High School Teacher Resume Examples

Writing a resume can be tough, especially if you're a high school teacher. Balancing your busy teaching schedule while showcasing your skills on paper is not easy. Many educators find it hard to put their diverse experiences into a simple, clear format. Traditional resumes can feel too rigid for the creative aspects of teaching, while too much creativity might seem unprofessional. You might be wondering what to include and what to leave out. Sound familiar? There's no need to stress. This guide will help you turn your teaching experience into a resume that stands out, passing the exam with flying colors.

Your resume template plays a crucial role in this process. The right layout can highlight your strengths, experience, and teaching philosophy clearly and professionally. Think of it as arranging your classroom for the first day — everything should be in its place, easy to navigate, and inviting.

Ready to ace your resume? We have more than 700 resume examples that you can use to craft the perfect application.

What to focus on when writing your high school teacher resume

A high school teacher resume should clearly convey your expertise and commitment to education. It should highlight your ability to plan engaging lessons and your success in fostering student growth. Including specific achievements and experience with various teaching methodologies can boost its impact.

To enhance your resume:

• Present clear metrics, like improved student scores.
• List awards or recognitions you've earned.
• Mention your proficiency with educational technology.
• State your involvement in extracurricular activities.

Must have information on your high school teacher resume

When crafting your high school teacher resume, it’s essential to include critical sections that highlight your qualifications and experiences. These sections ensure that a potential employer can quickly gauge your suitability for the role.

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Teaching Experience
• Education and Certifications
• Skills
• Achievements

You may also consider adding sections like Professional Development or Extracurricular Activities to showcase additional relevant aspects of your career. This comprehensive approach helps present you as a well-rounded candidate.

Which resume format to choose

For a high school teacher resume, the best format is the reverse-chronological one, as it highlights your most recent and relevant experience first. Opt for modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat, which look clean and professional compared to Arial and Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to keep the formatting intact across different devices. Stick to one-inch margins on all sides for a balanced look. Use clear, bold section headings to help applicant tracking systems (ATS) easily parse your resume.

Your resume should include the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Education
• Teaching Experience
• Certifications
• Skills
• Professional Development
• References

Resume Mentor’s free resume builder handles all of this for you, ensuring a polished and ATS-friendly resume.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

When crafting your high school teacher resume experience section, your goal is to showcase your career in a clear, organized manner. Begin with your most recent job and work backward. Typically, you should go back 10-15 years. Job titles should be precise and reflect the positions you’ve held. Customize your resume for the job you're applying to, highlighting relevant experiences. Use action words such as "designed," "led," and "improved" to illustrate your achievements.

Here is the first resume experience example:

This example is not effective. It lists the basic duties of a teacher without any specifics. The bullet points are vague and don't show any achievements or numbers. Such an approach can make your resume look generic, failing to grab attention.

Here’s a better example:

This improved example shines because it focuses on specific achievements backed by numbers. It highlights John Doe's impact in each role, painting a clear picture of his effectiveness and dedication. The use of concrete details and accomplishments makes this resume stand out. This approach shows potential employers the value you bring rather than just listing tasks.

High school teacher resume experience examples

Introducing your vibrant experiences as a high school teacher can be a tough test, but we're here to help you ace it! From guiding young minds to innovative teaching strategies, this guide will ensure your resume makes the grade.

Achievement-focused

Highlight your laudable achievements to demonstrate your dedication and efficacy in teaching.

Skills-focused

Emphasize your key skills that make you an outstanding educator.

Responsibility-focused

Detail the crucial responsibilities you handled and how you managed them effectively.

Project-focused

Illustrate your involvement in notable projects and their outcomes.

Result-focused

Showcase your capability to drive significant results that positively impact your students and school.

Industry-Specific Focus

Specify your experience that directly correlates to the education industry standards and expectations.

Problem-Solving focused

Highlight your knack for resolving classroom challenges and improving student experiences.

Innovation-focused

Demonstrate your ability to bring fresh ideas into the classroom to enhance learning and engagement.

Leadership-focused

Describe your leadership roles and their impacts on your workplace and students.

Customer-focused

Customer service transcends into education as providing excellent service to students and parents.

Growth-focused

Underlining your commitment to helping students grow academically and personally.

Efficiency-focused

Illustrate your initiatives to make classroom processes more efficient and productive.

Technology-focused

Display your technological proficiency and how it improved teaching and learning.

Collaboration-focused

Detail your experience working collaboratively with colleagues to enhance educational outcomes.

Training and Development-focused

Highlight your role in training and developing new teachers or students.

Write your high school teacher resume summary section

Writing a resume summary for a high school teacher can be the key to grabbing a hiring manager's attention. This section of your resume should give a quick overview of who you are, your skills, and what you can bring to the school. To make a strong impression, craft your summary to highlight your teaching experience, any special achievements, and your passion for education.

When describing yourself in your resume summary, focus on your teaching success, your dedication to students' learning, and your ability to manage a classroom effectively. Avoid vague statements and be specific about your accomplishments and skills.

