How to Write a Cover Letter for a Teaching Position
Trying to land a job as a teacher can be tough in many areas of the country. Given recession-era budget cuts, school districts are often trimming payrolls even as colleges of education continue producing increased numbers of graduates. Competition is stiff, especially post-sequestration. As an added challenge, the increasing focus on standardized test scores and education statistics may dissuade many school districts from hiring fresh-out-of-college teachers, preferring instead to recruit veterans of the classroom. So what can you do to improve your chances of landing a teaching job?
In any cover letter for a teaching job, be sure to highlight work experience rather than your teaching certification. Since everyone applying for a certified teaching position has such certification, you would be better off emphasizing quickly what sets you apart from the pack. If you are a veteran educator, what experience would be good for this specific job or this specific district? If you are a new teacher, what skills, interests, or experiences make you the best choice for the job? For example, focus on discussing your experiences substitute teaching and student-teaching rather than your college of education courses - most of your competition took similar courses, after all!
Secondly, mention what attracts you to the school district for which you are applying. Many teachers seeking jobs will "spray and pray" and canvass swathes of a state with cover letters and applications, relying on simplistic letters that allow them to "copy-and-paste" different names of schools, districts, and job titles. Hiring managers will likely appreciate cover letters that are well-written and tailored to the district, showing that an applicant has done research on the area. An applicant willing to prepare for a well-written cover letter is more likely to better prepare for his or her job.
Third, emphasize passion and motivation. Explain why you want to be teaching in that position and how your energy and diligence will translate into better teaching. Do not play the stereotypical public school bureaucrat, only mentioning your credentials and experience. In an era of societal focus on education performance, school districts want teachers who are willing to go above and beyond traditional expectations. Parents want their children taught by teachers who want to excel, not simply be adequate.
Finally, make sure to provide professional-sounding, up-to-date contact information and inform that you are always available for an interview. Since most teacher hiring either occurs during brief periods, such as part of the summer or on an emergency basis during a school year, interviews may happen at a moment's notice. Including in your cover letter that you have an open or very flexible schedule may get you moved to the top of the stack. An applicant who sounds too busy or inflexible, despite being imminently qualified for the job, may not receive a phone call because the hiring personnel do not want to hassle with complex scheduling during an extremely busy period.
