Substitute Teacher Resume Examples & Writing Guide
Written By Lauren MastroniCareer Expert & Digital Content Writer
Reviewed By Corissa PetersonCertified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) & Content Editor
Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to creating engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius...
For a stronger application, pair your resume with a tailored substitute teacher cover letter that shows your readiness to step in and support student learning at a moment’s notice.
Substitute teacher resumes by experience level
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Substitute teacher resume template (copy-and-paste format)
[Your Address] New York, NY
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Substitute Teacher with 5+ years of experience and a proven track record of increasing class test scores. Recognized for ability to increase student participation and motivation in learning through engaging lessons and activities. Adept with Google Classroom and interactive SMART Boards. Aiming to use my diverse skills to foster a dynamic and inclusive educational environment that supports student success and growth.
- Educational technology
- Classroom management
- Curriculum development
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Conflict resolution
- Team collaboration
- Student engagement
- Special education awareness
- Leadership and coaching
- Facilitated ”open talk” sessions, creating team building activities that significantly enhanced student motivation and teamwork, impacting 150+ students annually
- Instructed Math, Art, and English classes, managing groups of 13–24 students from Grades 2 to 5, totaling approximately 100 different students each school year
- Managed travel and expense reports for 10+ department team members, ensuring accurate and timely submissions
- Collaborated with permanent teachers to develop comprehensive support plans for students, leading to enhanced learning activities that engaged 200+ students during each academic year
- Designed and implemented lesson plans that notably increased student engagement, benefiting around 120 students across various subjects
- Ensured adherence to school policies and procedures for 30+ students with disciplinary issues, maintaining a safe and orderly environment
Resume Genius University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Graduation Date: May 20XX
- Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, May 20XX
How to write a substitute teacher resume
With a well-written substitute teacher resume, employers will quickly be able to see your teaching strengths and why you’re qualified to sub at their school. On the other hand, if your resume isn’t eye-catching enough, you may fall behind other candidates.
Showcase your background and skills by following the five tips below, and improve your resume with this video guide to making an excellent teacher resume:
Here are our five top tips for writing a substitute teacher resume that gets you hired:
1. Highlight your teaching certifications
Whether you’ve been subbing for decades or you’re applying for your first substitute teacher position, your resume needs to show the right certifications to prove you’re qualified for the job.
The qualifications required to teach differ depending on your state’s regulations. Some states allow bachelor’s degree holders to work as substitute teachers without a teaching certification. Find out what certifications you need to teach in each state before sending out applications.
When you write your resume, display your degree and any certifications prominently. You can place them in the education section of your resume or in a separate certifications section, if you have more than one.
Here’s an example of listing a teaching certification in the education section of a resume:
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s Degree in History
California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA (May 20XX)CBEST
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, (June 20XX)
2. Quantify your work experience bullet points
As a substitute teacher, you need a resume that shows school administrators what you can achieve in the classroom. An effective resume does this by including precise statistics and numbers that highlight your accomplishments.
Here are a few examples of how to quantify substitute teacher duties and accomplishments on your resume:
- Ensured continuity in instruction by following detailed lesson plans left by regular teachers, effectively teaching 10 subjects to more than 200 students over the course of the school year
- Seamlessly took over a 4th-grade classroom with minimal preparation, maintaining the existing lesson plan and ensuring a productive learning environment for 25 students
- Implemented positive behavior support strategies in over 20 classrooms throughout the academic year, significantly reducing classroom disruptions and maintaining order
By including hard numbers, you make your experience easier to understand for potential employers, and show that you can get the job done.
Another way to emphasize your achievements is by choosing an appropriate resume format.
3. Showcase your teaching skills
For substitute teachers, interpersonal and communication skills are vital, because they show school administrators that you can quickly build a rapport with both your coworkers and students. Show examples of how you’ve used these skills in your resume objective and bullet points.
Here’s an example of how to showcase interpersonal skills on your resume:
- Regularly engage students in “open talk” times, developing team building activities that have enhanced student motivation and teamwork, resulting in full classroom participation and engagement.
It’s also important to show that you have the required hard skills by listing them in your resume’s skills section. Hard skills for teachers include educational technology and applications, specific teaching methods, the subjects you teach, and foreign language proficiency.
Here’s a list of skills for a substitute teacher resume:
| Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
|---|---|
| Lesson planning | Classroom management |
| Educational technology proficiency | Strong communication skills |
| Curriculum development | Conflict resolution |
| Differentiated instruction | Time management |
| Student assessment | Student engagement |
| First aid and CPR certified | Behavioral management |
| Knowledge of educational standards | Emergency management |
| Proficiency in remote learning platforms | Parent-teacher communication |
| Language proficiency | Organizational skills |
If you’re not sure which keywords to add to your resume, here’s a list of in-demand keywords we’ve scraped from real job listings:
We analyzed over 1200 real substitute teacher job ads to find the top keywords to add to your resume.
