High School Teacher Resume Example & Writing Guide for 2025

High School Teacher Resume

I’ve helped 100s of teachers—rookies, veterans, and everyone in between. And y’know the #1 thing they tell me? “I have no idea what to put on my resume.” Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. Whether you’re fresh out of college or a seasoned educator wondering why your phone isn’t ringing off the hook, I’ve got you. Sit down, breathe, sip your coffee (or wine—I won’t judge), and let’s talk about how to build a high school teacher resume that actually works in 2025.

No fluff. No academic jargon. Just straight-up, real talk from someone who’s been helping educators land jobs for over a decade.

What Should a High School Teacher Resume Include?

• Clear, concise resume summary or objective
• Teaching certifications and state licenses
• Relevant classroom experience (including student teaching!)
• Key teaching skills: lesson planning, classroom management, curriculum development
• Subject expertise: English, Math, Science, History, etc.
• Education and degrees
• Achievements with metrics (think test scores, engagement improvements)
• Tech skills (especially for hybrid/online teaching)

Let’s Talk About Jenna (She’s You, BTW)

When I helped Jenna rewrite her resume for a high school science teacher role, she was ready to quit education altogether. I kid you not—her first draft started with: “I am a hardworking woman.” That was it.

We dug in. Talked about how she ran an afterschool robotics club. How her students’ AP scores went up by 22%. How she redesigned the entire Earth Science curriculum during lockdown using Google Classroom and Kahoot.

We turned her from “hardworking woman” into “Certified high school science teacher with 5+ years experience designing tech-forward, inclusive learning environments that boost test scores and spark curiosity.” Boom.

Three weeks later? Three interviews. Two job offers. One very happy Jenna.

The Best Resume Format for a High School Teacher

Honestly, keep it simple and clean. You’re not designing a poster for the drama club.

Use this order:

1. Header + Contact Info
2. Resume Summary or Objective
3. Certifications + Licenses
4. Teaching Experience (start with the most recent)
5. Education
6. Key Skills
7. Extras: Awards, Languages, Volunteer Work, Extracurriculars

Skip the headshots, fancy fonts, or 17 different colors. ATS bots don’t care, and hiring principals want to skim, not squint.

Need a clean layout? Check out our free teacher resume Builder here.

Resume Summary for High School Teacher

GOOD: “Passionate, certified high school English teacher with 6+ years’ experience designing dynamic, standards-aligned curricula that improve literacy and engagement. Skilled in differentiated instruction, hybrid learning, and classroom tech tools.”

NOPE: “I love kids. I am punctual and work well with others.”

(You’re not applying to be the hallway monitor. Show your value.)

Resume for High School Teacher with No Experience

Hey, we all start somewhere. Student teaching counts. Volunteering at a local school counts. That summer you ran a creative writing camp? Definitely counts.

Example: “Motivated secondary school teacher certified in English and Social Studies. Completed student teaching at Westbrook High School, designing and delivering 10+ original lesson plans aligned with Common Core standards. Skilled in classroom management and digital learning tools like Nearpod and Google Classroom.”

Show initiative. List projects, presentations, classroom tools, even curriculum mapping.

Teaching Skills to Include (Trust Me, These Work)

• Classroom management
• Lesson planning and curriculum design
• Differentiated instruction
• Student engagement strategies
• Data-driven instruction
• Parent-teacher communication
• Online teaching tools (Google Classroom, Zoom, Kahoot, etc.)
• Educational technology integration
• Inclusive classroom design
• Assessment development and analysis

Oh—and if you’ve led field trips, coached debate, or wrangled 30 hormonal teenagers into a group project? Add that. That’s elite-level skill.

Sample Resume for High School Teacher [Text Version]

Emily Thompson emily.thompson@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | Chicago, IL | LinkedIn.com/in/emilythompson

Resume Summary: Dedicated and student-focused high school educator with 8+ years of experience delivering engaging instruction in Math and Physics. Passionate about fostering critical thinking and academic excellence in diverse classroom environments.

Certifications:

• Illinois Professional Educator License – Secondary Math and Science
• Google Certified Educator Level 2

Teaching Experience: High School Math Teacher
Lincoln High School, Chicago, IL | Aug 2019–Present

• Designed differentiated Algebra II curriculum that improved test scores by 18%
• Integrated flipped classroom model and tech tools to boost engagement
• Led after-school math club and coached district-winning team

Education: B.A. in Secondary Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Key Skills: Classroom management, lesson planning, student engagement, online teaching tools, data-driven instruction, educational technology, collaborative teaching

Real Talk: What Schools Actually Look For

You might think the resume is all about your degree and where you’ve worked. Nope. Most principals scanning your resume are thinking:

• Will this teacher control the classroom?
• Can they teach effectively across different learning styles?
• Are they coachable? (Yes, even seasoned pros.)
• Will they communicate well with parents?

