Experienced and certified Elementary School Teacher with over 5 years of experience teaching in diverse elementary classroom settings. Effective communicator proficient in developing and delivering lesson plans that emphasize Common Core Standards and positive results. Adept in using differentiated curriculum to address the various learning styles and needs of students, while ensuring information retention. Employing excellent classroom management techniques conducive to creating an environment best suited for learning and growing. Cooperative faculty member who productively collaborates with all levels of school staff, as well as with the families of students.
09/2013 - 06/2019, Kindergarten Teacher, The Hill School, San Francisco
- Create a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum for kindergarten students.
- Facilitate meaningful learning experiences.
- Engage students by using points of interest and familiar topics.
- Differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners.
- Establish and share classroom rules to ensure everyone's safety and happiness.
- Communicate classroom news with parents/guardians via a weekly newsletter.
09/2010 - 06/2013, 3rd Grade Teacher, St. Ann's School, San Francisco
- Created a comprehensive and stimulating curriculum appropriate for the goals of 3rd grade students.
- Worked to create a warm and welcoming classroom environment, conducive to learning.
- Collaborated with teachers and other school staff to best support the needs of students.
- Communicated with parents and family members of students in a positive and constructive way.
- Used progressive and positive re-enforcement techniques to motivate and support students.
- Fostered positive relationships with students and encouraged them every step of the way.
08/2009 - 01/2011, Master of Science in Teaching, Ashford University, San Diego
- Graduated with a 4.0 GPA
08/2005 - 06/2009, Bachelor of Literature, University of Texas, Austin
- Graduated Summa Cum Laude
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Lesson Plans
- Modified Teaching Techniques
- Excellent Communication Skills
Elementary school teachers hold a special place in children’s lives. You probably even remember a few teachers from your own formative years. Now you’re looking to make a difference in the lives of little ones. Your credentials are in order and you need an A+ resume to go with it.
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An elementary teacher resume should inspire confidence in your ability to lead classrooms and nurture young minds. It should be clear, professional, and tailored to a school’s needs, showing a principal or administrator why you’re the perfect teacher to fill a vacant classroom.
Your resume should also reflect your teaching style, accomplishments, and passion for educating young students. With the right resume, you can make a lasting impression—just like a great teacher.
Guide for an elementary teacher resume example
With resume.io, you can build an elementary school teacher resume that covers the common core standards. Find helpful advice with over 500 resume examples and writing guides. You can also use our resume builder tool to create your resume without the hassle.
This resume guide and elementary teacher resume example will cover the following:
- How to write an elementary school teacher resume
- The right resume format for elementary teachers
- Adding your contact information
- How to write a memorable resume summary
- Listing your teaching skills, experience, and education
- How to choose the best resume design and layout
- The job market and earning potential for elementary teachers
How to write an elementary teacher resume
Step one in crafting your elementary school teaching resume is knowing what information to include. Just as your lesson plans follow a standard format, your resume should also contain some essential details.
Your elementary school teacher resume should include these sections:
- A resume header
- A resume summary (also known as a profile)
- An employment history section
- A resume skills section
- An education section
A well-written resume can instruct a principal or administrator about why you’re the best person to lead a classroom. Your resume should show the hiring team that you have what it takes to shape young lives.
Follow these tips as you write your elementary teacher resume:
- Research the school and district. Study the school’s website to learn about its educational philosophy, teaching methods, and extracurricular activities. Use this information to focus your resume on the school’s needs.
- Differentiate your resume. If you’re applying to multiple schools, customize your resume for each application. Align your resume to each school to show why you’re the perfect fit. For example, a private Montessori school will have different teaching needs and styles than a public elementary school.
- Use your connections. Do you know someone who works in the district where you’re applying? Ask them questions about what administrators value in teachers. You can use these insights to tailor your resume appropriately.
- Include keywords on your resume. Review the job description carefully and incorporate keywords throughout your resume, especially in your skills and work experience sections.
