High school teacher’s jobs are complicated combinations of teaching different subjects, collecting and interpreting data, communicating with parents, and using creative methods to engage and encourage students.
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How do you show off all those skills and get the attention of school districts and principals? You start with a great high school teaching resume.
Resume.io’s online resume builder tool, templates, high school teacher resume examples and the lesson plan in this guide will teach you how to:
- Present yourself professionally with a clean, creative design
- Get past Applicant Tracking Systems and into the hands of a person
- Elevate your Employment History beyond the routine
- Write a profile that shows off your teaching style and philosophy.
Take a look at our other related education resume examples:
What does a high school teacher do?
Teenagers can be a tough crowd at any time, but high school teachers have an even tougher job these days. Hybrid, online, and in-person learning all present different challenges and you must rise to the occasion while imparting wisdom to your students. Your job requires much more than teaching literary analysis or physics. You must be adept in supporting high school students academically, socially, and emotionally as conditions change. According to Education Week, experts believe the mental health of students will need special care as they continue to cope with the effects of the shutdowns.
Creating curriculum is only a small part of your job. High school teachers are expected to provide students with a safe, inspiring, and welcoming environment that promotes social engagement, a love of learning, and endless opportunities to grow and progress as an enthusiastic learner and person.
Understanding the job market
The job market for high school teachers is district-dependent. High school teachers mostly apply for jobs through the district in which they want to work. Applications are filtered through the district before getting to a specific school, although that is not always the case.
U.S. labor statistics estimate that the demand for high school teachers will grow about 5 percent in the next decade, on par with other professions. Teacher salaries in public schools are tied to their years of service and level of higher education.
Specialization
High school teachers have the opportunity to work in many different public or private school environments. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages for teachers.
- General public schools are neighborhood schools
- Magnet schools offer special programs such as language immersion
- Charter schools operate under a contract, or charter, from a school district but are run independently
- Selective schools require academic testing.
You may also choose to work at a private institution.
A great high school teacher resume example should be tailored to fit the different environments you are targeting.
How to write a high school teacher resume
The very first step in writing your high school teacher resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Choosing the best format for your high school teacher resume
If you have had a linear career, stick with the reverse chronological order format for your high school teacher resume so that recruiters can easily see the progression of your career. For your first job, feel free to use your student teaching experience.
Those who are taking up teaching as a second career should focus on the transferable skills they have and their education.
Resume header
You must straddle the line between efficient professional educator and creative innovator. The design of a high school teacher resume sample will also depend on the subject taught. Visual art teachers can take advantage of our creative resume example layouts, while mathematics teachers may want to stick with one of our professional resume sample templates.
Hiring managers will scan for some key data first:
- Your contact information (including your LinkedIn profile if it is up-to-date)
- Your current job and title
- Your previous job and title.
Make sure these items stand out. Use standard headings so recruiters don’t have to guess what each section is and leave plenty of white space to keep it legible.
Although you may have to fill out an online application, you will also need to attach a resume document. This document may be printed and passed around to different schools so make sure you pay careful attention to formatting and layout.
Resume summary example
The summary section of any high school teacher resume sample is similar to your unit overview. Here you describe your goals and how you hope to achieve them in a way that will benefit the district and students. Make sure you address the issues of the school population.
Teaching pedagogy and personality play a vast role in whether or not you are a great fit for a school district, so infuse these 3-5 sentences with not only your teaching accomplishments, but your style and beliefs about education.
Choose one or two career highlights and use powerful, descriptive language.
Use this high school teacher resume example text to guide you.
Passionate High School Teacher with over 10 years of experience working with students in Grades 9-12, specializing in English and American History. Adept in creating a powerful curriculum in accordance with educational standards. Able to create and foster positive relationships with students, staff, and family members of students. Knowledgeable and experienced in various educational philosophies that best promote the overall experience of a student. A committed faculty member, experienced in organizing school events, trips, and fundraisers.
Getting past the Applicant Tracking System
Many public school districts use AppliTrack, an applicant tracking system into which you will input your data and upload all relevant documents including your resume example.
AppliTrack, like other Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), will scan your resume looking for keywords and phrases important to the school district. There’s no absolute way to ensure you will rank high enough to beat the ATS, but you can increase your chances greatly by following a few simple steps.
