Preschool Teacher Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

If you’re working on your preschool teacher resume and feel stumped, don’t worry.

Even the best teachers can struggle to showcase their diverse skills and frame their experience well on a single piece of paper. But we’re here to help!

This article is a comprehensive guide to writing a preschool teacher resume, including first-rate resume examples, helpful tips, and essential buzzwords.

By the end of this article, you’ll be ready and excited to put your resume together and show potential employers what you can do!

Preschool Teacher Resume Examples

We know crafting a resume from scratch can be challenging, so we rounded up five top-notch preschool teacher resume examples to help you. You can find a resume example for various preschool teacher positions below, from fresher teachers to lead teachers. Check out these five examples for inspiration!

Entry-Level Preschool Teacher Resume Example

An entry-level preschool teacher is a teacher beginning their first year of teaching. So, this may be someone fresh out of school or someone older but at the beginning of their preschool teaching career. An entry-level preschool teacher could be 22 or 72.

Entry-level means this is their first preschool teaching job. Unlike fresher preschool teachers, which will be discussed below, entry-level preschool teachers may have a wealth of experience in other fields!

As you will see, this entry-level resume showcases how you can use different types of experience to make yourself a good candidate for a preschool teacher position.

Teacher’s Aid, Pendleton Elementary School – Belmont, MA

• Assists the head teacher with classroom organization, lesson planning, and childcare, such as going to the bathroom with children or helping them at lunchtime
• Keeps a detailed record of classroom activity and makes notes on child assessments as instructed by the head teacher
• Supervises over 20 children under six years old during recess, ensuring everyone is safe and communicates politely with one another
• Organizes field trips for the classroom that coincide with the current lessons to enrich the children’s learning experience
• Creates one complete and engaging lesson plan each month and implements the plan on the last Friday of the month

Manager, Jamboree Gym for Kids – Chatham, MA

• Manages over ten gym employees, handling scheduling, training, and performance
• Ensures complete sanitization of the gym and all equipment, adhering to a rigorous cleaning schedule
• Interacts with dozens of children daily, helping them enjoy the play structures safely and responsibly
• Communicates safety guidelines and tips for fun with parents daily, ensuring everyone can have fun and avoid injuries
• Keeps the gym stocked with kid-friendly and healthy foods to help children stay energized

Project Experience

• After-School Activity Volunteering: Spends time with children in after-school programs at the Boys and Girls Club of America, helping with homework, and personal troubles, and encouraging creativity and passions.
• Elderly Home Volunteering: Helps elderly people engage with others and enjoy fun activities like games, puzzles, reading, or casual outings. Assist many elderly people in feeling heard and giving them something to look forward to.

Skills

• Creativity
• Empathy
• Parent interaction
• Curriculum creation
• Time management

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education: Suffolk University Boston, Massachusetts

Licenses & Accreditations

• Early Childhood Teacher Certification
• CPR Certified

Why This Resume Works

While this resume does not show an abundance of experience as a preschool teacher, it does show how the candidate has spent considerable time around young children and knows how to communicate with kids as well as their parents. It shows an understanding of how to instruct and supervise children, but also the ability to be creative and imaginative when educating kids.

Assistant Preschool Teacher Resume Example

An assistant preschool teacher is someone who assists the lead preschool teacher with a variety of tasks, such as cleaning, planning lessons, educating the children, communicating with parents, and more.

Their job entails many of the same responsibilities as the lead teacher, but they report to the lead teacher on everything. As you will see in the resume example below, much of the work experience points revolve around helping the lead teacher, but they also show the candidate’s capabilities in the classroom.

Assistant Preschool Teacher, Sunnyside Private Preschool – Bethesda, MD

• Participated in quarterly meetings with parents
• Kept subjective records on the educational development and behavior of each child
• Developed weekly lesson plans with the lead teacher
• Kept classroom areas clean and free from tripping or bumping hazards
• Created appropriate games and stories for the children’s education

Assistant Preschool Teacher, Meadow Preschool – Greenwich, CT

• Participated in daily meetings with the lead teacher to discuss child assessments, classroom organization, and lesson plans
• Maintained a detailed inventory of classroom supplies and materials
• Recorded written observations on classroom activities and child behaviors
• Supervised students and reported any concerns or problems to the lead teacher
• Ensured that all required certifications were kept current and displayed properly in the classroom or office

Project Experience

• Boys and Girls Club Volunteering: Spends five afternoons a week helping young kids with their homework and playing with them until their parents can pick them up.

