Trying to write a letter of recommendation for a teacher? Use this teacher recommendation letter template to put your thoughts in order and offer helpful information about the person you’re referring. Tailor this sample to fit your feedback on that specific person.
A blank page can be scary when you have a lot to say – where do you start? What’s the words and tone that will make the best impression? To help you figure this out, we created a short guide on how to write a teacher letter of recommendation along with a template and example you can use to flesh out your own letter.
This guide can be used if you’re writing a letter to recommend a teacher or if you’re a teacher who wants to recommend a student. Our own template focuses on the first case, but you can easily apply the same principles to other recommendation letters.
A thoughtful letter of recommendation can make all the difference for a teacher seeking a new position. As their colleague, supervisor, parent, or student, you hold valuable insights into their abilities and achievements. By taking the time to craft a compelling recommendation letter, you have the power to highlight their strengths and convey why they would excel at the role.
Follow these tips to write an effective letter that gives the teacher’s application a major boost:
Understand the Purpose
A letter of recommendation showcases a teacher’s qualifications and competencies. It provides hiring managers with a third-party perspective on the candidate’s expertise, work ethic, and potential for success. The letter elaborates on strengths briefly highlighted in their resume and cover letter, bringing them to life through detailed examples. Rather than making broad statements, use vivid details to illustrate the teacher’s impact.
Speak to Their Teaching Abilities
At the core, the letter should capture the teacher’s excellence as an educator. Discuss:
- Their mastery of the subject matter
- Skills in delivering engaging lessons suited to diverse learning needs
- Classroom management and organization
- Ability to create a stimulating learning environment
- Talent for employing innovative and creative teaching techniques
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
Provide specific anecdotes showcasing their instructional abilities. Mention any awards, formal recognition, or quantifiable metrics like improved test scores.
Emphasize Interpersonal Skills
Today’s teachers do far more than impart academic lessons – they build relationships, communicate with various stakeholders, and collaborate with colleagues. Shed light on the teacher’s:
- Rapport with students and ability to motivate them
- Partnerships with parents, counselors, and administrators
- Teamwork, cooperation, and leadership among peers
- Communication style and interpersonal tact
Give examples of how they foster positive connections with others involved in education.
Discuss Personal Traits
While qualifications are crucial, who the teacher is as a person also matters. Describe personal qualities like:
- Passion and enthusiasm for teaching
- Dedication to the growth and wellbeing of students
- Patience, empathy, caring, and compassion
- Creativity, inquisitiveness, and love of learning
- High integrity and ethical standards
- Resilience, grit, and ability to handle challenges
- Self-motivation and personal accountability
These traits influence the learning environment they create and their relationships with students. They also shape the teacher’s contribution to the school community.
Quantify Accomplishments
Whenever possible, move beyond general descriptions and provide measurable achievements. For example:
- Improved standardized test scores by 15% over three years
- Won State Teacher of the Year award in 2019
- Led district-wide initiative on digital literacy, training over 100 teachers
- Coached school basketball team to three statewide victories
- Oversaw expansion of after-school tutoring program from 10 to 50 students
Metrics add credibility and speak volumes about the teacher’s track record.
Craft an Impactful Opening
Start with a sentence identifying who you are and your relationship to the teacher. Share details on how you know them and for how long. This establishes your credibility right away.
Some opening lines could be:
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As Madison’s 11th grade English teacher for the past 5 years, I’ve seen her passion and gifts as an educator up-close.
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During my time as principal at Jefferson Elementary, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside John for over 8 years.
Then offer 1-2 sentences summarizing your strong recommendation and highlighting one or two stellar qualities you’ll expand on later.
Provide Vivid Examples
Avoid vague, generic descriptions of skills and strengths. Use vivid examples to “show” rather “tell” why this teacher exceeds expectations. Share stories that reveal their:
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Dedication – How they tutored a struggling child after school for months to boost their confidence and grades.
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Creativity – The interactive science museum they designed inside the classroom to bring concepts to life.
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Leadership – How they lead the transition to a new district-wide curriculum, providing ongoing training and support for fellow teachers.
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Compassion – The way they lent an empathetic ear to a shy, insecure student to build their self-esteem.
Concrete evidence brings the teacher’s excellence to life better than any adjective could.
Use Your Unique Perspective
Write from the heart using details only you can provide based on your relationship with the teacher.