First, analyze the job listing and note any skills and requirements. Second, cross-reference those words and phrases with our resume. Make sure any skills you have that are mentioned in the listing are also in your resume. Use the exact phrasing when possible. (Don’t force it. Recruiters can tell if you are trying to “stuff” your resume with keywords.) Third, use both acronyms and the full names of organization, certificates, etc., just to make sure the ATS catches them.
Employment history sample
Your employment history section is the backbone of your high school teacher resume. It is here that you detail your classroom experience. Even if you are looking for your first job, you have your student teaching work to fill out this important CV section.
Go beyond stating that you taught civics and history and detail what curriculum you used or list a project that students completed and what they learned from it. Show how you contributed to the school community. Remember that education is more and more data-focused, so use numbers to your advantage here.
Created group research project on Renaissance-era arts using video technology and had students present their work during a whole-school assembly.
Taught world history to freshmen and civics to juniors.
Check out the employment history section from our high school teacher resume sample.
High School English Teacher at The Hillbrow School, Beacon
September 2010 - Present
- Design and implement a carefully thought-out English curriculum for grades 9-12.
- Assess the needs of students and modify teaching style and lesson plans to accommodate different learning needs.
- Serve as student advisor for grades 9 and 10, offering academic, social, and emotional support.
- Foster a classroom environment conducive to interactive learning, where the ideas of students are valued and respected.
- Prepare students for standardized tests, resulting in increasing average test scores each year.
High School Teacher at John Jay High School, Yonkers
September 2004 - June 2010
- Served as a 9th and 10th grade History and English Teacher, responsible for 26 classes.
- Developed and implemented powerful History and English curricula, aimed to meet education standards and enlighten students.
- Monitored student progress and performance and maintained meticulous documentation for each student.
- Collaborated with other faculty members to connect curriculum and deepen the level of learning taking place.
- Planned and organized the annual Golf Fundraiser for the school, resulting in $6,000 being raised for the History and Science Departments.
- Worked with students with various learning needs to help them achieve their greatest potential.
Skills section sample
Your high school teacher resume skills section offers human resources departments a quick way to scan for your top skills. It also gives them an idea of the attributes you think are most desirable in a teacher.
Personalize your resume by matching the skills you highlight to the ones your prospective employer mentions in the job listing.
Here's the skills section from our high school teacher resume example to give you some ideas.
- Lesson Planning
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Learning Assessments
- Excellent Communication
Education section sample: educators believe in education
The education section is an important part of a great high school teacher resume – after all you're in the education business. A bachelor’s degree and a valid teaching certificate from the state in which you work are basic requirements, however, many teachers have master’s degrees or doctorates.
List all your degrees and any additional classes you have if you are working toward a degree. You may add your certificate information, as it is in the resume example text below, or create a new section if you have more than one certification. Make sure you include other designations you have earned such as Google Certified Educator status.
See how to format your education section in this excerpt from our high school teacher resume example.
Master of Science in Secondary Education, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
August 2003 - January 2005
Bachelor of Arts in History and English, Manhattan College, New York
August 1999 - May 2003
- Graduated summa cum laude.
Resume layout and design
The layout and design of your high school teacher resume sample plays an important role in catching the hiring manager or principal's attention and convincing them that you're worthy of their job opening. Since education is a formal field, you'll want your resume layout to convey professionalism at all times, however that doesn't mean there's no room for a bit of fun. A touch of color or even a professional photo of yourself can go a long way in creating a design that stands out. Check out our adaptable high school teacher resume sample for more insight into the perfect balance.
- Use professional fonts like Helvetica, Arial or Georgia
- Add a touch of color to your header
- Make your name and contact info stand out from the rest of the page
- Use multiple contrasting fonts or sizes
- Create a resume longer than one page
- Submit a generic resume to many job openings
Key takeaways
- High school teachers must have skills beyond subject expertise, so explain them in your profile
- Use keywords and phrases strategically to beat the ATS
- Your employment history should strongly detail your contributions to students
- Align your skills section with the job listing
By using one of Resume.io’s field-tested resumes, and following these helpful tips on the creation of your resume, you will be on your way to finding your next job. Good luck finding the right high school teaching job for you!