Skills

• Organization
• Adaptability
• Child assessment
• Lesson planning
• Parent communication

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education: Ohio University, OH

Licenses & Accreditations

• Early Childhood Teacher Certification
• CPR Certified

Why This Resume Works

This resume works well because it shows that the candidate can take initiative in the classroom and handle many of the responsibilities a lead teacher can, without overstepping.

An assistant preschool teacher needs to be able to take on sole responsibilities so the lead teacher can focus on other things, but they also need to maintain a strong line of communication with the lead teacher to ensure they are aware of everything that happens in the classroom.

In many cases, assistant preschool teachers plan to become lead teachers in the future, so their resume needs to show a balance of independence and adherence to the classroom hierarchy. The work experience and skills in this resume show they are organized and self-driven.

Their experience with lesson planning and parent communication are both highly desirable skills for an assistant preschool teacher because it shows they can run the classroom and address parent concerns if the lead teacher is busy.

Preschool Teacher Lead Resume Example

A preschool teacher lead is in charge of a designated classroom and sometimes the entire preschool, depending on its size and setup. They are considered responsible for all the children under their care and the teachers they manage.

Lead teachers must be able to do more than just educate and care for children, they also need to have managerial skills, time management, and organization to ensure the classroom and school operate smoothly and properly.

Some of their responsibilities include delegating tasks to assistant teachers, creating curriculums, meeting with parents, and ensuring all certifications are up to date. Their resumes look a little different because they have so much extra responsibility, which you can see in the example below.

Lead Teacher, Daydream Pre- and Elementary School – Melrose, MA

• Plans, teaches, and implements the curriculum, providing quality care for children 3 and 4-year-olds
• Plans and executes indoor and outdoor experiences conducive to the development levels of the children in safe environments
• Meets with parents, staff, and administration regularly to discuss classroom logistics, student behavior, and more
• Monitors state licensing requirements and CNI policies for all assistant teachers, interns, and self
• Works with special needs children to ensure they can participate in all activities and benefit from the curriculum

Lead Teacher, Morningside Preschool – Providence, RI

• Managed all teachers and assistants in a 3 and 4-year-old classroom
• Created and implemented a developmentally appropriate curriculum, addressing all learning styles and special situations
• Established a safe and clean playing and learning environment for the children
• Collaborated with co-teacher on developing new classroom projects, lesson plans, and monthly themes for stimulation
• Complied with all state, local, and schools regulations for safety, cleanliness, and education

Project Experience

• Big Brother, Big Sister: Mentors and helps three different individuals between the ages of 6 and 15 feel heard and cared for by spending time with them and helping them with school.
• NICU Volunteer: Volunteers every weekend at the local NICU, holding babies who need skin-to-skin contact and comforting parents.

Skills

• Parent interaction
• Lesson plan creation
• Management and delegation
• Child assessment
• Special education

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education: Smith College, Northampton, NH

Licenses & Accreditations

• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)
• Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)
• CPR and First Aid Certified

Why This Resume Works

For a lead preschool teacher, this resume works well because it showcases how they can manage a classroom and employees while still engaging with the children and creating lesson plans. Lead teachers have to be teachers as well as managers, so their resume needs to reflect their ability to do and experience with both.

This resume highlights both aspects of the job well with multiple examples of each and a skill section that mentions management and delegation. All the important points are hit: parent communication, child education and safety, and teacher or classroom management.

Fresher Preschool Teacher Resume Example

As mentioned, a fresher preschool teacher is often the same as an entry-level preschool teacher, but not always. A fresher teacher is someone fresh out of school, meaning they graduated within the last year and this is their first teaching job after school.

This situation applies to many entry-level preschool teachers, but not all. Unfortunately, many fresher teachers have little to no hands-on experience as a teacher in a classroom, so they often have to rely on their education to show their skills and potential.

As you will see in the resume below, not all relevant experience has to be as a teacher. Any work, volunteer, or educational experience with young children is relevant and bolsters the resume.

