As an art teacher, you know exactly how to communicate your expertise and style through visual mediums – but what about when it comes to expressing your strengths in a cover letter?
Before you can instruct the next generation of artistic minds, you’ll need to create a great application. Your cover letter is the best place to convey the passion and motivation you bring to the art teacher position. In this writing guide, along with our adaptable art teacher cover letter example, we’ll cover the following topics:
- How to choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
- How to maximize the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- How to write an art teacher cover letter with no experience
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your art teacher cover letter
With 125+ cover letter examples and writing guides, Resume.io is an expert resource for job seekers in all fields and career levels. Check out our adaptable art teacher cover letter example for more ideas on how to create a polished and professional application.
Best format for an art teacher cover letter
A great format for your art teacher cover letter allows the hiring manager or principal to find the specific information they need to make a decision about your qualifications. Luckily, this structure is easy to follow and will even help you write more efficiently.
Here’s what your cover letter should include:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
This comprehensive cover letter guide can provide even more specific formatting tips and advice.
This art teacher cover letter example is designed to help you create your own.
Dear Mrs. Etting,
My love for teaching art lies in the incredibly varied nature of the role and how I am able to draw from my own practical experience as an artist. Teaching a curriculum of photography, drawing, graphic design, painting, printmaking and sculpture is deeply enjoyable. Watching each student exploring their creativity is a joy – I try to guide rather than shape. Each student has their own journey.
The record of my students in regional and national art competitions was one of the best in the state. I understand that creating art to win competitions is not an aim in itself, but the confidence that this recognition gave them took their creativity to the next level and we saw a direct correlation between competition results and final academic grades. More than half of my students took part in various competitions over the past six years.
A fine arts graduate myself, I believe in the value of studying art (including the academic aspects of Art History) and 60% of my students have gone on to study art in some capacity in higher education, with others going into related subjects such as architecture.
I enclose a portfolio of some of my students’ art competition successes and also share a link to a demonstration art lesson that I led last year. I hope that my style will be a good fit for your classroom and look forward to the opportunity of an interview to further discuss your students’ needs.
Sincerely,
Hope Poulman
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is especially important for art teachers. That’s because this is likely the one place you’ll get to show off personality and visual style on your cover letter. First, make sure your name and contact information are error-free and highlighted prominently on your cover letter. Then add a touch of creative design appropriate for the position and work environment of your potential employer.
The aim of the cover letter header: To identify your document with the necessary personal information, to add attractive and eye-catching style.
Cover letter greeting
The cover letter greeting is the place to address the person who will be reading your cover letter. For art teachers, this generally means “Dear” followed by the correct salutation and last name of the hiring manager or principal. If you are applying to a more casual position or have an existing relationship with the letter recipient, you may consider using a first name. Below you’ll find the greeting from our cover letter sample.
The aim of the cover letter greeting: To make a personal and friendly connection with the person reading the cover letter by using their name
Dear Mrs. Etting,
Cover letter introduction
Hiring managers are busy people, which is why the introduction of your cover letter needs to catch their attention from the very start. Luckily, there are many ways to accomplish this. You may choose to give a short anecdote that highlights a skill or an achievement. You may also begin with a personal statement about your motivation or passion for the job. Even a statistic can make for a powerful opening. While it is important to mention the name of the position you are applying for, make sure to avoid bland openings at all costs. Check out the introduction from our art teacher cover letter sample below.
The aim of the cover letter introduction: To catch the hiring manager’s attention with a relevant detail or anecdote about your experience and encourage them to keep reading your cover letter.
My love for teaching art lies in the incredibly varied nature of the role and how I am able to draw from my own practical experience as an artist. Teaching a curriculum of photography, drawing, graphic design, painting, printmaking and sculpture is deeply enjoyable. Watching each student exploring their creativity is a joy – I try to guide rather than shape. Each student has their own journey.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The body of the cover letter is where you’ll finally have the space to expand on your most impressive accomplishments, relevant roles and your philosophies on teaching art. If this free rein feels overwhelming, you may consider using the STAR method. First, briefly describe a Situation and the Task required of you, then describe the Action you took and the positive Result you achieved. Make sure to choose examples most relevant to the role you are applying for. Below you’ll find the body section from our art teacher cover letter sample.
Goal of the cover letter body: To give insight into your work style and experience and show why you’re the right fit for the opening.
The record of my students in regional and national art competitions was one of the best in the state. I understand that creating art to win competitions is not an aim in itself, but the confidence that this recognition gave them took their creativity to the next level and we saw a direct correlation between competition results and final academic grades. More than half of my students took part in various competitions over the past six years.
A fine arts graduate myself, I believe in the value of studying art (including the academic aspects of Art History) and 60% of my students have gone on to study art in some capacity in higher education, with others going into related subjects such as architecture.
How to close an art teacher cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Now that you’d showcased your biggest strengths, it’s time to close your cover letter with a great conclusion. Do this by creating a Call to Action. This sentence expresses your enthusiasm for the position and invites the hiring manager to get in touch with your for an interview. Then, sign off respectfully and add your full name. See the conclusion from our cover letter sample below.
Goal of the conclusion: To end the cover letter on a positive note and encourage the hiring manager to contact you for the interview
I enclose a portfolio of some of my students’ art competition successes and also share a link to a demonstration art lesson that I led last year. I hope that my style will be a good fit for your classroom and look forward to the opportunity of an interview to further discuss your students’ needs.
Sincerely,
Hope Poulman
Art teacher cover letter with no experience
The beauty of a great cover letter is that it allows you to express your strengths and convince the hiring manager that you’re the right candidate for the job – even if you don’t have much experience. There are several ways to write an effective art teacher cover letter if your experience is limited:
- Focus on your experience as an artist: A candidate who can barely sketch a stick figure likely won’t make for a great art teacher. If you want the job, that means you must have some experience as an artist to draw from. Show the employer why you’re ready to bring your skills to teaching and how it will benefit their students.
- Talk about your passion and motivation: Few become artists (or teachers!) for the fame and money – so rely on your passion for teaching and your love of art to make the case for why you’re the ideal applicant.
- Look for transferable skills: If you have experience as an artist, but no previous job as a teacher, look for transferable skills that can show your patience, attention to detail and interpersonal skills.
Avoiding mistakes in an art teacher cover letter
By getting the nuts and bolts right, you’ll put yourself ahead of many candidates who didn’t take the time to double check their cover letter. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Spelling and grammar mistakes: If you want to work in education, typos and grammatical errors are a bad look from the get-go. Make sure to use spell check and proofread before you submit.
- Generic letters: Make sure to use specific information from the job description to tailor your cover letter and show the hiring manager why you’re interested in their particular role.
- Poor formatting: A messy-looking cover letter doesn’t bode well for an art teacher. Make sure to keep yours attractive and functional. A professionally-designed cover letter template can be a great starting point.
Key takeaways
- Your cover letter is the place to convey the passion and dedication that make you an excellent art teacher so don’t miss out on this golden opportunity!
- Use the STAR method to add concrete examples of your successes and abilities.
- Check out Resume.io’s art teacher cover letter sample for more ideas on creating an attractive page layout.
You can find even more writing and formatting tips in our related education cover letter examples:
