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Elementary Teacher Cover Letter Examples, Tips & Templates for 2024

This page gives you examples and tips to write a professional elementary teacher cover letter that shows off your best teaching skills and experience.

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By Donna Wright 4 minute read

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Elementary teacher cover letter: 5 key tips

These five important tips can help you write a strong cover letter.

1

Feature your top abilities, specialties and qualifications up front

Each school has a specific set of teacher qualifications for the job role. Your cover letter needs to match those qualifications whether it be for abilities like lesson planning, instructional technology and project-based learning or specialties like ESL, special education, mathematics, physical education or foreign language. To be selected as a qualified candidate, submit a cover that addresses the specific demands of the prospective employer. You want the hiring manager to read your cover letter impressed with your matching qualifications.Don’t just repeat what your resume states. Instead, write a cover letter that complements your resume and expand on the highlights from your work history and specific set of skills. Hiring managers will read your resume, cover letter and job application simultaneously, so in your cover letter, give a glimpse into your nurturing personality and explain why you’re attracted to teach at that school.

2

Be specific about past achievements and top responsibilities

While most teachers will have similar college degrees and credentials, you need to be specific about your past achievements (like improving state test scores) and specialties (such as bilingual skills to introduce foreign language to the elementary school curriculum). The more specific you are, the better your chances of showing your unique skills to use in the classroom setting.

3

Tailor your letter to the specific teacher job

Hiring managers will know whether you carefully read the job description in the job posting. Demonstrate that you did by customizing your cover letter to show that you understand the role’s responsibilities. In detail, explain why you’re the right person to fulfill the job’s particular needs. Use keywords and skills outlined in the job description when describing your teaching ability to make sure the prospective school administrators recognize that you have the skill set necessary to be a strong addition to the faculty.

4

Present a mix of hard and soft skills

Elementary school teachers require an assortment of skills to effectively instruct and manage a third-grade classroom full of young minds. Be sure to feature hard skills (e.g., lesson planning or subject knowledge) that reflect the teaching job posting and soft skills (e.g., Communication skills, interpersonal skills or leadership skills) that reflect who you are as a teacher.

5

Proofread for grammar and accuracy

Attention to detail is crucial for a teacher so be sure to proofread your teacher cover letter carefully. Typos and grammatical errors will not make a good impression on hiring managers. Performing spell check with your word processing program like Microsoft Word may not always catch errors. Look for misuse of the words like, “your vs. you’re” and “teach vs. taught.”

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Write an elementary teacher cover letter in 5 steps

1. Cover letter header

Your heading is where a hiring manager will look to get your contact information to invite you for a job interview. Include the following information:

  • Your full name
  • Your location
  • Your phone number
  • Your professional email address
  • Your professional profiles like LinkedIn or any portfolio links

Example:

John Smith
123 Street Address
City name, ST ZipCode
JohnSmith@email.com
JohnSmithLinkedinaddress

2. Cover letter salutation

In your cover letter greeting, be sure to address your elementary school cover letter directly to the hiring manager’s name so you capture the hiring manager’s attention. A direct approach with a specific name is more effective than the alternative of using “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.” A generic salutation may make your cover letter appear untailored to the specific position.

Examples:

Dear Mr. Jones,

Dear Ms. Jones,

Dear Dr. Jones, 

3. Cover letter introductory paragraph

Use the first paragraph to immediately catch the recruiter’s attention through measurable stats that prove your performance as a teacher. Mention the exact amount of experience you have to help the hiring manager assess whether you’re right for the job. Match a key teaching accomplishment or skill to the role’s job description. When reading the first paragraph, a hiring manager should see that you have the right experience and abilities, inspiring them to continue reading.

Introductory paragraph example:

Recently named one of the “Top 20 Brown County Educators of 2023,” I am writing today to excitedly apply for the second grade teacher position with [school name]. I am confident that my five years of experience instructing 20+ first graders in public school has prepared me for providing instruction for the second graders in your outstanding private school.

4. Cover letter body paragraph(s)

In your body paragraphs, give more information about how you’re the best fit for the job. Mention some of the key responsibilities that you performed while working and how each contributed to your professional development. You should then explain why you think this could be beneficial for the particular school. Try to reference any tangible effect you had on children’s education in this section. This shows that your teaching has quantifiable results.

These paragraphs of your cover letter are also your chance to get more in-depth about your key skills. If you don’t have a lot of experience in a teaching position, displaying the right skills is crucial for your job application. Use the job posting to pick out the skills you should reference in both your professional cover letter and resume.

Body paragraph example:

My experience includes five years of providing traditional and innovative classroom instruction to more than 200 students ages 3-10. I have created and implemented engaging lessons and teaching practices to inspire critical thinking, and hold my students to the highest of academic standards as proven in a 99% passing rate on math, reading and science state tests. I promote a collaborative, creativity-driven culture. I also have experience in mentoring young teachers to ensure they transition effectively and get the most out of their career with a focus on providing the best possible education for their students. 