The difference between a summary and a resume objective, resume profile, or summary of qualifications is often a matter of length and detail. A resume summary provides a brief overview of your career and skills. A resume objective states what position you are seeking and why. A resume profile goes into more detail than a summary, often including specific examples of your experience. A summary of qualifications is a bullet-point list highlighting your top skills and achievements.

Here is an example that is poorly written:

This is a bad resume summary because it lacks specificity. It doesn't mention any particular achievements, skills, or teaching methods. It is also too vague and doesn't show unique qualities or passion for teaching.

Now, let's look at a resume summary that is well-crafted:

This example is excellent because it clearly outlines the teacher's experience, skills, and specific achievements. It demonstrates the candidate's passion for education and shows how they have positively impacted their students.

Listing your high school teacher skills on your resume

When writing your skills section on a high school teacher resume, skills can serve as a standalone section as well as being incorporated into other sections like experience and summary. Strengths and soft skills are attributes that showcase your interpersonal abilities and character. Hard skills refer to specific, teachable abilities or knowledge required for a job.

Consider incorporating skills and strengths as resume keywords to ensure they are easily identifiable by hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

A strong skills section like this one highlights key competencies in a concise manner. Each skill is relevant to the role of a high school teacher and demonstrates expertise needed to succeed and make a positive impact on students. The skills listed are clear and specific, making it easy for a hiring manager to quickly assess qualifications.

Best hard skills to feature on your high school teacher resume

High school teachers should have hard skills that communicate their expertise and proficiency in educational practices and content delivery. These skills should reflect their capability to effectively manage a classroom and boost student learning outcomes.

Best soft skills to feature on your high school teacher resume

High school teachers should have soft skills that communicate their ability to build relationships, manage a dynamic environment, and inspire student engagement. These skills highlight their emotional intelligence and interpersonal proficiency.

How to include your education on your resume

An education section is an important part of any high school teacher's resume. It showcases your qualifications and background in education, establishing your suitability for the role. Each education entry should be relevant to the job you are applying for. Remove any irrelevant education details to keep it concise.

When including your GPA, ensure that it adds value to your application and is impressive. For instance, if it’s above a 3.5. If you graduated cum laude, always include it because it highlights your academic excellence. Always list your degree clearly and with specific details.

This example is bad because it lacks crucial details and includes irrelevant information. The degree is unrelated to teaching, and there's no GPA or honors mentioned.

This example is good because it provides a relevant degree, includes an impressive GPA, and the format is clear and professional. The degree directly ties into the high school teacher role, demonstrating your readiness and specialization.

How to include high school teacher certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section in your high school teacher resume is crucial. This section highlights your qualifications and demonstrates your commitment to professional growth. You can even include certain certificates in your header for immediate visibility.

List the name of each certificate, making sure to be specific. Include the date you earned the certificate so potential employers know how current it is. Add the issuing organization to provide credibility. Arrange the certificates in reverse chronological order, with the most recent achievements first.

Here’s a good example of a standalone certificates section:

This example stands out because it shows a range of skills relevant to a high school teacher's role, such as specific teaching methods and emergency readiness. Each certificate is clearly listed with the issuing organization, adding authenticity and reliability. The diverse certificates reflect a well-rounded and prepared educator, making you a strong candidate for the position.

Extra sections to include in your high school teacher resume

When you're crafting a resume as a high school teacher, it's vital to highlight not only your educational background and teaching credentials but also your unique skills and experiences that set you apart. Including diverse sections such as language proficiency, hobbies, volunteer work, and books can enrich your resume and give potential employers a holistic view of who you are.

• Language section — Show you speak multiple languages to portray your unique communication skills. This is particularly useful in diverse classrooms where language barriers can be a challenge. • Hobbies and interests section — Display your extracurricular passions to present yourself as a well-rounded individual. Additionally, shared interests can serve as valuable rapport-building tools with students and colleagues. • Volunteer work section — Highlight your community service to demonstrate your commitment beyond the classroom. This can be particularly appealing to schools that value social responsibility. • Books section — List relevant books you've read to illustrate your ongoing commitment to professional development. This shows you are a lifelong learner who stays current in educational practices.

Including these sections in your resume provides a more comprehensive picture of your qualifications and character, helping you stand out to hiring committees.

Pair your high school teacher resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume when you apply for a job. It introduces you to the employer, highlights your qualifications, and explains why you are the perfect fit for the position. Tailoring your cover letter to the specific job can give you a competitive edge, showing your enthusiasm and understanding of the role.

For a high school teacher, a cover letter should focus on your educational background, teaching experience, and your passion for working with teenagers. Highlight any relevant certifications, and discuss your classroom management skills and ability to engage students. Mention specific accomplishments, such as improved test scores or successful extracurricular activities you led. Your goal is to convince the principal or hiring committee that you can make a positive impact on their students.

Create your cover letter easily with Resume Mentor's cover letter builder. The tool not only simplifies the process but also allows you to export your cover letter as a PDF, ensuring your content and formatting remain intact.