Data
| Keyword | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson planning | 56 | 685 |
| Classroom management | 37 | 457 |
| Managing student behavior | 35 | 430 |
| Monitoring student progress | 31 | 381 |
| Communication skills | 25 | 310 |
| Interpersonal skills | 23 | 282 |
| Manage discipline problems | 20 | 242 |
| Knowledge of best teaching practices | 15 | 180 |
| Curriculum development | 7 | 87 |
4. Tailor your resume to the job description
Show hiring managers that you have the right skills and experience by using keywords from the job description in your resume.
Here are three steps for using keywords well:
- Include skills-based resume keywords from the job description throughout your resume
- Research the school and position and customize your resume to match its needs
- Highlight your qualifications from the job ad in a resume objective that states how you can bring value to the role
Here’s an example of a substitute teaching job description:
Responsibilities:
- Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children in the program by providing close supervision during all activities and prioritizing student safety and supervision.
- Promote exploration, creativity, and discovery to stimulate each child’s individual development, effectively delivering engaging and tailored educational experiences.
- Maintain a clean and safe classroom environment, assisting in preparing materials and ensuring all spaces meet health and safety standards.
- Work cooperatively with other teachers, therapists, and administrators, fostering effective communication and collaboration to enhance educational outcomes.
- Ensure that all Department of Education and CACFP guidelines are followed with support from your teaching team and supervisor, adhering to school policies and protocols.
- Other duties as assigned by the Director.
Requirements:
- Education: Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree. Current teaching certification is preferred.
- Experience working with preschool children in a child care setting and managing a classroom preferred.
- Experience with progressive education preferred.
- Willingness to collaborate and work as part of a team, as well as develop skills in working with individual children, small groups, and the whole class.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
Here are three examples of how to tailor your resume for this job description:
Caring and adaptable substitute teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education and a proven track record of stepping into diverse classroom environments at short notice. Highly skilled in maintaining educational continuity, managing classroom behaviors effectively, and engaging with students from preschool through middle school. Committed to upholding professional integrity, fostering effective communication, and ensuring a safe and productive learning environment for all students.
- Ensured the health, safety, and well-being of 40+ children at a time by providing vigilant supervision during all educational and recreational activities, consistently prioritizing student safety and adherence to school protocols
- Developed and implemented innovative, customized lesson plans that enhanced the developmental progress and promoted exploration, creativity, and discovery for children grades K-8
- Maintained a clean and safe classroom environment for over 30 classes of 20+ students, organizing materials and ensuring all learning spaces exceeded health and safety standards as outlined by local regulations
- Adhered to Department of Education guidelines, assisting the teaching team in implementing compliant educational practices and maintaining detailed records in accordance with district policies
- Classroom management
- Lesson plan implementation
- Record keeping
- Adaptability
- Effective communication
- Student safety protocols
- Professional integrity
- Emergency preparedness
- Conflict resolution
- Educational technology proficiency
5. Write a strong resume objective
Your resume summary is a concise statement at the top of your resume that shows off your professional experience, key skills, and career goals.
For a substitute teaching position, focus on your expertise in classroom management and teaching methods, along with your relevant experience, and what you aim to achieve in your target role.
Here are some examples of substitute teacher resume summaries you can use to make your own:
Enthusiastic and dedicated recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English, eager to embark on a career as a Substitute Teacher. Bringing a fresh perspective, strong foundational knowledge in teaching methodologies, and a passion for education to provide high-quality, engaging lessons for students. Committed to adapting quickly to new classroom environments and fostering a positive learning atmosphere.
Enthusiastic substitute teacher with 5+ years of proven ability to handle a wide range of classroom settings across elementary and middle schools. Skilled in maintaining classroom discipline, implementing effective learning strategies, and ensuring continuity of instruction. Seeking to leverage extensive background in managing diverse learning environments to enhance student engagement and educational outcomes.
Licensed Substitute Teacher with 10+ years of experience in long-term subbing assignments, equipped with a deep understanding of curriculum management and student assessment practices. Adept at stepping into roles that require maintaining the educational course for extended periods. Aiming to bring my strong leadership skills and a comprehensive teaching background to [School District] to foster student development and support educational outcomes.
After you’ve written your resume, pair it with a substitute teacher cover letter.
Average substitute teacher salaries in the US
After you’ve written your resume, make sure you use it to apply for jobs within a fair salary range.
The following table includes information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report for 2025. Here are the ten states with the highest salaries for substitute teachers, as well as the national average for your reference when applying for work.
Top 10 states by average substitute teacher salary
| State | Salary / Year |
|---|---|
| California | $60,930 |
| Wisconsin | $57,340 |
| Oregon | $56,070 |
| Washington | $54,360 |
| Minnesota | $53,970 |
| Connecticut | $53,400 |
| Nebraska | $53,260 |
| West Virginia | $53,000 |
| Alaska | $52,310 |
| New York | $48,430 |
| National Average | $44,930 |
About the Author
5
Years of Experience
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Articles Written
Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to creating engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius team, Lauren has a passion for developing valuable resources for job seekers.
Lauren holds an M.S. in Psychology from University of Derby and currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She enjoys learning all she can about the career space, and is committed to helping job seekers of all experience levels navigate the job hunt and advance their careers.
She has been cited in HuffPost, Newsweek, Forbes, and more.
You can reach Lauren at lauren@resumegenius.com.
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