Substitute Teacher resume example. Plus the keywords recruiters search for.
A substitute teacher resume that shows you can walk into any classroom, follow the plan and leave it in good shape — with the authorization, grade-level and classroom management keywords districts screen for.
Reviewed by Nazir Elmurodov · Updated
/ The example
Substitute Teacher resume example.
Kyle Henderson
Substitute Teacher, K–12
Aurora, CO · kyle.henderson@email.com · (303) 555-0134
Summary
Substitute teacher with 3 years in K–12 classrooms and 2 years leading an after-school program. I follow the teacher's lesson plans, keep the room calm and on task, and leave clear notes so the next day starts smoothly.
Experience
Substitute Teacher, Sand Creek Public Schools · Aug 2023 – Present
- • Cover 140+ days a year across 9 elementary, middle and high schools, from kindergarten to high school chemistry
- • Follow teachers' lesson plans and classroom procedures, take attendance in PowerSchool and leave end-of-day notes on what was covered and any behavior concerns
- • Completed a 6-week long-term substitute assignment in 7th-grade math, grading work and posting assignments in Google Classroom
- • Requested by name by 12 teachers; keep students engaged with clear expectations and positive classroom management
After-School Program Lead, Highline Park Recreation Center · Jun 2021 – Jul 2023
- • Ran homework help and activities for 25–30 students in grades K–5 every afternoon
- • Set daily routines and behavior expectations that cut incident reports from 9 to 3 per semester
- • Handled parent communication at pickup and passed concerns to the program director the same day
Education & certifications
B.A. History, Front Range State University, 2021 · Colorado 3-Year Substitute Authorization · CPR and First Aid
Skills
Classroom management · Lesson plans · Behavior management · Student engagement · Long-term substitute · K–12 · Attendance · Grading · Google Classroom · PowerSchool · Parent communication · Flexibility
Kyle Henderson
Substitute Teacher, K–12
kyle.henderson@email.com · Aurora, CO
(303) 555-0134
Summary
Substitute teacher with 3 years in K–12 classrooms and 2 years leading an after-school program. I follow the teacher's lesson plans, keep the room calm and on task, and leave clear notes so the next day starts smoothly.
Experience
Substitute Teacher — Sand Creek Public Schools
Aug 2023 – Present
• Cover 140+ days a year across 9 elementary, middle and high schools, from kindergarten to high school chemistry
• Follow teachers' lesson plans and classroom procedures, take attendance in PowerSchool and leave end-of-day notes on what was covered and any behavior concerns
• Completed a 6-week long-term substitute assignment in 7th-grade math, grading work and posting assignments in Google Classroom
• Requested by name by 12 teachers; keep students engaged with clear expectations and positive classroom management
After-School Program Lead — Highline Park Recreation Center
Jun 2021 – Jul 2023
• Ran homework help and activities for 25–30 students in grades K–5 every afternoon
• Set daily routines and behavior expectations that cut incident reports from 9 to 3 per semester
• Handled parent communication at pickup and passed concerns to the program director the same day
Education
Front Range State University
B.A. History · 2021
Certifications
Colorado 3-Year Substitute Authorization
CPR and First Aid
Skills
Classroom management, Lesson plans, Behavior management, Student engagement, Long-term substitute, K–12, Attendance, Grading, Google Classroom, PowerSchool, Parent communication, Flexibility
Why it works
It shows range and reliability in numbers — days covered, schools served, teachers who ask for him — and proves he can handle a long-term assignment, which is what principals look for when they book subs.
Use this as your starting point
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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
Recent graduate with a bachelor's degree and 2 years of coaching youth soccer. Holds a state substitute authorization and is available for K–12 assignments every weekday.
- Mid level
Substitute teacher with 3 years in K–12 classrooms. I cover 140+ days a year across 9 schools and completed a 6-week long-term assignment in 7th-grade math.
- Career changer
Former corporate trainer moving into teaching. Substitute teaching across grades 6–12 while completing an alternative teacher licensure program.
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.
Reliability
Instead of: Subbed in many schools
Write: Covered 140+ days a year across 9 elementary, middle and high schools
Lesson plans
Instead of: Followed plans
Write: Followed teachers' lesson plans and left end-of-day notes on what was covered and any behavior concerns
Long-term
Instead of: Did a long-term job
Write: Completed a 6-week long-term assignment in 7th-grade math, grading work and posting assignments in Google Classroom
Reputation
Instead of: Teachers liked me
Write: Requested by name by 12 teachers across the district
Behavior
Instead of: Managed behavior
Write: Set routines and expectations that cut after-school incident reports from 9 to 3 per semester
Families
Instead of: Talked to parents
Write: Talked with parents at pickup and passed concerns to the director the same day
/ Keywords
Keywords and skills for substitute teachers.
These come up often in substitute 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.
- Substitute teacher
- Classroom management
- Lesson plans
- Behavior management
- Student engagement
- Long-term substitute
- K–12
- Attendance
- Grading
- Classroom procedures
- Google Classroom
- PowerSchool
- Substitute authorization
- CPR and First Aid
- Parent communication
- Flexibility
- Communication
/ ATS tips
ATS tips for substitute teachers.
List subbing as one job
Put the district or staffing agency as the employer with one date range, then use bullets for days, schools and grade levels.
Lead with reliability
Days covered per year, schools served and teachers who request you by name are the numbers principals care about.
Highlight long-term assignments
A multi-week assignment where you graded and planned shows you can do more than follow a sub plan.
Name your authorization
Write your state's exact title for the substitute license, permit or authorization, and include CPR and First Aid if you have it.
Show classroom management
Routines, expectations and calm redirection are what make a sub successful. Give one example in a bullet.
How does your substitute teacher resume compare?
Free ATS score, missing keywords and fixes in about 10 seconds.
/ Questions
Substitute Teacher resume FAQ.
Writing the cover letter too? See Kyle's cover letter, annotated
What do I need to become a substitute teacher?
It depends on the state. Colorado, for example, offers a one-year substitute authorization with a high school diploma, a three-year authorization with a bachelor's degree and a five-year authorization with a full teaching license, plus a fingerprint background check. Check your state education department's rules.
How do I list substitute teaching for several schools?
List it as one job under the district or agency, with one date range. Say how many schools and grade levels you covered in the bullets.
Should I include a long-term substitute assignment separately?
You can list it as a bullet, or as its own entry if it was long and you planned lessons and graded. Give the grade, subject and length.
Can substitute teaching help me get a full-time teaching job?
Yes. It shows principals how you handle a room. On your resume, mention teachers who request you, long-term assignments and any licensure program you're in.
How long should a substitute teacher resume be?
One page. Put your authorization, availability and range of grades near the top, then your subbing and other work with children.