High School Teacher resume template & examples

Resume guide for a high school teacher resume

Fitly here to help. Our resume builder and proven resume examples across hundreds of professions will equip you to advance in your search for a rewarding high school teacher position. This resume guide and the accompanying high school teacher resume example will walk you through the following points:

• Selecting the optimal resume format for teaching roles
• Including your contact details
• Utilizing a compelling summary or profile
• Highlighting your teaching experience
• Emphasizing key teaching skills
• Detailing education and certifications
• Choosing the right resume design and layout

Let's get started!

How to write a high school teacher resume

Before you begin, it’s important to know which sections a standout high school teacher resume should contain. Key components include:

• Professional Profile
• Teaching Experience
• Education
• Related Skills

Your resume should reflect what makes you an exceptional high school educator. Start by researching the school and position you're applying to. Understand their goals and tailor your resume to demonstrate how you can meet their educational needs. To do this effectively, follow these suggestions:

• Focus on your accomplishments rather than merely listing responsibilities. Show how your teaching positively impacted student learning outcomes.
• Customize your resume for each application, adapting tone and emphasis to fit the specific school culture and job description.
• Maintain a polished, professional presentation that is clear and approachable.
• Incorporate relevant keywords to ensure your resume resonates with both hiring managers and applicant tracking systems.

Choosing the right resume format for teaching

Your teaching resume should be clear, professional, and easy to navigate—qualities essential for effective educators.

The reverse chronological format is generally the strongest choice. It puts your most recent teaching roles first, allowing hiring committees to see your latest experience upfront.

If you are switching careers or have a diverse background, a functional or hybrid format that emphasizes skills over specific employment history might better showcase your qualifications.

Explore various resume templates in our resume builder to find a style that matches your experience and the school’s expectations. A clean and organized design reflects your professionalism as a teacher.

Include your contact information

The header of your resume is your chance to clearly state who you are and how you can be reached. This section should be concise, professional, and readily accessible.

Include the following contact details:

• Your full name
• Your email address
• Your phone number
• Your LinkedIn profile or professional teaching portfolio (if applicable)

Avoid listing the following:

• Your full home address
• Personal information unrelated to the job

Make use of a summary

Teaching is a dynamic, rewarding profession, and your high school teacher resume summary is your opportunity to convey your passion, expertise, and teaching style. This section adds a personal touch to your resume and can dispel stereotypes about educators as rigid or uninspired.

Consider your summary as a concise narrative of your qualifications and educational philosophy. Unlike other sections, it allows for a more creative, flowing description.

Use energetic and positive language to highlight your strengths, using action verbs that demonstrate your impact in the classroom. Avoid merely restating your resume content; instead, emphasize your distinctive qualities and successes.

You can find adaptable high school teacher resume summary examples below:

Highlight your high school teaching experience

Following a reverse chronological format, begin with your most recent or current teaching position and list previous roles accordingly. Limit your employment history to the last 10-15 years to maintain relevance and avoid age bias.

Include only experience pertinent to the teaching position you seek. Other work can be added under a separate section titled “Additional Experience.”

Under each role, describe your responsibilities and achievements using clear, result-focused bullet points. Avoid personal pronouns and start each bullet with a strong action verb: designed, facilitated, mentored, improved, assessed.

Don’t simply list duties; demonstrate measurable impacts on student outcomes, classroom management, or curriculum development. Numbers, percentages, and specific achievements make your contributions stand out.

Here are examples of generic statements that lack impact:

• Taught various subjects to high school students
• Prepared lesson plans and assessments
• Managed classroom behavior

Now see them enhanced with specificity and results:

• Developed and delivered history curriculum to 150+ students, improving standardized test scores by 15% over two years
• Created differentiated lesson plans tailored to diverse learning styles, increasing student engagement and achievement
• Implemented a positive behavior support system that reduced classroom disruptions by 30%

Review the high school teacher employment history resume sample below:

Emphasize the relevant key skills

Teaching demands both hard and soft skills. Your high school teacher resume should balance subject-matter expertise with interpersonal and organizational abilities. Hard skills might include curriculum design, classroom technology proficiency, and assessment strategies. Soft skills encompass communication, patience, adaptability, and collaboration.

Since each teaching role may prioritize different skills, tailor your skills section based on the job description. Maintain a master list of your competencies for easy customization.

Our resume builder provides pre-written key skills to help you get started, with the option to add your own.

Here's an example of a key skills section in a high school teacher resume template:

Detail your education & certifications

The education section of your resume should showcase the academic credentials and certifications that establish your qualifications as a high school teacher. Most teaching roles require a bachelor’s degree in education or a subject-specific field.

Include higher education, teaching licenses, and any relevant training or professional development programs.

Important items to display include:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in education or subject area
• State teaching certification or licensure
• Advanced certifications such as National Board Certification or ESL endorsements
• Professional development workshops and educational seminars
• Student teaching or internship experience, especially for those new to teaching

Choose the right resume layout and design

A well-organized layout, clear design, and consistent formatting are crucial to making your high school teacher resume stand out. These elements create the first impression that school administrators have of you.

A clean, classic style conveys professionalism and reliability, traits valued in educators. Aim for simplicity and readability, steering clear of overly decorative elements that may distract.

Consider what your resume’s format communicates about your teaching approach. While many schools prefer a conventional look, some may respond positively to creative touches—tailor accordingly.

Browse our field-tested resume templates for inspiration, where formatting and structure are expertly handled for you.

High school teacher job market and outlook

The demand for qualified high school teachers is steady and expected to grow moderately over the next decade, driven by student population changes and evolving educational standards.

Schools continue to seek educators who can engage diverse student bodies and incorporate new technologies in instruction.

According to national data, the average salary for high school teachers varies by region but generally ranges between $50,000 and $65,000 annually, with opportunities for advancement and additional earnings through certifications and experience.

Prospects remain positive as education maintains its critical role in community development and workforce preparation.

Key takeaways

The role of a high school teacher is vital and consistently in demand. Opportunities are expected to grow steadily, reflecting ongoing investment in education.

Success in this profession hinges on both subject expertise and the ability to connect with and inspire students.

Competitive salaries vary regionally, with potential growth linked to experience and further certification.

Crafting a clear, tailored resume that highlights your unique contributions will set you apart in the hiring process.