First-year high school teacher resume example

By the Rezumed team · Updated November 5, 2026

A first-year high school teacher resume has to show a department chair that you know your subject and can teach it to several sections of teenagers a day. Your content major proves the first part. Student teaching in a secondary school proves the second, so it gets the most space.

What the job asks of you

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says high school teachers "teach academic lessons and various skills" that prepare students for college or the job market. They usually teach grades 9 through 12 and specialize in one area, such as math, science or history, or an elective like art or music. Their listed duties include: "Plan lessons and instruct their students in the subject they teach", "Assess students' abilities, strengths, and weaknesses", "Grade students' assignments and exams", "Communicate with parents about students' progress" and "Prepare students for standardized tests required by the state".

On education, BLS says all states require public high school teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree, and that many states require a major in a content area such as math or science. Teacher education programs usually include student teaching under a mentor. All states require public school teachers to be licensed or certified for the grade level they teach, and public high school teachers usually get a secondary certification, which generally covers grades 7 through 12. BLS says requirements vary by state but generally include student teaching, a background check, and passing a general teaching test and a test of subject knowledge.

Sample resume

Certification goes first and names the subject and grade range, because a high school posting is for one subject. Education lists content courses before methods courses to show the depth of the major. Student teaching carries the most bullets, and the tutoring and coaching lines show time with teenagers outside class. BLS notes that some high school teachers coach sports or advise clubs, so give that work one line.

What to put in each section

Student teaching: subject, sections, grades

High school schedules are built around sections, so write student teaching that way: the course, the grade levels, how many sections and roughly how many students in each. Then show one full unit from planning to the test, and how you used what you graded. BLS notes that many schools group students by ability and that teachers adjust lessons to students' skill levels, so a bullet about grouping or adjusting is worth its space.

Education: the content major comes first

Write the degree so the subject is obvious, such as B.S. Biology or B.A. History, and then the teacher preparation program. List three or four content courses that match the classes you would teach, then one or two methods courses.

Certification: subject, grades and status

Write the certificate, the subject area and the grade range exactly as your state issues them, then the status: applied, issued, or test scheduled with the month, such as "biology content test scheduled for February 2027". If you are in an alternative certification route, which BLS says exists for people with a bachelor's degree who lack education coursework, name the program and when you can teach on your own.

Skills to list

High school postings name the subject and often a course, such as Algebra I or AP Chemistry, plus the learning platform the district uses. Use their exact course and tool names where they match what you taught. The University of Maryland career center also suggests mirroring the job description's keywords.

Tools

• Learning platforms: Google Classroom, Canvas or Schoology
• Student information systems for grades and attendance, such as PowerSchool or Infinite Campus
• Subject tools: Desmos or a graphing calculator for math, lab probeware for science, primary source databases for history
• Family communication: email, Remind or ParentSquare

Abilities

• Planning units to state standards in your subject
• Teaching several sections and grade levels in one day
• Grading and using results to adjust lessons
• Preparing students for state tests
• Explaining progress to parents and colleagues

Common mistakes

• No subject in the first lines. A resume that says only "teacher" makes a chair hunt for your field. Put the subject in the certification line and the degree.
• Student teaching with one vague bullet. "Taught biology to high school students" hides the sections, the unit you built and the test prep. Give it five or six bullets.
• Listing every course in the major. Avoid a full transcript list. Pick the content courses that match the job, and leave the rest for your transcript.
• Student names or identifying work. Keep student details general, and remove names from any work samples in a portfolio.

FAQ

My degree is in my subject, not education. Can I still apply?

Often, yes. BLS says many states require a content major and that alternative certification routes exist for people with a bachelor's degree who lack education coursework. Put the program and your expected start under Certification.

Should I include middle school experience?

Yes. BLS says a secondary certification generally covers grades 7 through 12, so a placement in grade 7 or 8 in your subject is relevant. Label the grade clearly.

How long should it be?

One page. Student teaching, a field experience, tutoring or coaching and your certification fit easily. See How to write a new grad resume for the general layout.

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Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: High School Teachers
• University of Maryland Career Center: Resume how-to guide