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Substitute teacher cover letter

A one-page cover letter for a sub job, built from sentences that answer the duties districts list: type your name and the district, add a line about your experience, tick what's true, and print it, save it as a PDF or copy the words. How to write one is below.

Open with
What you'll do in the room
Why they can count on you
What you already have (tick only what is true)
Close with
Paper

Copy the words into a district's application box, or save as PDF to upload. Kept in this browser only; never sent to us. Clear takes it off this device.

Cover letter1 page · Letter · portrait

Your name
Your email or phone
Date: ____________________

Dear Substitute Office,

I am writing to apply for a substitute teaching position with your district.

I will teach the lesson plans the teacher leaves, as closely as I can, and keep the class's own routines. I keep students supervised at all times, in the room, at lunch and at recess. At the end of each day I leave the teacher a written note on what was done, what changed and anything that happened. When a class needs more help than I can give, I call the office early rather than late.

I arrive early, sign in at the office and am ready before students walk in. I am glad to cover any grade, from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the chance to talk with you.

Sincerely,

________________

teach.peabody.kids/sub/cover-letterv0.1.0

How to write a substitute teacher cover letter

What a sub cover letter is for

A district hiring subs reads a lot of applications quickly. A cover letter tells the person reading yours three things the form can't: that you understand what a sub does, that you can be counted on, and who you are with children.

Keep it to one page, three or four short paragraphs. A sub office wants to see the job, not a life story.

What to put in it

Write it in this order, which is the order the letter maker uses:

  • The job: which district or agency, and that you are applying to sub.
  • Your experience with children or groups, in one to three sentences: coaching, tutoring, childcare, a classroom aide job, running clubs or camps, raising your own children, or a career you can explain to a class.
  • What you will do in the room, in the district's own terms. Districts' job descriptions ask a sub to teach the plans left, keep the routines, supervise students at all times, take attendance and leave a written report. Say you will.
  • Why they can count on you: when you can work, how early you arrive, whether you can take a call at short notice, which grades you'll cover.
  • What you already have, only if it is true: the state permit, the background check, the training.
  • A short thank-you and how to reach you.

Match the district's own job description

Most districts publish their substitute job description on their human resources page. Read it before you write, and use its words: if it says the sub "reports in writing on the day's activities", say you leave a written note every day. Our page of the duties three districts list is a good start, but the district you apply to is the one that counts.

What to leave out

A sub's letter is read by people who care about children's privacy and safety, so a few things never belong in it:

  • Any child's name, from a past job, a class you've helped in or your own family.
  • Stories about a student's behavior or needs. Say what you did, never who it was.
  • A pay demand. Pay for subs is set by the district; ask about it at the interview or read the district's posted rate.
  • Anything you can't back up. If the permit is still being processed, say it has been applied for.

Sending it

Many districts take applications through an online system with a box or an upload for a cover letter. Copy the words into the box, or print to PDF and upload that. Name the file with your name and "cover letter", and send your résumé with it.

Then get ready for the call: practice the interview questions districts ask subs.

How to use it

  1. Type your name, a contact line and the district or agency you're applying to.
  2. Write one to three sentences about your experience with children, then tick the sentences that are true for you.
  3. Print it, save it as a PDF to upload, or copy the words into the district's application box.

Related

Questions

What should a substitute teacher cover letter say?

Which district you're applying to, your experience with children in a sentence or three, that you'll teach the plans left, keep students supervised and leave a written note, when you can work, and any permit, check or training you already have. One page.

Do substitute teachers need a cover letter?

Some district applications ask for one and some don't. When there's a box or an upload for it, a short letter that uses the district's own job description words helps the sub office see you understand the job.

Is what I type saved or sent?

It is kept in this browser only, so it's there next time on this device. It is never sent to us or put in a link. Clear takes it off this device.

What you type stays in this browser. It is never sent to us or put in a link. No sign-in, no ads.