I am highly organized and able to pay attention to detail. I am an excellent communicator, highly motivated and have excellent interpersonal skills to provide to students in a variety of situations. My commitment to a quality education would make me an asset to your school team.

5. Cover letter closing and sign-off

Your cover letter should conclude by thanking the hiring manager for their time, reiterating your enthusiasm for the specific role and making a powerful call to action. Encourage the hiring manager to contact you for more information and invite you to a job interview. You can do this by writing, “I look forward to discussing this position with you further.” Sign off your letter with a formal closing such as “Sincerely” or “Best Regards”.

Closing/sign-off example:

I greatly appreciate you taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to speaking with you further regarding how I can make a difference in your second-grade classroom and throughout the school. Thank you again.

Sincerely,

John Smith

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21 key skills for an elementary teacher cover letter

Here are 21 key skills for a teacher:

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FAQ: Elementary teacher cover letter

Have questions? We’re here to help.

To make your cover letter for elementary teacher stand out, show how your exemplary skills and experience combine with your enthusiasm for the teaching industry, making you a top candidate. Instead of ticking off daily tasks similar to those of other teachers, feature yur stand-out achievements like being awarded “Teacher of the Year” or improving state test scores from a 75% to 98% passing rate. Emphasize your unique hard skills like going out of your way to provide individualized instruction based on a student’s learning capacity or creating out-of-the-box, engaging lesson plans that involve art and music along with extra special soft skills like compassion, empathy and active listening to build relationships with students. For inspiration to write your letter, look at the elementary teacher cover letter examples on this page.

Follow these steps to write a cover letter for elementary teacher:

  • Include a prominent cover letter header with your full name, phone number, email address and location.
  • Direct the salutation to the hiring manager’s name, not a general salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager.”
  • Begin with a strong hook that mentions the job position along with a key teaching accomplishment or teaching moment.
  • In the body paragraphs, call attention to your teaching experience through specific achievements, measurable accomplishments from your teaching career.
  • Finish strong with a call to action for a job interview. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their consideration and reiterate your enthusiasm for the particular teaching position.

The elementary teacher cover letter examples on this page make a great foundation for you to begin writing your cover letter.

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing in response to the job posting for the fourth-grade elementary school teacher position available at [school name]. My three years of experience teaching fourth grade at [school name] has provided me with the special skills necessary to instruct, entertain and manage 25 high-spirited nine-year-olds. 

I acquired my Bachelor of Education degree from the University of [School Name] and I am one semester away from acquiring my masters degree in education. As a fourth-grade teacher, I’ve used my proficiency in technology like Google Classroom and Edmodo to support the teaching of various topics. I continuously strive to help my students learn and develop skills essential for life inside and outside the classroom. Through strong communication skills and excellent organizational abilities, I strive to set up a positive and motivating environment to help all learners succeed. I have a solid understanding of the district curriculum, and I am committed to working collaboratively with colleagues, parents and administrators. 

Thank you for your consideration. I am excited at the opportunity to use my skills in the classroom at [school name] and help foster a positive learning environment for every student. I am confident that I would make a valuable addition to the school faculty and look forward to discussing my fit and qualifications further.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Here’s some major mistakes to avoid when writing your cover letter:

  • Do not bad mouth your current or previous employer to explain why you’re looking for a new position.
  • Don’t include non-relevant information because a cover letter has a limited amount of space to use.
  • Since a cover letter is a professional job search document, avoid any slang terms or over-casual language.
  • Even if you’re not sure you’re 100% qualified, do not show lack of confidence in your cover letter. Emphasize the traits, abilities and experiences that show you have the potential to succeed. And equally important, do not mention your required salary or that you’re desperate to land a job.

Yes! Cover letters are an essential part of your job application. These letters allow you to talk about your skills, experience and special qualities in much greater depth. It also gives a glimpse into your personality to let hiring managers get to know you on a more personal level.

If you’re a newly qualified teacher with little employment experience or looking for a student teacher role, then you can still produce a good cover letter. Instead of focusing on employment history, you can talk about your educational achievements, volunteering experience and other skills that you expect the hiring manager will be interested in.

Try to feature examples of how you’ve used your skills and training that relate directly to the role; this opens the door to the hiring manager following up with more questions about this in an interview. 

Here’s five quick ways you can improve your cover letter (and resume):

  1. Use resume examples to help you select the right professional font. 
  2. Use a resume builder to simplify your writing process. 
  3. Use a cover letter builder to help keep your cover letter short.
  4. Match keywords describing the required skills and qualifications in the job posting.
  5. Proofread your final documents to ensure there are no spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors.

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Donna Wright Profile
WRITTEN BY Donna Wright

Donna is a career expert with extensive experience in the fields of Marketing, Publishing, Direct Mail and Communications. She’s witnessed firsthand the importance of a powerful resume and cover letter to a job search, so she takes great pride in helping change the lives of job seekers by sharing expert career advice and tips to help land the perfect job.

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