Ace the ATS
Many schools, including public school districts, use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen teaching candidates. This software uses algorithms to scan and rank resumes based on certain factors, including target keywords and phrases. Study the job description and include relevant keywords on your resume to show that you have the qualities a school needs.
For example, an elementary teacher job posting may list these requirements:
- Knowledge of literary and math instruction
- Classroom management skills
- Experience leading diverse classrooms
If you’re applying for this job, you can adjust your resume summary to include these keywords:
Dedicated and driven elementary teacher with over 4 years of experience leading diverse classrooms in a public school district. Skilled in literary and math instruction with exceptional classroom management skills.
For more tips and advice, read our article on resume ATS optimization.
Choosing the right format for an elementary school teacher resume
For your elementary school teaching resume, it’s best to stick with a traditional resume format. In most cases, that means using a reverse-chronological format, which lists your most recent teaching job first. This resume style shows hiring managers your classroom experience and career progression.
If you’re looking for your first job or changing careers, you may want to consider an alternate format, such as the functional resume style. A functional resume highlights your transferable skills, such as communication and conflict resolution.
A hybrid (or combination) resume may also be a good choice in some situations. This format equally emphasizes your skills and your relevant experience. Use a h ybrid resume format if you want to showcase your unique skills or if you have employment gaps in your work history.
Not sure which format you want to use? Look through our resume templates to find one that works for you. You can also view the different formats by exploring our resume examples.
Include your contact information
At the beginning of the school year, you immediately introduce yourself to your new students. Your resume header serves the same purpose. It needs to tell hiring managers who you are and how to contact you.
In your header, include these details:
- Full name and title. Provide your name and your job title, such as “Fifth Grade Teacher.”
- Professional email address. Keep it simple and appropriate, such as firstname.lastname@email.com.
- Phone number. Include the phone number where a recruiter can reach you easily.
- Location. Only provide your city and state, not your full mailing address. If you’re able to move for a job, also write “ Willing to relocate.”
- LinkedIn. Include your LinkedIn page if it’s up to date with your teaching experience and credentials.
Don’t include these details:
- Age or date of birth. This information can lead to potential age discrimination.
- Personal information. There’s no need to include your marital status, Social Security number, or other personal details.
- Photo or headshot. You don’t need to include a headshot on your elementary teacher resume.
Mariah Whitman
Elementary School Teacher
m.whitman@email.com
(930) 555-4018
Boise, ID
Mariah Whitman
Teaching Rockstar!
crochet_enthusiast.2394@email.com
(930) 555-4018 or (930) 555-1739 (husband’s phone)
123 Cottonwood Ave, Boise, ID
Social Security #: 111-22-3333
Write a resume summary or profile
When you meet a student’s parent or guardian, you probably tell them a little about who you are, your teaching style, and your experience. The summary, or profile, of your elementary teacher resume should do the same.
Put your best foot forward with a unique detail or accomplishment. For example, you may insert an anecdote about a past student’s success or highlight data showing how you’ve helped students progress in their education.
Your summary can also include a statement about your teaching philosophy. It’s best if you can match the school’s educational style, but make sure that you’re representing yourself accurately. Include strong descriptive language to give hiring managers a sense of your professional personality and impact.
In your summary, don’t repeat information you list elsewhere on your resume. Use this valuable space to outline your top teaching strengths and abilities. Think about the qualities you have that make you a good teacher for young children.
If you need some inspiration, check out these related resume examples: English teacher resume example, early childhood educator resume example, special education teacher resume example, and teacher assistant resume example.
Check out these adaptable summaries from other elementary teacher resume examples:
Compassionate and driven elementary school teacher with a recent Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Florida State University. Hands-on classroom management experience from one year of student teaching in a public school district. Passionate about creating supportive learning environments where young children can grow and thrive.
Experienced and certified elementary school teacher with over 5 years of experience teaching in diverse elementary classroom settings. Effective communicator proficient in developing and delivering lesson plans that emphasize Common Core Standards and positive results. Adept in using differentiated curriculum to address the various learning styles and needs of students while ensuring information retention.
