How to Write a Teacher Resignation Letter (18 Best Samples)

A Teacher Resignation Letter is a written document that notifies a school administration of your intent to resign from your position.

This letter is essential regardless of the reasoning behind the employee’s decision. It is typically hand-delivered at least two weeks before your last day. A resignation letter allows the school to select a substitute in advance and testifies to a teacher’s professionalism. Before writing, it’s essential to understand how to resign, the components of a resignation letter, and how the document is typically formatted. The following sections provide an in-depth look into the resigning process and the content contained in a resignation letter.

How to Resign?

Once you’re sure about your decision to resign, you must proceed with the correct protocol. If you are not careful during the resignation process, it could hurt your relationship with supervisors and have professional consequences. You may also second-guess your resignation if you’re not prepared.

Follow the steps below to make sure you do not regret your resignation:

Solidify your decision

If you’re not sure you will secure a better opportunity after your resignation, it may be worth it not to resign. However, it’s not best to leave in the middle of the school year without good reason. Leaving at this time can have a negative impact on your class and put pressure on the district. In addition, this act of leaving will likely be viewed negatively by the administration regardless of your professionalism, and you will risk potentially burning a bridge.

Find a new job

Securing a new position is the most responsible way to resign from your job, whether you are a teacher or not. This ensures you will not have a long transition period or face potential unemployment. Finding a new job also prevents significant gaps in your resume that may indicate impulsivity to a future employer.

Inform your coordinator

Before writing your resignation letter, inform your coordinator of your intent to resign. Your supervisor will use the advance notice to search for someone who can fill your position. Allowing them this extra time helps to ensure that you’re not ending this employee-employer relationship on a sour note.

Offer your assistance

The easier the change is for the administration, the more likely they will maintain a positive view of you after your departure. Consider ways to assist the school in the transition, such as providing your contact information to a new hire and offering this support to your supervisors.

Write a resignation letter

To formally resign, you must write a resignation letter. This letter must be both thorough and straightforward so that there is no room for misinterpretation.

Hand it over to the coordinator

The letter must be delivered to your supervisor so that it may be filed with the school board. Your supervisor can also help you to clarify if you need to make additional copies for other superiors. Once this letter is turned in, your resignation is official.

Before notifying your supervisor of your resignation, follow the steps below to ensure that you’re prepared to move forward with the process:

Ascertain to whom your letter must be addressed

Typically, you must address your letter to one or several supervisors and school administrators. Your superintendent can likely help you determine who must be contacted. Your training/employee handbook may also provide clues as to who should receive your letter.

Keep in mind the notice period

Your required notice period is likely specified in your contract. If you are unsure, it is best to contact your supervisor. Leaving before the proper notice period ends will make it hard to secure a good reference from that employer. If you are leaving in the middle of the school year, you should offer to extend your notice period, if possible, as it may be difficult for the administration to find a replacement at that time.

Select your final day

Your final day will be at the end of your notice period. Therefore, it will likely be at least two weeks after your letter was submitted. However, you must clarify the exact date that you will finish, as it is an essential part of the resignation letter.

Schedule an exit interview

It is best practice to schedule an exit interview with your superintendent or other principal before officially resigning. This exit interview will give you the chance to have a private discussion about your reasons for leaving if you do not wish to include them in the letter. However, the tone of this conversation should remain positive and professional. Your exit interview is not a good time to complain about the school. However, there may be a mutual exchange of constructive criticism that can help both parties move forward.

The four main parts of a teacher resignation letter are the letterhead, introduction, body, and conclusion. It’s helpful to write the letter section by section.

Follow the listed steps to ensure that each piece of your letter contains all the essential content:

Letterhead

Starting with a letterhead adds formality to your letter. Letterheads include essential identifying information about the sender and recipient. Start by writing your name and contact information, including your phone number, email address, and home address. Then write the name and the specific position of the person to whom the letter is being addressed. Next, provide the name and address of the school, and finish with the date.

On a letterhead, each piece of information is written on its line, as in the following example:

Mary Jane
1000 Market St.
School District, NY 10001
111-222-3333
[email protected]

November 30th, 2021

Andy Johnson
Superintendent
New York School District
2000 Education Lane
School District, NY, 10001

Introduction

The introduction to your letter announces your resignation and provides necessary details. Start with a salutation that directly addresses your recipient, such as “Dear Mr. Johnson:”. Then, clearly state your intent to resign. You may refer to the prior conversation you’ve had with your supervisor regarding your resignation. Be sure to specify the exact position you are leaving so that there is no room for misinterpretation. Finally, include the date of your final day of work.

A successful introduction needs only a few sentences to convey the required information. For example,

“I am writing to inform you of my resignation from the position of language arts teacher at the New York School District. My final day of work will be December 20^th, 2021.”

Body

In the body paragraph of your letter, you may wish to go into more detail. The body paragraphs allow you to explain your resignation and reflect on your experiences at the school. However, you may choose to keep it straightforward and leave out nonessential information.

• Tell the reason for resignation if you want: It is okay to state that you’re resigning for personal reasons instead of providing a specific explanation. However, suppose you are comfortable with it. In that case, the body of the letter can be used to provide reasoning for your resignation, whether it’s related to another job or your personal life.
  Only discuss your reasoning if you can do so professionally and positively, as your letter will be kept in a file. If the reason involves criticism or a dispute with the school, do not mention this.

• Explain your experiences in the school: Again, since your letter will be kept in a file, it should reflect a professional attitude. Therefore, it is good practice to write a few lines about your experience with the school and how it has helped you learn and develop.

Conclusion

The ending of the letter should be in sync with the content written above to conclude the resignation letter efficiently.  It includes the following elements:

• State gratitude: State gratitude to the supervisor. This gratitude will help you maintain professional development when you need a recommendation letter later.

• Sign the document: Sign the document with your typed full name and signature below a complimentary close. You may also include contact information under the signature.

A resignation letter is an important document, as it is often your final and lasting impression on the school district. Hopefully, this article has helped you to feel confident in your ability to write a proper letter. Keep in mind the essential goals of making clear statements, maintaining a positive tone, and using the resources available to you (such as templates and samples). If you apply these tips, you can ensure that your letter is professional and does not impede a future relationship with your administration.

Here are free customizable teacher resignation templates to help you ease with the process:

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Following are some quick tips for you:

• A resignation letter should be brief and straightforward. It does not need to be longer than a page.
• When writing, maintain your professionalism by omitting negative information and using proper word choices.
• Avoid slang language or grammar/spelling errors. It would be best if you also steered clear of money talk.
• Do not mention your future salary or use the letter to ask for final payments from the school.
• Before notifying parents of your departure, be sure to speak with your supervisor to clarify any procedures or protocols you are expected to follow. The administration may ask you not to contact the parents and handle the communication regarding your resignation.
• If you end up sending a resignation letter or email to parents, the same rules of positivity and professionalism apply. Your correspondence with parents should be enthusiastic and help calm their fears of the adverse effects of your resignation on their children.
• Be sure to emphasize the positive experiences a new teacher could provide for the students.