Substitute teacher resume example
A complete resume for a K-12 substitute teacher in two districts, plus summaries, bullet points, skills and the permits to list.
What hiring managers look for
Principals and district sub coordinators want to know three things: that you hold the substitute permit or license your state requires and have cleared the background check, which grades and subjects you can cover, and whether teachers ask for you again. Strong substitute resumes show the number of assignments, any long-term placements, classroom management that keeps lessons on track and the special education or high school subjects that are hard to fill.
This example belongs to a substitute teacher with three years across two suburban districts, including a 10-week long-term placement in middle school math. The simple layout lists grade levels and schools clearly, counts assignments and repeat requests, and keeps the permit and training together. Paraprofessionals, retirees and people working toward a full teaching license can use the same format.
Substitute teacher resume summary examples
Experienced, 3 years
Substitute teacher with 3 years and 380+ daily assignments in K-12 classrooms across two districts. Teachers at 9 schools request me by name, and I completed a 10-week long-term placement teaching 7th grade math. Follows lesson plans closely and keeps classrooms calm.
New substitute
Recent college graduate with a state substitute permit, a cleared background check and 2 summers as a camp counselor for 8 to 12 year olds. Comfortable taking over a room of 25 students, following a teacher's plans and keeping the day on schedule. Available every school day on short notice.
Long-term substitute
Long-term substitute with 4 years of semester-length placements in high school English and history. Plans units, grades essays and reports progress to parents, and has kept two classrooms on track through full teacher leaves.
Retired professional
Retired civil engineer substituting in middle and high school math and science. Brings 30 years of real-world problem solving to lessons, steady classroom presence and the flexibility to cover any day of the week.
Substitute teacher resume bullet points
Strong bullets start with what you did and end with what changed. Borrow the pattern, then use your own numbers.
- Covered 45 special education assignments, supporting IEP accommodations alongside paraprofessionals.
- Took over a 4th grade class mid-year for 6 weeks with no lesson time lost between teachers.
- Accepted 92% of the jobs offered through Frontline in a school year, often within 10 minutes of posting.
- Turned around a high school study hall with frequent referrals by setting clear rules on day one; referrals fell from 9 a week to 1.
- Taught a planned chemistry lab safely to 5 sections of 28 students, following the teacher's safety checklist.
- Built a substitute folder template that a middle school adopted for all 40 of its teachers.
- Led a class of English learners through a reading lesson using visuals and partner work, with every student finishing the assignment.
- Filled in for 3 days during a winter flu outbreak by covering 2 classes in the same building at once, with the principal's approval.
Skills for a substitute teacher resume
Skills job postings ask for
- Classroom management
- Following and adapting lesson plans
- Grade levels (K-5, 6-8, 9-12)
- Special education and IEP support
- Google Classroom or Canvas
- Behavior systems (PBIS, class dojo)
- Attendance and grading
- Emergency and lockdown procedures
- Frontline or district sub systems
- CPR and first aid
Skills to show in your bullets
- Adaptability
- Calm authority
- Quick rapport with students
- Reliability
- Clear notes for teachers
List the skills a posting names in its own words, and only the ones you can talk about in an interview. Qualities like these read best as results in your bullets, not as a list.
Tips for writing a substitute teacher resume
- 1
Count your assignments and requests
Principals can't watch you teach before they hire you, so numbers stand in. Total days covered and how many teachers request you by name show you're trusted in the classroom.
- 2
List every grade level and subject you cover
Districts struggle most to fill special education, high school science, math and world languages. If you take those jobs, say so in your summary.
- 3
Give long-term placements their own bullet
A multi-week placement where you planned, graded and met parents is close to full teaching. Describe it like a teaching job, with the class, length and results.
- 4
Use what you did before teaching
Many substitutes come from other careers. Keep one line on your earlier work if it shows training, leadership or subject knowledge a principal would value.
Permits and checks to list
Every state sets its own rules for substitutes, from a short-term permit with any bachelor's degree to a full teaching license. Show what you hold and add the checks a district needs before you set foot in a classroom.
- Substitute permit or license, with the state and grade levels
- Teaching license, if you hold one, with endorsements
- Background and fingerprint check (state and FBI)
- CPR, first aid or crisis prevention training
- District trainings such as mandated reporter or bloodborne pathogens
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