Preschool Teacher resume example. Plus the keywords recruiters search for.
A preschool teacher resume that shows a well-run, play-based classroom and real progress for young children — with the credential, curriculum and assessment keywords early learning centers screen for.
Reviewed by Nazir Elmurodov · Updated
/ The example
Preschool Teacher resume example.
Molly Jensen
Lead Preschool Teacher, CDA
Minneapolis, MN · molly.jensen@email.com · (612) 555-0119
Summary
Preschool teacher with 6 years in toddler and pre-K classrooms. I plan play-based lessons, track each child's development and keep families closely involved in their child's day.
Experience
Lead Preschool Teacher, Pre-K, Bright Pines Early Learning Center · Aug 2022 – Present
- • Lead a classroom of 16 four- and five-year-olds with one assistant teacher, planning weekly lessons with The Creative Curriculum
- • Assess children 3 times a year with Teaching Strategies GOLD and share results with families at conferences
- • By spring, 14 of 16 children met widely held expectations in literacy, up from 9 in the fall — our main kindergarten readiness goal
- • Use play-based learning and social-emotional learning routines, such as a calm-down corner and daily feelings check-ins
- • Send daily updates and photos to families in Brightwheel and keep the room in line with state licensing standards and health and safety rules
Assistant Teacher, Toddler Room, Little Harbor Child Care Center · Jun 2020 – Jul 2022
- • Supported a toddler room of 10 with two co-teachers, running sensory, art and outdoor play
- • Worked with families on toilet learning and kept daily logs of meals, naps and diapering
- • Used observation and assessment notes to help the lead teacher plan activities around each child's child development goals
Education & certifications
A.A.S. Early Childhood Education, North Lakes Community College, 2020 · CDA Credential (Preschool), Council for Professional Recognition · Pediatric CPR and First Aid
Skills
Early childhood education · Lesson planning · Play-based learning · Social-emotional learning · Classroom management · Observation and assessment · The Creative Curriculum · Teaching Strategies GOLD · Brightwheel · Family engagement · Health and safety · Licensing standards
Molly Jensen
Lead Preschool Teacher, CDA
molly.jensen@email.com · Minneapolis, MN
(612) 555-0119
Summary
Preschool teacher with 6 years in toddler and pre-K classrooms. I plan play-based lessons, track each child's development and keep families closely involved in their child's day.
Experience
Lead Preschool Teacher, Pre-K — Bright Pines Early Learning Center
Aug 2022 – Present
• Lead a classroom of 16 four- and five-year-olds with one assistant teacher, planning weekly lessons with The Creative Curriculum
• Assess children 3 times a year with Teaching Strategies GOLD and share results with families at conferences
• By spring, 14 of 16 children met widely held expectations in literacy, up from 9 in the fall — our main kindergarten readiness goal
• Use play-based learning and social-emotional learning routines, such as a calm-down corner and daily feelings check-ins
• Send daily updates and photos to families in Brightwheel and keep the room in line with state licensing standards and health and safety rules
Assistant Teacher, Toddler Room — Little Harbor Child Care Center
Jun 2020 – Jul 2022
• Supported a toddler room of 10 with two co-teachers, running sensory, art and outdoor play
• Worked with families on toilet learning and kept daily logs of meals, naps and diapering
• Used observation and assessment notes to help the lead teacher plan activities around each child's child development goals
Education
North Lakes Community College
A.A.S. Early Childhood Education · 2020
Certifications
CDA Credential (Preschool), Council for Professional Recognition
Pediatric CPR and First Aid
Skills
Early childhood education, Lesson planning, Play-based learning, Social-emotional learning, Classroom management, Observation and assessment, The Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, Brightwheel, Family engagement, Health and safety, Licensing standards
Why it works
It names the credential, curriculum and assessment tool a director checks for, gives class size and age group, and shows child progress as a group result, never by individual child.
Use this as your starting point
Opens in the editor with every section filled in. Swap in your own details and download a PDF or Word file free.
Start from this exampleSample resume. Names, companies and figures are illustrative.
/ Summary examples
Three summary examples. Pick the one closest to you.
Two or three lines: your level, your field and one result.
- Entry level
Early childhood education student completing a CDA, with 2 years as a toddler room assistant and summers at a day camp. Pediatric CPR and First Aid certified.
- Experienced
Preschool teacher with 6 years in toddler and pre-K classrooms. I lead a class of 16 with The Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD.
- Senior
Lead teacher and curriculum coordinator with 12 years in early learning who mentors new teachers, plans for 5 classrooms and prepares the center for accreditation visits.
More for other jobs and situations (no experience, career change, senior): resume summary examples.
/ Bullet points
Bullet point examples. From duty to result.
Turn duties into results: what you did, how, and what changed.
Lesson planning
Instead of: Planned activities
Write: Planned weekly play-based lessons with The Creative Curriculum for a pre-K class of 16
Assessment
Instead of: Tracked progress
Write: Assessed children 3 times a year with Teaching Strategies GOLD and shared results at family conferences
Readiness
Instead of: Got kids ready for kindergarten
Write: 14 of 16 children met widely held expectations in literacy by spring, up from 9 in the fall
Social-emotional
Instead of: Helped with feelings
Write: Built a calm-down corner and daily feelings check-ins as part of social-emotional learning
Families
Instead of: Talked to parents
Write: Sent daily updates and photos in Brightwheel and held conferences with every family twice a year
Toddlers
Instead of: Worked with toddlers
Write: Supported a toddler room of 10 with sensory, art and outdoor play and helped families with toilet learning
/ Keywords
Keywords and skills for preschool teachers.
These come up often in preschool teacher job posts. Include only the ones you can back up in an interview, and use the exact wording from the post you're applying to.
- Early childhood education
- Lesson planning
- Play-based learning
- Social-emotional learning
- Child development
- Kindergarten readiness
- Classroom management
- Observation and assessment
- The Creative Curriculum
- Teaching Strategies GOLD
- Brightwheel
- Family engagement
- Health and safety
- Licensing standards
- CDA
- Pediatric CPR and First Aid
- Patience
/ ATS tips
ATS tips for preschool teachers.
Put your credential and degree up top
A CDA, an early childhood degree or a state credential is often required for lead teachers. Make it easy to find.
Give age group and class size
"Pre-K class of 16 four- and five-year-olds" tells a director exactly where you fit.
Name your curriculum and assessment tools
The Creative Curriculum, HighScope, Teaching Strategies GOLD and similar tools show up in job posts. List the ones you've used.
Show progress as a group
Use class-wide results, such as how many children met expectations. Never name or describe an individual child.
Mention families and safety
Daily family communication and following licensing and health rules matter as much as lesson plans in early learning.
How does your preschool teacher resume compare?
Free ATS score, missing keywords and fixes in about 10 seconds.
/ Questions
Preschool Teacher resume FAQ.
Writing the cover letter too? See Molly's cover letter, annotated
What is the CDA credential?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition. Candidates complete 120 hours of professional education and 480 hours of experience with young children, then a portfolio, observation and exam. It's renewed every three years.
Do I need a degree to be a preschool teacher?
It depends on the state, the program and the funding source. Some centers hire lead teachers with a CDA; public pre-K and some programs require an associate or bachelor's degree. Check the posting.
How do I show results without sharing children's information?
Use group results, such as "14 of 16 children met widely held expectations in literacy," and describe children by age group only.
What if I've only worked as an assistant teacher?
List the room, age group and what you led yourself — circle time, centers or family updates — and mention any CDA or coursework in progress.
How long should a preschool teacher resume be?
One page. Put your credential, age group and class size near the top, then two or three jobs with curriculum, assessment and family bullets.