Substitute Teacher Resume Examples & Format
A substitute teacher takes over a class when the regular teacher is absent, for a day, a week or longer. A substitute teacher resume should prove skills such as classroom management, following and adapting lesson plans, and behavior de-escalation with numbers from your own work. Below are three samples, entry-level to senior, with summaries, bullets and skills.
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Substitute Teacher resume examples by experience level
All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.
Entry-level sample
Cassidy Lindgren
Substitute teacher · K-8 · 140+ days covered · background check cleared
Omaha, NE · (402) 555-0153 · cassidy.lindgren@example.com
Summary
- Substitute teacher with one school year of experience across 6 elementary and middle schools, covering more than 140 days in all grades from kindergarten to grade 8. Known by teachers for clear notes and a calm classroom.
Experience
- Substitute Teacher, Prairie View Public Schools, Omaha, NE · Aug 2025 – present · Cover about 4 days a week in 6 schools; follow lesson plans for all subjects in grades K-8; leave a written summary for the teacher at the end of each day; accepted 12 return requests from teachers by name.
- Student Teacher Assistant, Tallgrass State University Education Clinic, 2024 – 2025 · Assisted a third-grade class 15 hours a week and ran small reading groups of 5 students.
Education and credentials
- B.A. Elementary Education, Tallgrass State University · 2025
- Substitute teaching permit, Nebraska · 2025
- Fingerprint background check cleared · 2025
- CPR and first aid · 2025
Skills
- Classroom management, following lesson plans, behavior de-escalation, differentiated instruction basics, Google Classroom, clear end-of-day notes
Mid-level sample
Gordon Ellsworth
Substitute teacher since 2019 · grades 6-12 · long-term assignments in science and math
Raleigh, NC · (919) 555-0166 · gordon.ellsworth@example.com
Summary
- Substitute teacher since 2019 in grades 6 to 12, including five long-term assignments of 6 to 14 weeks in science and math. Holds a teaching license and a master's degree and is requested by name at 4 schools.
Work experience
- Substitute and Long-Term Substitute Teacher, Oakhaven County Schools, Raleigh, NC · 2019 – present · Cover about 150 days a year in grades 6-12; completed 5 long-term assignments of 6 to 14 weeks, teaching a full load of 5 science or math classes; graded, wrote tests and met with parents; requested by name at 4 schools.
- Chemistry Lab Technician, Triangle Research Labs, Raleigh, NC · 2015 – 2019 · Prepared and ran 20 lab experiments a month.
Education and credentials
- M.Ed. Secondary Science Education, Cobblestone University · 2018
- North Carolina teaching license, science 9-12, active
- CPR and first aid · 2025
Skills
- Long-term lesson planning, grading, science labs, classroom management for secondary students, differentiation, parent communication, learning management systems
Senior sample
Renata Okoye
Substitute teacher · career changer · school volunteer since 2022 · bilingual English/Spanish
San Antonio, TX · (210) 555-0138 · renata.okoye@example.com
Summary
- Former office manager and school volunteer who became a substitute teacher after time in elementary classrooms as a volunteer and aide since 2022. Bilingual in English and Spanish and comfortable with 5 to 12 year olds.
Experience
- Substitute Teacher, Mission Valley Independent School District, San Antonio, TX · 2025 – present · Cover about 3 days a week in elementary schools; support bilingual classrooms; follow lesson plans and leave daily notes.
- Classroom Volunteer and Aide, Mission Valley Elementary, San Antonio, TX · 2022 – 2025 · Worked 10 hours a week with a first-grade class, running reading groups of 4 to 6 students.
- Office Manager, Alamo Dental Group, San Antonio, TX · 2014 – 2022 · Managed scheduling and billing for 4 providers.
Education and credentials
- Bachelor of Arts, Sunridge University · 2012
- District substitute application and background check cleared · 2025
- CPR and first aid · 2025
Skills
- Bilingual instruction support, reading groups, classroom routines, behavior support, parent communication, scheduling and organization
Start your substitute teacher resume
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What does a substitute teacher do?
The work is to follow the lesson plan the teacher left, take attendance, keep the class on task and safe, handle behavior calmly, and leave clear notes about what was done. Substitutes work in schools of every level and often in several buildings, so the resume has to show reliability, classroom management with different ages, the settings and subjects you have covered, and any license or permit your state or district requires.
Substitute Teacher duties to put on a resume
- Follow the lesson plan and teach or supervise the class for the day.
- Take attendance and follow school rules and safety procedures.
- Keep students on task and manage behavior in a calm, fair way.
- Support students with different needs and follow any plans the teacher has noted.
- Leave clear notes for the regular teacher about what was covered and how the day went.
- For long-term assignments: plan lessons, grade work, and communicate with parents.
Best resume format for a substitute teacher
- Put your permit, license and background check status near the top, since districts check them first.
- Name the grades and subjects you cover and the number of schools or days.
- One page; add a line of availability, such as days a week and any early morning or last-minute calls you take.
The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.
Summary examples by level
- Entry-level: Substitute teacher with one school year across 6 schools, covering more than 140 days in grades K to 8 and accepted back by 12 teachers.
- Mid-level: Substitute teacher since 2019 in grades 6 to 12, including five long-term assignments in science and math.
- Senior: Bilingual substitute teacher with school volunteering in elementary classrooms since 2022, moving from an office management career.
Work experience bullet points
- Covered about 4 days a week in 6 elementary and middle schools for a full school year.
- Completed 5 long-term assignments of 6 to 14 weeks, teaching a full load of 5 classes.
- Followed lesson plans for all subjects in grades K to 8 and left a written summary at the end of each day.
- Accepted 12 return requests from regular teachers by name.
- Ran small reading groups of 5 students for 15 hours a week while assisting a third-grade class.
- Graded 120 science assignments a week and wrote 3 unit tests during a long-term placement.
- Kept 28 students on task for 6 hours with no referrals to the office in a typical day.
- Met with parents at 4 conferences during a 10-week assignment.
Key skills to list
Hard skills: Classroom management, Following and adapting lesson plans, Behavior de-escalation, Differentiated instruction basics, Attendance and school systems, Google Classroom or learning management systems, Grading and feedback, Classroom technology, CPR and first aid.
Soft skills: Calm with a new class, Quick to learn names and routines, Flexible about schools and grades, Clear written notes, Dependability.
Education and certifications
- Requirements for substitute teachers are set by each state and often by the district, so check the district's human resources page before applying; they range from a high school diploma or college credits to a bachelor's degree.
- Many districts require a background check and some require a substitute permit or license; list each with the state and year.
- A teaching license or education degree is not always required but strengthens an application, especially for long-term assignments.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026.
FAQ
Substitute Teacher resume questions, answered.
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What should a substitute teacher resume include?
Your permit or license and background check status, the grades and subjects you cover, the number of days or schools, and examples of classroom management. Add any long-term assignments, and a line of availability, so a district can match you to openings.
How do I describe substitute teaching on a resume?
Use one entry titled Substitute Teacher with the district and years, then bullets with the days you cover, the grades and subjects, the notes you leave and any requests by name. Add long-term assignments as separate bullets with the number of weeks and your duties.
Can I be a substitute teacher without a teaching degree?
Often yes. Requirements vary by state and district, from a high school diploma or college credits to a bachelor's degree, plus a background check and sometimes a permit. Check the district's human resources page before you apply.