TEACHERS

        Teachers have a problem with their resumes because teachers all tend to look alike, after all, they all have the same duties. Using your nonclassroom activities can be one good way to set you apart from your competitors. Mention it if you were department chair, heavily involved in advising, active in after-school activities, or actively involved in school committees. Mention any awards you’ve received or any improvements in standardized test scores in your classroom. Your cover letter could be the place to quote a few snippets from your reviews, or perhaps even from parents who have made comments to you or sent letters to you.

        It is critical that the reader realize that you are an energetic, enthusiastic, effective teacher. Your resume and cover letter are your tools to accomplish that. Your cover letter can be an excellent place to state a concise version of your teaching philosophy. Also, use your cover letter to express what it is that makes you a highly effective educator. Typically cover letters are fairly short documents, but you may want to write an expanded cover letter in order to reveal things about you which are difficult to get across in the resume alone.

 

 

 

 

 

Educator                                                                                                           Times

 

BRENDA BERKELEY

5693 Smugglers Cove Road

Portland, ME 04017

(207) 876-3562

OBJECTIVE: Educator

QUALIFICATIONS

      Strong teaching background. During ten years of teaching have obtained excellent results with children and have instilled a desire to learn. Thoroughly enjoy working with kids and seeing their personal growth.

EDUCATION

      MA - Curriculum Development, Boston College (1992)

      BA - Education/Speech Therapy, University of Maine, Farmington (1989)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Portland School District, Portland, ME 1989-Present

      Educator - 1996-Present. Teach first through third grade to high risk students. As chairperson of the Staff Training and Development Committee, completed a needs assessment and identified numer­ous training needs among teachers and teacher’s aides. Sold the teaching staff on the need for training and developed a training program which has met all of its objectives.

      Program Coordinator/Educator - 1991-1996. Coordinated all aspects of the Early Childhood Special Education Program, including hiring and training of staff and support profes­sionals, and the design and implementation of curriculum. Marketed the program throughout the community and in six months tripled the size of the program to 190. Persuaded parents to participate in special events with their children, resulting in a 70% increase in parent involvement. Spoke to business, community, and physician groups which gained community support for the program and enabled professionals to make appropriate referrals.

      Communication Disorders Specialist - 1989-1991. Provided therapy to students with communication disorders. Participated in all aspects of Project Redi, a screening program for kindergartners, including the selection of assessment procedures, training staff, and analyzing statistical reports. Presented information on the process to other schools which resulted in their adopting similar procedures.