Highly skilled elementary teacher with over 12 years of classroom experience across K–5 grade levels. Proven record of boosting literacy and math scores by an average of 12% through student-focused instruction and a collaborative teaching approach. Recognized for outstanding leadership in the district’s curriculum development with a specialized certificate in early childhood education.
Outline your elementary teacher work experience: give yourself a gold star
Writing your work experience section is similar to preparing the progress reports you hand out at parent-teacher conferences. You want to polish your accomplishments with data-driven details to back up your experience and prove your skills.
Instead of simply listing your job responsibilities, impress a prospective principal by discussing your achievements. For example, you may describe how a curriculum you developed has increased student growth. You can also outline creative classroom projects you designed or academic breakthroughs you helped students achieve.
List your work experience in reverse order, starting with your most recent teaching position. Include the grade level you taught, the name of the school, and your dates in the position. Write bullet points to describe your experience. Each bullet point should highlight a different skill or accomplishment.
The goal in this section is to differentiate yourself from other elementary teachers with similar experience. For example, hiring teams probably see many resumes with these bullet points:
- “Created and taught lessons to elementary students.”
- “Communicated with parents.”
- “Assisted with school events.”
With a little work, you can make these resume bullet points much stronger. Consider these reworked versions of the above statements:
- “Created and delivered engaging lessons for students in grades 1–3, contributing to a 23% increase in reading development by the end of the school year.”
- “Built strong relationships with parents and guardians through transparent communication and monthly progress updates.”
- “Led planning and coordination for a school-wide field day, increasing participation by over 40% from the previous year.”
Apply this practice throughout your resume to show prospective employers why you’re the best teacher for their school or district.
Review our elementary teacher resume work experience example below:
3rd Grade Teacher at St. Ann's School, San Francisco
September 2010 — June 2013
• Created a comprehensive and stimulating curriculum appropriate for the goals of 3rd grade students.
• Worked to create a warm and welcoming classroom environment, conducive to learning.
• Collaborated with teachers and other school staff to best support the needs of students.
• Communicated with parents and family members of students in a positive and constructive way.
• Used progressive and positive re-enforcement techniques to motivate and support students.
• Fostered positive relationships with students and encouraged them every step of the way.
Kindergarten Teacher at The Hill School, San Francisco
September 2013 — Present
• Create a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum for kindergarten students.
• Facilitate meaningful learning experiences. • Engage students by using points of interest and familiar topics.
• Differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners. • Establish and share classroom rules to ensure everyone's safety and happiness.
• Communicate classroom news with parents/guardians via a weekly newsletter.
How to write an elementary teacher resume with no experience
If you’re applying for your first teaching job, focus on your education, transferable skills, and passion for teaching young children.
Highlight your student teaching experience, including the grade levels you worked with and the subjects you taught. Include relevant tasks you completed during your student teaching experience, such as creating lesson plans or managing small-group instruction. This hands-on experience shows hiring managers that you’re ready to manage a classroom independently.
You can also emphasize the transferable skills you’ve developed through school, student teaching, or other jobs. For example, if you worked as a tutor over the summers, you can discuss how you developed skills in individualized instruction and lesson planning.
By focusing on these details, you can prove to employers why you’re a qualified candidate, even if you lack professional teaching experience.
Include your relevant key skills for an elementary teacher
The skills section of an elementary school teaching resume can provide an at-a-glance view of your best attributes. Include both hard and soft skills to show your classroom skills and interpersonal strengths.
Hard skills are the abilities you’ve learned through school or experience. For elementary teachers, these skills can include classroom management, curriculum development, and software tools, like SMART Notebook and ClassDojo.
Elementary school teachers also need soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills. Some common soft skills for elementary teachers include communication, listening, empathy, and organization.
With our resume builder, you can choose from pre-written skills or add your own. You can also select your proficiency ranges to show hiring managers your level of expertise.