As a colleague, you may focus on teamwork, professionalism, and their role in the teacher community. As a parent, emphasize their impact on your child’s growth and share specific anecdotes. As a student, describe how they motivated you to learn and modeled kindness or resilience.
Leverage your one-of-a-kind point of view rather than simply reiterating their resume.
Focus on Potential, Not Just Past
While credentials and accomplishments are pivotal, discuss the teacher’s potential for future success. Highlight their eagerness to continue honing their craft,Natural ability for mentorship, Skill at implementing technology to supplement instruction, And overall dedication to lifelong learning.
Discuss specific ways they plan to expand their instructional abilities, help students thrive, or contribute to the new school community.
Follow Proper Letter Format
Use standard business letter format with your contact information header, the date, formal salutation, paragraph breaks, professional tone, and signature. Format enhances readability.
Double check for typos, grammar issues, and odd formatting since errors distract from your message. Also use the teacher’s full name and the proper job title throughout for clarity.
Offer to Answer Follow-Up Questions
Close by providing your contact details and expressing willingness to answer any other questions the hiring managers may have. Offering yourself as an available resource increases your credibility and demonstrates sincere support for the teacher.
A strong close also reiterates your unequivocal endorsement of the candidate.
Proofread Several Times
Before submitting your letter, step away then re-read it from start to finish multiple times. This allows you to catch subtle errors and see if any section feels redundant or unclear.
Look out for moments when stronger word choices or vivid examples would make the content even more compelling. You want the letter to represent the teacher in the best possible way, so invest time perfecting it.
Request Updates From the Teacher
Check in with the teacher periodically to see if they got the job and hear how your letter impacted the process. Understanding the difference your words made provides helpful context for writing even better letters in the future. You’ll also get to celebrate the great news together if they secured the position!
Writing a powerful letter of recommendation is incredibly fulfilling since you know it could be pivotal in advancing a teacher’s career. By thoughtfully highlighting their unique strengths, you help paint a complete picture of their fit and potential. Your insights give credibility to their qualifications, bringing them to life on the page. With a well-crafted letter that resonates with readers, you can give an exemplary teacher the perfect advantage.
How to write a letter of recommendation for a teacher
The process is straightforward:
- Ask about the purpose of this letter.
- Recall your experiences and opinions on the person asking the recommendation.
- Modify our template to fit your own story.
Consider the purpose
Before you start thinking about what you should write in your reference letter for a teacher, spend some time on the why; this will determine the approach you need to take. Is the teacher asking for recommendation applying for a new job at a school? Perhaps, a university? Or do they want to enter a graduate program or a voluntary teaching assignment at some other country?
The answers to these questions will help you include the right information. For example, if this teacher has applied for a Master’s program in special education, it’d be helpful to mention their work with children with special needs (if applicable). If they hope to go to another country to teach young adults, you could mention their language skills, work with immigrant children and inclusive behavior in the classroom.
If you don’t have this information, consider asking this teacher for more details. If they could provide you with the job description for the job they’re applying for, even better. Otherwise, choose more generic examples that speak to their professional skills and personal qualities and talents.
How to Get Teachers to Write The BEST Recommendation Letters (according to UPenn Admissions!!!)
What is a letter of recommendation for a teacher?
Related: Best Teacher Cover Letter (Examples and Templates) A letter of recommendation for a teacher is written to showcase a teacher’s qualifications, skills, and achievements. It helps potential employers, such as schools and educational institutions, evaluate the candidate’s suitability for a teaching position.
Can a principal write a letter of recommendation for a teacher?
Principals also may write letters of recommendation for the teachers at their school. A recommendation letter for a teacher may include specific references to achievements, skills or values that make the teacher in question a suitable candidate for the position or accolade to which they’re applying.
What is a recommendation letter?
A recommendation letter, also known as a reference letter, is a document that provides insight into the professional and personal qualities of a teacher. It is typically written by a colleague, supervisor, or principal who has worked closely with the teacher and can vouch for their skills, experience, and character.
Who should ask for a recommendation letter?
Recommendation letters are an important part of the teacher’s professional portfolio and can provide valuable insight into the teacher’s character, skills, and experience. Students, therefore, should carefully consider who to ask for a recommendation and how to ask them in a professional and respectful manner.
