How to Resign From a Teaching Position Gracefully
If you are resigning from a teaching job, you need to notify the school administrators and inform your principal by letter. No matter the circumstances for your departure, you should keep your resignation letter professional and respectful to your employer. In this article, we outline how to announce your resignation as a teacher, what to include in the letter and who to submit it to.
What to include in a teacher resignation letter
Your teacher resignation letter should include the basic information about your resignation, including your projected final working day. If you do not wish to share information as to why you are resigning, you can either use a general term like "personal reasons" or simply not specify anything about why you are leaving. In most cases, teachers speak to their principal or department head if they are resigning, allowing them the chance to explain their reasons or share their plans, so the formal letter of resignation can be brief and factual.
Your resignation letter is an official document, so you should keep your message concise and professional. If you do want to include any personal comments, ensure they are positive in nature. Although it might be tempting to use your resignation as an opportunity to address any issues that have contributed to your desire to move on, it's best to keep it minimal. If you have something you would like to say to management, you can request an exit interview to go into further detail.
You can also include any relevant information about your classes, offer to help during the transition process and give details of any ongoing projects that your replacement may need to know about. Be realistic about your intentions, and don't offer to help if you aren't prepared to follow through on it.
You might also want to draft a letter for the parents and children in your school, but this can be written in a much less formal style and include some more personal touches.
Related: Resignation Letter Due to a Career Change: Tips and Examples
How to write a resignation letter
If you are planning to resign from your teaching role, you will need to write a formal letter, even if you expect to announce the resignation in person. To write a resignation letter, you should:
- Find out who you should address your letter to
- Check your contract to ascertain what your notice period is
- Calculate your final day
- Use a template
- Include important information
- Ask if you can be of assistance
1. Find out who you should address your letter to
Check your employee handbook or training manual to see if there are details of who needs to be informed about your resignation. If you work in a school, this will usually be the administration and the principal, but if you work in a different setting, you may need to contact the HR department or inform an agency manager.
2. Check your contract to ascertain what your notice period is
Notice periods can vary depending on how senior you are, how long you have been in the post and the specific arrangements in your workplace. You will need to check your contract to see how much notice you are required to give, but if it is a standard two-week period, then this is the absolute minimum you should give. If you are able to give more notice, it is usually welcome as it will help your employers ensure a smooth transition for your students.
3. Calculate your final day
Your notice period is the minimum you should give when calculating your final workday, but no matter how much notice you are giving, your resignation letter should include those details. If you are leaving during the school year, your employers will be under pressure to replace you quickly, so try to give as much notice as possible to make that process easier. Leaving on a positive note can help you secure a reference if you need one in the future.
4. Use a template
Writing a resignation letter is easier when you have some inspiration, so using a template can help you with ideas for the wording and format.
5. Include important information
Give your name and contact details, your job title and your departure date. Include anything positive you want to say, but keep it short.
6. Ask if you can be of assistance
If you can offer to help with the transition to your replacement, then you can do so, and if you need to make any other arrangements you can refer to them if necessary.
Once you have included everything you need, finish with a professional sign-off and give it to your employer at the first opportunity.
Related: How to Write a Resignation Letter
Tips for writing a teacher letter of resignation
When you are writing your resignation letter, keep in mind the following:
- You don't have to include details of why you are leaving. It's fine to be vague if you prefer not to explain your reasons.
- Keep your language professional and the tone of the letter positive.
- Consider your timing and avoid leaving during the middle of the school year, if possible.
- If you need to make arrangements for your final paycheck, do these with the department in question rather than including them in your resignation letter.
- If you have had a conversation about your resignation already, you can refer to it in your letter.
- Find something positive to say about your time working at the school.
- Thank the principal and administration for the opportunity.
Your resignation letter may be referred to if a future employer asks for a reference, so it's important to leave on a positive note, if possible.
Teacher resignation letter template
To write a resignation letter from a teaching role, follow this simple format:
[ Contact details ]
[ Date ]
[ Address the relevant individuals, ]
[ Briefly outline the details of your resignation and your expected leaving date. ]
[ Include a paragraph about your positive experience in your current role. ]
[ Thank them, ]
[ Signature ]
Download Resignation Letter Template
To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.
Teacher resignation letter example
Here is an example of a resignation letter:
760 Sage Drive
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Oct. 28, 2019
Dear Ms. Weaver,
I am writing to inform you that I am resigning from the post of English teacher at Bayside Elementary School. My final working day will be November 25.
My time at Bayside has been hugely enjoyable, and I really appreciate the opportunities I have been given here. I wish the faculty and students the best of luck for the future and will be happy to do whatever I can to help with a smooth transition.
Many thanks for the opportunities you have offered me.
Yours sincerely,
Beth Warrington
How to Resign From a Teaching Position Gracefully
Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/letter-of-resignation-teacher