This is what the skills box looks like in our elementary teacher resume sample:
- Curriculum and instruction
- Lesson plans
- Modified teaching techniques
- Excellent communication
You can also highlight your skills in other areas of your resume. Provide details of how you’ve used your skills in your work experience section and resume summary.
For example, you can mention these skills throughout your resume:
- Instructional planning skills by explaining how you design lesson plans based on learning objectives.
- Technology integration by showing how you incorporate tools and platforms to foster learning in the classroom.
- Communication skills by discussing how you collaborate with other educators and provide progress updates to parents and guardians.
While you should showcase your top skills, it’s also important to consider what an employer wants. Review the job description to make sure that you’re including relevant skills on your elementary school teacher resume.
Be specific about your skills
Use the exact name of programs you’ve used, especially if they appear in the job listing. For example, if you have used Google Classroom, list that as a skill instead of merely saying “online learning experience.”
Detail your education & relevant elementary teacher certifications
It may seem obvious, but education is important to educators. A principal or hiring manager will pay attention to this part of your resume. Most schools require elementary teachers to have a bachelor’s degree at a minimum. If you’ve earned an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctorate, you should also include it on your resume.
Besides your formal education, this section can also list other relevant training or professional development, such as:
- Licensure or certification. Public school teachers generally need a license or certificate to teach. Provide this information on your resume to show that you have the right credentials.
- Student teaching. If you’re a recent graduate or early in your career, you can list your student teaching experience in your education section.
- Professional development classes. List the ongoing training you’ve done to keep your skills sharp. You can also list webinars, conferences, or online courses you’ve completed.
Master of Science in Teaching, Ashford University, San Diego
August 2009 — January 2011
• Graduated with a 4.0 GPA
Bachelor of Literature, University of Texas, Austin
August 2005 — June 2009
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Pick the right layout & design for an elementary teacher resume
While you may want your resume to look as creative as your classroom bulletin boards, it also needs to show that you’re an accomplished educator. Choose a simple, professional layout for your elementary teacher resume template.
Think about the professional image you want to convey with your resume design. It’s fine to be a bit playful, as long as you keep it professional. For example, you can add a dose of color to your resume header to show your personality. Just make sure that these elements don’t distract a hiring manager’s attention from your skills and qualifications.
Keep your resume reader-friendly by using a legible font, such as Arial or Calibri, in a 10- or 12-point size. Leave one-inch page margins throughout the document and use white space between sections to keep your resume easy to read. You can also make key information stand out by bolding your name and section headers.
Want to create a resume that earns an A+? Try our resume templates to take the guesswork out of layout and formatting.
Elementary teacher job market & outlook
Currently, there’s a slight decline in the market for elementary school teachers. However, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find a new position. Schools continue to need educators who specialize in K–5 learning.
- Employment of elementary teachers is expected to decline 1% by 2033, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Even so, schools will have around 106,500 openings for these teachers every year, on average.
- Teaching is a popular profession. By 2033, there are expected to be around 1,552,200 elementary teachers working in the United States.
What type of salary you can earn as an elementary teacher
An elementary teacher’s salary can vary based on different factors, including their experience level and where they work. For example, some states offer higher salaries for elementary school teachers.
The average elementary teacher’s salary in the United States is $62,340 per year. However, keep in mind that you may earn more or less than the average, depending on your background, experience, and location.
Key takeaways for building an elementary teacher resume
The goal of your elementary teacher resume is to get an interview. Highlight your educational philosophy and teaching style, showing how those qualities align with a school’s needs. Differentiate your resume just as you do your curriculum. Don’t forget that a professional layout can make all the difference in catching a hiring manager’s attention.
Start your elementary teacher job search with our resume builder, but why stop there?
With resume.io’s 18 powerful tools, you can search for teaching jobs, track your progress, prepare for interviews, and negotiate a salary—all with our comprehensive career toolkit at your fingertips.
