Elementary School Teacher Resume: Your Complete Guide

Stand out in today's competitive education job market with a professionally crafted resume. Our comprehensive guide covers everything from ATS optimization to classroom management skills, helping you land your dream teaching position.

Elementary School Teacher professional reviewing resumes.

Elementary Teaching Job Market Snapshot

Understanding the current education landscape is crucial for crafting an effective resume

$63,680
Median Annual Salary
Medium
Competition Level

Salaries by Location

New York, NY

$67,034

+5% above national avg

Los Angeles, CA

$67,298

+6% above national avg

Chicago, IL

Data not available

Houston, TX

Data not available

General Resume Tips for Elementary Teachers

Industry-specific best practices to make your elementary teaching resume stand out

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When writing your resume, avoid the following common mistakes

  • Generic objective statements
  • Missing certifications
  • Lack of quantified achievements
  • Poor grammar and spelling
  • Outdated contact information
  • Using unprofessional email addresses

ATS Optimization

Use industry-specific keywords like

Childhood Education
Curriculum Planning
Classroom Management
Lesson Planning
Student Assessment
Educational Technology
Reading Comprehension
Mathematics Instruction
Science Education
Social Studies
Special Needs Education
Parent Communication

Essential Components of an Elementary Teacher Resume

Key sections every elementary teaching resume must include to get noticed by principals and hiring committees

Header & Contact

Must Include

  • Full name (large, clear font)
  • Professional phone number
  • Professional email address
  • City, State

Optional

  • LinkedIn profile
  • Professional website
Professional Summary

3-4 sentences highlighting

  • Years of experience
  • Specialty areas
  • Key achievements
  • Relevant certifications
Example "Dedicated elementary educator with 4+ years experience fostering student growth in K-5 classrooms. Improved reading scores by 25% through differentiated instruction and innovative literacy programs."
Skills Section

Hard Skills

Curriculum Development
Educational Technology
Google Classroom
Smart Boards
Assessment Design
IEP Implementation

Soft Skills

Communication
Patience
Creativity
Adaptability
Leadership
Emotional Intelligence
Work Experience

For each position include

  • Job title, facility, dates
  • 3-5 bullet points with achievements
  • Quantified results when possible
  • Action verbs (administered, assessed, improved)
Tip: Focus on student outcomes and growth metrics. "Increased reading proficiency by 30%" vs "Taught reading to students"
Education

Required

  • Degree type (ADN, BSN, MSN)
  • School name and location
  • Graduation year
  • GPA (if 3.5+)

For New Grads

  • Relevant coursework
  • Clinical rotations
  • Academic honors
Certifications & Licenses

Required

Teaching License
Elementary Education Degree

Valuable

ESL Certification
Special Education Endorsement
Reading Specialist
Technology Integration Certificate

Always include expiration dates

Customization for Specific Elementary Teaching Roles

Tailor your resume for different elementary education positions and environments

K-2 Early Elementary
  • Phonics instruction
  • Early literacy development
  • Social-emotional learning
  • Play-based learning
  • Parent communication
  • Behavioral management
3-5 Upper Elementary
  • Advanced literacy skills
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Research projects
  • Standardized test prep
  • Critical thinking development
  • Independent learning skills
Special Education
  • IEP development
  • Inclusive classroom strategies
  • Behavioral intervention plans
  • Assistive technology
  • Progress monitoring
  • Multi-disciplinary collaboration
ESL Elementary
  • English language development
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Bilingual instruction
  • Language assessment
  • Family engagement
  • Sheltered instruction

Elementary Teaching Career Path & Progression

Understanding the typical career progression helps you position your resume for your next step

Entry Level
Student Teacher
0-1 years$35K-$45K
  • Student teaching placement
  • Lesson plan development
  • Classroom observation
  • Mentor teacher collaboration
Experienced
Classroom Teacher
1-3 years$45K-$60K
  • Full classroom responsibility
  • Parent conferences
  • Curriculum implementation
  • Student assessment
Senior
Lead Teacher
3-7 years$55K-$70K
  • Mentoring new teachers
  • Curriculum development
  • Committee leadership
  • Professional development
Leadership
Grade Level Coordinator
5-10 years$65K-$80K
  • Grade level leadership
  • Curriculum coordination
  • Teacher mentoring
  • Data analysis
Management
Assistant Principal
7-12 years$75K-$95K
  • Administrative duties
  • Teacher evaluation
  • Student discipline
  • School operations
Executive
Principal
10-15 years$85K-$120K
  • School leadership
  • Budget management
  • Community relations
  • Strategic planning
Entry
Experienced
Senior
Leadership
Management
Executive

Tips for Career Advancement

Build Your Skills

  • Pursue advanced degrees (Master's in Education, Administration)
  • Obtain additional certifications in high-need areas
  • Volunteer for leadership committees and initiatives
  • Seek mentorship from experienced administrators
  • Develop data analysis and technology skills

Position Your Resume

  • Highlight student achievement and growth data
  • Showcase innovative teaching methods and results
  • Include professional development and continuing education
  • Demonstrate collaboration with parents and community
  • Quantify improvements in classroom management and engagement

Advanced Optimization Strategies

Take your elementary teaching resume to the next level with these proven ATS techniques

ATS Success Tactics

Keyword Optimization

Include relevant keywords naturally throughout your resume:

Childhood Education
Curriculum Planning
Classroom Management
Lesson Planning
Student Assessment
Educational Technology
Reading Comprehension
Mathematics Instruction
Science Education
Social Studies
Special Needs Education
Parent Communication
Format Compatibility
  • Save as PDF to preserve formatting
  • Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
  • Avoid headers, footers, and text boxes

Quantifying Impact

Metrics That Matter

"Improved student reading scores by 25% through implementation of guided reading program"

"Decreased behavioral incidents by 40% using positive behavior intervention strategies"

"Increased parent engagement by 60% through weekly communication and family events"

"Mentored 8 student teachers with 100% successful completion rate"

Recognition & Awards
  • Teacher of the Year
  • Excellence in Education Award
  • Outstanding New Teacher
  • Innovation in Teaching Award
  • Parent Choice Award
  • Golden Apple Award

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common elementary teaching resume questions

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