Preschool Aid, Hemmington Boys and Girls Club ABC Preschool – Hemmington, NJ

• Created a positive and welcoming environment for all children who come into the classroom
• Assisted the preschool teacher with cleaning the classroom, preparing healthy snacks for the children, and helping them get ready to go outside
• Reported any concerns, incidents, or problems to one of the classroom teachers immediately
• Read educational and age-appropriate books to the children daily and helped them understand the story
• Organized the toys, books, art supplies, and cubbies daily after the children went home and cleaned the classroom floors and surfaces

Nanny and Tutor, Private Family – Glen Ridge, NJ

• Cared for four children ranging from ages 3 to 10 (3, 3, 5, and 10)
• Helped each child with their homework or school activities nightly
• Ensured all children were fed and bathed before bedtime
• Created or found engaging and educational games that all four children could participate in together, building bonds and cognitive functions
• Helped children find compromises during disputes using mediation skills and a calm presence, teaching them how to be patient and considerate

Project Experience

• After-School Activity Volunteering: Spent time with children in after-school programs at the Boys and Girls Club, assisting with homework, socializing, and encouraging creativity and passions.

Skills

• Communication
• Patience
• Creativity
• Empathy
• Problem-solving

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Development: Kean University, Union, NJ

Licenses & Accreditations

• Early Childhood Teacher Certification
• CPR Certified

Why This Resume Works

This is a prime example of a fresher preschool teacher resume because it shows that the candidate has experience with young children, even though they’ve never been in an official teacher role.

The nanny and tutor example section specifically highlights their experience educating small children, creating games for them, and helping them through emotional or social situations.

The preschool aid example is even better because it shows they’re comfortable with a classroom setting and familiar with lesson plans and classroom organization.

Along with the volunteer experience, the resume offers many examples of child interaction and education, making the candidate seem qualified despite not having an excess of in-classroom or official teaching experience.

Private Preschool Teacher Resume Example

The most notable difference between a public preschool teacher and a private preschool teacher is their ability to customize their curriculum and incorporate certain concepts that cannot be discussed in public schools, such as religion and politics.

The type of private school and its philosophy will be a commanding factor in how to craft your private preschool teacher resume. As you will see, the example below mentions lesson plans that discuss the Bible.

This type of experience and skill will not be suitable for a non-religious school but is perfect when applying to a Christian preschool.

Private Kindergarten Teacher, Begonia Academy for Children – Norfolk, NY

• Utilizes the Orton Gillingham reading program to teach children reading and language skills in a modern format
• Teaches all subjects, including math, writing, history, science, and reading to children ages 4 to 6
• Plans educational and safe field trips to make the curriculum more engaging and memorable for students to foster life-long learning
• Meets monthly with parents to go over the comprehensive child assessments, learning progress, and behavioral habits to discuss possible changes in their routine
• Incorporates humor and playfulness into the most difficult lessons to keep the kids focused and ensure they have fun while they learn

Private Preschool Teacher, Golden Heart Private Christian Preschool – Wheat Ridge, CO

• Cared for over 15 children ages 2 to 4 while helping them learn basic reading and writing skills, preparing them for a successful journey into kindergarten
• Worked with a deaf student and implemented an ASL lesson to foster communication between all the children despite special circumstances or different abilities
• Incorporated Bible studies into storytime and lessons to ensure the children received decent exposure to scripture
• Created outdoor activities to help children with their fine and gross motor skills while getting fresh air
• Worked alongside co-teachers to develop thoughtful curriculums and lesson plans for the current and future students

Project Experience

• Established the Rainbows Program: An afterschool program for young children dealing with family problems, such as loss or divorce.
• Worked With Get Set for School: Assisted young and impoverished children ages 4 to 12 with finding the proper school supplies they need and facilitated fundraisers to pay for their supplies.
• Created an Earthy-Friendly Curriculum Program: Developed a unique preschool curriculum that focuses on incorporating natural elements into each lesson plan to help children connect to the earth, understand climate change, and respect the planet. Offered this curriculum for free to several local schools.

Skills

• Zoo-phonics
• Child assessment
• Special education
• Creative lesson planning
• Curriculum creation

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development: Wheelock, College, Boston, MA
• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Licenses & Accreditations

• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)
• Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)
• CPR and First Aid Certified

Why This Resume Works

Unlike some of the public preschool resume examples above, this one does not mention following CPI requirements or government requirements for the curriculum. Instead, this resume highlights the candidate’s experience with other types of curricula, including a Christian lesson plan, an Orton Gillingham reading program, and an earth-friendly curriculum plan.

