grades. Firm grasp of the elementary curriculum, with excellent math and English subject knowledge. Quickly build rapport with unfamiliar classes and help students succeed, including those with SEN. Master’s Degree in Education from California State University.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Use your experience section to give examples of your success helping provide students with a consistent, high-quality education. Try to quantify that experience with tangible evidence of your contributions in the classroom. You can add depth and credibility to your achievements with relevant metrics like the number of students you taught or the frequency of successful lesson plans.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example:
Substitute Teacher, San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, CA | September 2015 to Present
- Deliver high-quality math lessons to grades 9-12 at various high schools
- Maintain 94% average approval rate with permanent teachers
- Adapt teaching strategies to each student’s requirements, including those with barriers to learning
- Use existing schemes of work to plan last-minute sessions when cover plans aren’t available
- Apply effective classroom management methods to ensure students behave and engage with each lesson
- Set clear expectations for students, and maintain and enforce all classroom rules
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example:
Substitute Teacher, School Professionals, San Francisco, CA | September 2021 to Present
- Deliver engaging lessons across entire curriculum to grades K-5, with an average classroom count of 22
- Use positive classroom management techniques to ensure good student behavior at all points
- Plan and assign differentiated homework tasks to support learning outside class
- Adapt provided lesson plans to students’ unique learning needs
- Grade classwork and perform on-the-spot assessments to provide helpful feedback to regular class teachers
- Maintain a tidy and organized class environment, and update displays on longer-term placements to reflect current learning and highlight student achievements
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Demonstrate your credentials by highlighting your bachelor’s or any other degrees you’ve earned. Under each degree, feel free to list course names or topics that reflect the knowledge base you can apply in each substitute teaching assignment. You can also show you’re dedicated to quality instruction by citing any licenses, certificates, or specialized training programs you’ve completed.
Below are templates and examples to help you format this information on your resume.
Certifications
Template: [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Substitute License, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, 2022
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[SCHOOL NAME], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Dates Enrolled – optional]
[Course Names or Topics – optional]
Example:
Master of Science (MS) — Education
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, East Bay, CA
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Include a key skills section to show your readiness to handle varied class environments and provide flexible support to students and educators. Below are some of the skills you could use on your substitute teacher resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Classroom Management | Conflict Management & Resolution |
| Creative Problem-Solving | Differentiated Learning |
| First Aid | Learning Assessment |
| Parent-Teacher Communications | Public Speaking |
| Special Education | Student Learning & Engagement |
| Student Records Management | Task Prioritization |
| Team Collaboration | Technology Integration |
| Time Management | Work Planning & Scheduling |
How to Pick the Best Substitute Teacher Resume Template
For substitute teachers, the best resume template is clean and organized, allowing your skills and achievements to shine. Simplicity and readability will help you make a strong impression on potential employers. Choose a template with clear sections to feature your professional experience, education, and relevant skills. Remember to customize the template to your style while keeping it professional and easy to navigate.
Substitute Teacher Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Kaleb Atkins
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA 09876 | LinkedIn
Profile
Dedicated Substitute Teacher with one year of experience delivering high-quality cover lessons for all elementary grades. Firm grasp of the elementary curriculum, with excellent math and English subject knowledge. Quickly build rapport with unfamiliar classes and help students succeed, including those with SEN. Master’s Degree in Education from California State University.