So if you’ve got experience leading PD workshops, adapting lessons for IEPs, or partnering with parents to boost student outcomes—flex that.

Resume Tips for High School Teaching Jobs

1. Use metrics: “Improved reading scores by 20%” > “Taught English.”
2. Tailor every time: Use keywords from the job posting.
3. Ditch the fluff: Everyone’s “hardworking.” What makes you different?
4. Focus on outcomes: What changed because you were in that classroom?
5. Proofread: Grammar errors on a teacher resume? C’mon now.

Resume for High School English Teacher Example

Jane Miller

• Resume Summary: “Certified high school English teacher with 7+ years creating literature-based units that inspire critical thinking and foster a love for reading. Experienced in hybrid teaching and curriculum development.”
• Highlights: Designed school-wide poetry slam, co-led curriculum redesign team, created YouTube grammar tutorials (50K views!)

Resume Objective for High School Teacher Position

Use if you’re newer to the field:

“Enthusiastic and certified educator seeking a high school teaching position in History. Committed to student growth through inclusive curriculum and interactive learning strategies. Experienced in digital instruction and collaborative teaching.”

Not a K-5 Teacher? Explore Our High School Teacher Resume Guide Next

If you’re also considering middle or high school roles—or know someone who is—don’t miss our complete High School Teacher Resume Example & Writing Guide for 2025. It’s packed with expert advice, real-world examples, and free templates tailored for secondary educators.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in a High School Teacher Resume (And How to Fix Them)

Let’s be real. I’ve seen some resumes that made me want to yeet my coffee across the room. And not because the person wasn’t qualified—they totally were! But a few resume mistakes can take you from top candidate to bottom of the pile real fast.

Here’s what to steer clear of (and how to fix it):

🚫 Mistake #1: Listing every job you’ve ever had.
Unless your high school gig at Taco Bell directly helped you learn how to manage 30 teenagers at once, skip it—or reframe it. Focus on roles where you mentored, trained, taught, or supported youth.

✅ Fix it: Keep your resume laser-focused on education-related roles. Highlight transferable skills like leadership, organization, or conflict resolution.

🚫 Mistake #2: Using the same resume for every application.
This one’s a classic. I get it—customizing every time feels like a lot. But trust me, it’s worth it.

✅ Fix it: Tweak your summary, keywords, and skills section to match each school’s mission and the job description. Even just 10 minutes of tailoring can skyrocket your callback chances.

🚫 Mistake #3: Forgetting the power of numbers.
Saying “taught biology to juniors” is fine. Saying “increased student test scores by 22% over two years using data-driven instruction”? Way more impressive.

✅ Fix it: Use metrics. Principals love ‘em. Think: graduation rates, GPA improvements, engagement percentages, extracurricular growth.For more resume advice backed by hiring data, check out this Forbes guide on writing resumes that get noticed.

🚫 Mistake #4: Sounding too formal—or too vague.
You’re a real person, not a robot. But also… “Hardworking team player” tells us zilch.

✅ Fix it: Use strong, clear verbs (mentored, developed, initiated) and paint a picture of your classroom wins. Show how you’ve made a difference.

🚫 Mistake #5: Leaving out certifications.
This one breaks my heart. If you’re certified by the State Board or trained in educational tech—show it off!

✅ Fix it: Create a bold “Certifications” section. It’s one of the first things hiring managers look for.

FAQs (High School Teacher Resume)

1. What should I include in a high school teacher resume?
Certifications, teaching experience, education, lesson planning, subject specialties, tech skills, classroom wins—especially ones with numbers!

2. How do I make my high school teacher resume stand out?
Use strong action verbs (“launched,” “improved,” “designed”), sprinkle in data (“boosted test scores by 17%”), and tailor your content to the specific school.

3. What is the best resume format for a high school teacher?
Reverse-chronological, hands down. Schools want to see your recent stuff up top.

4. Should I include non-teaching experience?
If it’s relevant—absolutely. Led a summer camp? Managed volunteers? Tutored your neighbor’s kids during lockdown? Add it!

5. How do I write a resume with no experience?
Focus on student teaching, education, classroom projects, and tech skills. You have more to offer than you think.

6. Should I tailor my resume for every school?
Yup. Customize the wording based on what the school values. It shows effort.

7. What soft skills should I highlight?
Patience, communication, adaptability, empathy, teamwork, leadership, classroom presence.

8. How long should my resume be?
One page if you’re newer. Two if you’ve got more experience—but no fluff!

9. Can I use a template?
Yes, as long as it’s clean, ATS-friendly, and doesn’t go wild with colors or graphics.

10. What’s a good resume summary?
“Certified high school teacher with 6 years of experience in AP English and SAT prep. Passionate about differentiated learning and student-centered engagement strategies.”

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