When parents bring their children to a private preschool, they often want to see innovation and creativity in the curriculum. A resume like this shows the ability to utilize a variety of concepts, from eco-friendly to religious, exemplifying how the candidate can craft interesting and unique curriculums that can make the school stand out and benefit the children.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include On a Preschool Teacher Resume

When writing any resume, the terminology you use is important. Whether you’re applying to be a teacher or a rocket scientist, using the proper buzzwords can be the key to landing the job you want. The sections below will give a long list of examples of the best buzzwords to include on your preschool teacher resume.

Common Skills for Preschool Teacher Resumes

First, you need to fill the skill section of your resume with relevant and impressive skills. Below are some of the most popular skills preschool teachers put on their resumes because they’re compelling and impactful. Use these words to create a standout preschool teacher resume:

• Communication
• Patience
• Classroom management
• Creativity
• Empathy
• Parent interaction
• Lesson plan creation
• Interpersonal skills
• Instruction
• Problem-solving
• Zoo-phonics
• Organization
• Adaptability
• Child assessment
• Special education
• Meal preparation
• Physically fit
• Curriculum creation
• Time management
• Critical thinking

Common Action Verbs for Preschool Teacher Resumes

Along with the skills list, you should also try to incorporate relevant action verbs that make your experiences and achievements more forceful and striking.

Using bland or generic verbs can make your resume fall flat while using these action verbs can stir employers and convince them of your aptitude and professionalism.

• Aid
• Help
• Coordinate
• Facilitate
• Assist
• Develop
• Guide
• Interact
• Monitor
• Plan
• Respond
• Supervise
• Collaborate
• Support

Tips for Writing a Better Preschool Teacher Resume

Below are some more tips to help you craft a stellar preschool teacher resume that will wow all the schools you apply to. Keep the following tips in mind when selecting what experiences, responsibilities, achievements, and skills you want to include on your resume, as some will be more impactful than others.

1. Align Your Resume With the Job Description

This tip is true for almost every job, but it’s still important to note. As you saw in the examples above, what a private school expects from a preschool teacher differs from what a public school expects. Tailor your resume to the specific school or position you’re applying for to increase your chances of being selected.

The best way to do this is to use buzzwords and phrases mentioned in the job description itself and research the school itself. Many preschools will have a mission statement or list of values that will help candidates understand what kind of teacher they want and what they expect from preschool teachers.

2. Highlight Imagination and Creativity

As you can see from the examples above, showing creativity and innovation is important for private preschool teacher applicants, but all preschool teacher resumes should showcase these abilities.

Children are highly imaginative and curious; they respond better to fun and artistic lesson plans, rather than boring ones.

Preschool teachers who can think outside the box and make things exciting for the children are more likely to help children learn and benefit from preschool.

Activating a child’s imagination can help them engage with the lesson plan while having fun, making preschool a more educational and pleasant experience for everyone. So your resume should reflect your ability to make learning entertaining and positive, rather than a chore.

3. Include Organization and Planning Strategies

Preschool teachers must be organized and adept at planning, or else the classroom will descend into chaos. Without solid lesson plans and classroom routines, the children will not reach their full potential and may not get as much out of preschool as they should.

An organized classroom also instills a sense of organization in the children, which can lead to a more successful academic journey. Thoughtful lesson plans and a solid curriculum ensure that students reach certain milestones before kindergarten, creating the best possible foundation for their future learning.

Too much freedom in the classroom can lead to behavioral problems and wasted time, so structure is crucial for preschool children. Every preschool teacher’s resume should mention organization and planning at least once to make the impression that you will run a methodical and productive classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a couple of commonly asked questions concerning preschool and preschool teacher resumes.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

If you need more inspiration, check out the similar resume types below.

• Teacher Resume: Teacher resumes for grades K-12 will have similar buzzwords but will focus on older children and higher levels of education.
• Nanny Resume: A nanny resume will include experiences and skills related to caring for children and enriching their lives, it just may not have such an emphasis on education as a preschool teacher resume does.
• Babysitter Resume: Babysitter resumes often focus on younger children, even infants, whereas nanny resumes may mention older children and even teenagers.

Wrapping Up

Preschool teacher resumes must balance showcasing child care and engagement with organizational and managerial skills.

While childcare and education are crucial aspects of being a preschool teacher, you also must show that you’re organized and professional concerning communicating with parents and creating a curriculum. Use as many buzzwords as possible and create a diverse skill section to make yourself stand out.

Hopefully, this guide has given you more confidence to write your resume and land your dream job!