10 Elementary Teacher Resume Examples for 2024

Applying for an elementary teaching position? Your resume is key. In this article, we share strong resume examples for elementary teachers and provide strategic advice. Learn how to highlight relevant teaching experience, essential skills, and important certifications.

  Compiled and approved by Jason Lewis
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best ones:

  • Show Impact With Numbers: Good resumes use numbers for impact. Metrics like student success rates, test score improvements, parent satisfaction, and classroom attendance are common.

  • Include Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are lesson planning, curriculum development, classroom management, educational technology, and special education. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Showcase Your Certifications: Many hiring managers look for specific certifications. Phrases like state teaching license and ESOL certification are important.

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Positioning your education

When crafting your resume as an elementary teacher, place your education section near the top if you're new to the profession or have recently obtained a teaching degree. This helps hiring managers quickly see your qualifications for teaching at the elementary level.

If you have been working as an elementary teacher for some time, your teaching experience should be the first thing to showcase. Relevant classroom experiences and any additional professional development or certifications should follow to support your hands-on experience in education.

Showcasing specific skills

Mention experience that shows your classroom management skills and ability to engage young learners. This can include project-based learning, use of technology, and fostering a positive learning environment.

Include any extra-curricular activities you have led, like clubs or teams. This showcases your dedication to student life and engagement outside the classroom.

Ideal resume length

When creating a resume for an elementary teaching position, it is essential to keep it concise. You should aim for one page. This length is perfect for showcasing your teaching experience and skills without overwhelming the reader. Demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively through a well-organized and brief resume is valuable in this field.

Including your most relevant teaching experiences and professional development activities is crucial. Focus on your recent work that highlights your capabilities in the classroom, such as curriculum design or classroom management. If you have more than 10 years of experience or extensive certifications and projects, a second page may be justifiable. But remember, the goal is to present yourself clearly and strongly, without unnecessary information.

Highlighting teaching certifications

Make sure to highlight any teaching certifications on your resume. This can include state-specific credentials and specialized certifications in subjects like Special Education or ESL. These details are vital for hiring managers.

You should also mention any ongoing professional development you are doing. This shows your commitment to growing in your career.

Beat the resume screeners

When you apply for a job as an elementary teacher, your resume may first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). It is key to make your resume in a way that the ATS can read it well. Here are two things you should do:

  • Use simple, clear job-related keywords like 'lesson planning' and 'classroom management'. This will help the ATS see that your resume matches the job.
  • Make sure your resume format is clean and not too complex. Use standard fonts and avoid images or graphics so that the ATS can scan your resume without errors.

Highlight relevant skills

You must show that you have the right skills for teaching young students. Think about what skills you use every day and choose the ones that match what a teacher does. Use clear words that show you know how to work with children and help them learn.

  • Show you can plan good lessons by saying you design engaging curriculum for diverse learner needs.
  • Include examples where you worked well with others, like collaborating with parents and faculty to boost student success.
  • For those new to teaching, talk up any experience you have with children, such as leading youth summer camps or tutoring in after-school programs.

Required skills for teaching roles

When you apply for a teaching role, you'll need to show that you have the right skills. These skills should match what the job asks for. Here's a list of skills you might include on your resume:

  • Classroom management
  • Lesson planning
  • Subject knowledge
  • Educational technology
  • Curriculum development
  • Student assessments
  • Special education
  • Behavioral strategies
  • Data analysis
  • Parent-teacher communication

You don't need to include all these skills. Pick the ones that fit the job you want and that you are good at. Put these skills in a special section on your resume. This helps computers that read resumes (ATS) find them easily. This is important because many places use ATS to help sort through many resumes fast.

Remember, it's not just about listing skills. Show how you have used these skills in your work. You might do this in the parts of your resume that talk about your past jobs or in your cover letter. This will help the hiring manager see how you can do the job well.

Quantify teaching success

As an elementary teacher, showing your impact with numbers can make your resume stand out. Numbers speak louder than words as they provide clear evidence of your achievements. You can calculate and highlight metrics even if you're not sure about the exact numbers. Think about your teaching and find ways to estimate.

Here are some ideas:

  • Percentage increase in student reading levels over the school year. For example, 'Improved reading levels by 15% among 3rd graders.'
  • Number of students you've taught that achieved above-average scores in standardized tests. 'Led 30 students to score above the 85th percentile in math.'
  • Time saved through efficient classroom management or lesson planning. 'Reduced lesson preparation time by 25% through collaborative planning.'
  • Student attendance improvements. 'Boosted attendance rates by 10% by engaging students with interactive learning.'
  • Number of educational workshops or training sessions conducted. 'Conducted 5 professional development workshops for fellow teachers.'
  • Grants or funding obtained for classroom resources. 'Secured a $5000 grant for STEM education materials.'
  • Extracurricular programs initiated or led. 'Started a school garden program increasing student participation in science by 20%.'
  • Parent engagement measures, like the percentage increase in attendance at parent-teacher meetings. 'Improved parent-teacher meeting attendance by 40%.'

Remember, these numbers prove your ability to create positive outcomes in the classroom. They show you're not just doing the job, but making a significant difference.

Tailoring to company size

When you apply for a teaching job, think about the size of the school. Small schools and startups may value different things than big schools. Both kinds of schools are well-known in education. Examples are private academies or charter schools for small ones, and large public schools for big ones.

In your resume for a small school, show that you are flexible and can do many tasks. Say something like, 'Adapted a wide range of roles to support school needs beyond the classroom.' For a big school, focus on how you can work with a big team and many students. You might say, 'Collaborated with a large team of educators to develop a unified curriculum for a diverse student body.'

Here are some tips:

  • Show your ability to wear many hats in a smaller setting.
  • Highlight skills in team collaboration and large-scale planning for bigger institutions.
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