Key Skills
- Creating an inclusive, purposeful learning environment for every child
- Devising relevant, high-quality class sessions when cover plans are unavailable
- Providing targeted feedback and informal assessments to help drive student progress
Professional Experience
Substitute Teacher, School Professionals, San Francisco, CA | September 2021 to Present
- Deliver engaging lessons across entire curriculum to grades K-5, with an average classroom count of 22
- Use positive classroom management techniques to ensure good student behavior at all points
- Plan and assign differentiated homework tasks to support learning outside class
- Adapt provided lesson plans to students’ unique learning needs
- Grade classwork and perform on-the-spot assessments to provide helpful feedback to regular class teachers
- Maintain a tidy and organized class environment, and update displays on longer-term placements to reflect current learning and highlight student achievements
Education
California State University
- Master of Arts (MA) – Education, Fullerton, CA | 2019
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Theatre, Northridge, CA | 2015
Jessica Green
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Boston, MA 12345 | LinkedIn
Profile
Reliable and versatile Substitute Teacher with 8+ years of experience across K-12 and special education. Preferred substitute teacher at several Boston-area schools, based on strong class management and ability to take jobs on short notice. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Key Skills
- Classroom Management
- Parent-Teacher Communications
- Special Education
- Student Learning & Engagement
- Student Records Management
- Task Prioritization
Professional Experience
Substitute Teacher, Southern Boston Educational District, Boston, MA | September 2016 to Present
- Fulfill short- and long-term teaching engagements at various schools and across grades K-12
- Take regular temporary after-school positions coaching gymnastics and cheerleading
- Received 92% positive feedback from all teachers
- Earned two commendations from principals for going above and beyond standard job duties
Substitute Teacher, Orlando Educational District, Orlando, FL | September 2014 to July 2016
- Stepped in to run after-school coaching for volleyball, gymnastics, and cheerleading
- Selected for long-term substitute teaching positions at three schools
- Appointed to 6-month engagement covering for a special education teacher
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) — English (minor in Spanish), The University of Orlando, FL | 2014
Languages
Fluency in Spanish | Advanced proficiency in Italian
Beverly Whittington
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA 98765 | LinkedIn
Profile
Substitute Teacher with strong experience providing math instruction in San Francisco high schools. Skilled at tailoring lesson plans to the needs of students with SEN and English as a second language. Draw on broad knowledge of the math curriculum to quickly generate lesson plans when called in on short notice. Master of Science in Education.
Key Skills
- Classroom Management
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Differentiated Learning
- Mathematics
- Positive Behavior Management
- Special Education
- Student Records Management
- Support Staff Direction & Deployment
Professional Experience
Substitute Teacher, San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, CA | September 2015 to Present
- Deliver high-quality math lessons to grades 9-12 at various high schools
- Maintain 94% average approval rate with permanent teachers
- Adapt teaching strategies to each student’s requirements, including those with barriers to learning
- Use existing schemes of work to plan last-minute sessions when cover plans aren’t available
- Apply effective classroom management methods to ensure students behave and engage with each lesson
- Set clear expectations for students, and maintain and enforce all classroom rules
Math Teacher, Gateway High School, San Francisco, CA | September 2009 to July 2015
[High school with 400 students and an award-winning math and science program]
- Planned differentiated schemes of work and individual lesson plans pitched to all ability levels
- Undertook formal and informal assessments to track student progress and inform planning
- Trained new teachers on effective classroom management and lesson delivery
- Ran an extracurricular club to drive student engagement and nurture talent
Education
- Master of Science (MS) — Education, California State University, East Bay, CA
- Bachelor of Science (BS) – Mathematics, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Frequently Asked Questions: Substitute Teacher Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for Substitute Teacher resumes? +
As you write your resume experience section, use action verbs that convey a dynamic and proactive approach to teaching. These verbs will infuse energy into your bullet points, helping you keep hiring managers’ attention and highlight your contributions in the classroom. Consider using some of the following verbs in your substitute teacher resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Arrange |
| Collaborate | Communicate |
| Cover | Create |
| Decrease | Develop |
| Distribute | Educate |
| Enforce | Enhance |
| Ensure | Fill in |
| Follow | Improve |
| Increase | Instruct |
| Listen | Maintain |
| Manage | Mediate |
| Monitor | Organize |
| Oversee | Plan |
| Prepare | Prevent |
| Provide | Record |
| Reduce | Resolve |
| Supervise | Teach |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?+
The job outlook for short-term substitute teachers is healthy, with a projected increase of 8 percent (or more than 32,000 new jobs) between 2021 and 2031. If you have a specific job opening you plan to apply for, we recommend you tailor your resume accordingly. Study the job post text and extract keywords, language, and specific skills that overlap with your background. Then, try to incorporate these points on your resume – in particular, the profile and key skills sections. Customizing your resume boosts the odds that you’ll stand out to hiring managers as a great fit for their school community.
What is the best substitute teacher resume format? +
In nearly all cases, you should use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume, because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also easiest for you to align with your job goals.
With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should include a Profile summary and Key Skills section, and you may also add a Career Highlights or Awards section. By carefully choosing the details for these intro sections, you can (a) position yourself for your target job, and (b) give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
A persuasive cover letter will increase your chances of an interview. To create a compelling cover letter, you’ll want to tailor it to each school you apply to. Learn how to build your own with our professional substitute teacher cover letter guide. For additional cover letter examples in related occupations, check out our guides for teachers and tutors.
