A teacher resignation letter is written by an individual in a teaching position to notify his/her employer that he/she no longer wishes to hold their current employment.
The decision to resign from a teaching position may be due to several reasons- either good or bad, but the recommended practice should be to inform the school’s administration and then write an official teacher resignation letter. Besides, one may also need to write to the parents to inform them of leaving the school. Regardless of the circumstances behind the departure, one should keep the teacher resignation letter professional and respectful to the employer, and he/she should write the notice as early as possible to allow the educational institution enough time for finding a new teacher or in the very least, a substitute tutor.
Pre-Writing Considerations
When writing a teacher resignation letter addressed to the students’ parents, the teacher is advised to write a professional and encouraging letter. However, when writing to the administration or the school’s principal, one will want to be more direct but equally professional and upbeat.
To write an effective teacher resignation letter, consider the following pre-writing things:
Check the contract
When planning to resign from a teaching position, it is recommended that the teacher gives adequate notice to the school’s administration to help them transition. Most employee handbooks and contracts stipulate how much notice one should give before exiting an organization. Therefore, before writing the teacher resignation letter, it is vital to check the employment contract to ascertain how much notice to give and select an appropriate date to allow a smooth transition.
Decide whether or not to include departure explanation
While writing a teacher resignation letter, it is wise to note that providing a departure explanation is entirely optional. This means that one doesn’t have to include it unless the employer requires it.
However, some people may find it necessary to include a reason for leaving the organization. If one decides to include the departure explanation, they should provide a vague or general explanation. For example, one can state that they are leaving for personal reasons.
Writing a Teacher Resignation Letter
When writing your teacher resignation letter, you should remain positive and wish your coworkers, students, and parents the best in the future. You should also express optimism as you open a new chapter in your career. If you’re leaving because of some misunderstandings with the school administration, these sentiments should not feature in the resignation letter.
It’s also essential to mention your last day in school and how long you’ve served as a teacher in the institution. If possible, you can specify the reason that has made you resign. Before submitting your letter, proofread and edit it to confirm it has no spelling or grammar mistakes. And finally, send your quitting notification in time to avoid any disturbance in the students’ learning program.
To write an effective teacher resignation letter, consult the following step by step professional guide:
Step 1- Address the letter properly
The writer’s address should appear at the topmost of the teacher resignation letter. Provide the sender’s name and contact details, including the phone number and email address.
After providing the sender’s address, proceed to write the receiver’s address. It is crucial that one knows whom to address the letter to directly. Therefore, review the employee handbook or training manual and see if there are details of who needs to receive the teacher’s resignation letter or email. Typically, the receiver of the teacher resignation letter will be the school’s principal and the administration. To address this section adequately, including the receiver’s name, job title/position, and address, including the state, city, and zip code.
Step 2- Date the letter
Immediately after writing the receiver’s address, skip a single line and include the date on which the letter is written. It is important to note that the date of the letter should be current.
Step 3- Salutation and Introduction
Start the teacher resignation letter with a salutation that is directed at the person who will receive the letter, for example, Dear Mr. George Washington. Doing this creates rapport, and it makes the letter seem more personalized to the reader.
After writing a formal salutation, include a brief introductory paragraph. In this section, state the intent to resign from the school, including the job title, and clearly state the effective date of the job resignation. Providing the exact date on which the teacher plans to exit the school is especially recommended if he/she leaves the school in the middle of a school year or before the expiration of a contract.
Step 4- Body paragraphs
In body paragraph one, the sender of the teacher’s resignation letter should provide details of their final workday. To calculate the final workday, consider the school’s policy on the resignation notice period and follow the notice policy to the latter to avoid being penalized or leaving the school on a bad note. In essence, one might need an employer reference letter from the school later on in life. Therefore, make sure to give as much notice as possible to allow the school to transition easily and efficiently.
The individual writing the teacher resignation letter can use the body paragraph two of the letter to include essential information. This section should be detailed, but it should be brief, concise, and maintain a positive tone. In this section, the writer can briefly discuss the following important information:
4.1 Mention a positive experience
No matter the circumstances behind the decision to resign from the school, one may want to mention that they had a great time working at the school and teaching the students. This is paramount because the teacher’s resignation letter will be on the record, and therefore professionalism is of the essence. Besides, one may need a recommendation letter from the school in the future; thus, leaving on good terms is of utmost importance.
4.2 Add a thank you note
The writer of the teacher’s resignation letter can thank the school principal or the administration for allowing him/her to work at the school and providing them with a conducive working environment. If the employer had provided some training and developmental opportunities for the teachers, the writer can also briefly mention that they are grateful for such learning opportunities.
4.3 Offer to help with the transition
When writing the teacher resignation letter or email, it is also recommended that one shows their willingness to help with the transition. However, one should avoid promising things they know they might not be able to deliver. In this regard, one can indicate that they would be happy to ensure a smooth transition for the students and the replacement teacher after their departure.
4.4 Talk about the next goals
The writer of the teacher’s resignation letter can end their body paragraphs by explaining what they intend to do after leaving the school. If they are resigning to pursue further studies, they can mention that in the teacher resignation letter. If the teacher intends to take a break from their career to attend to other personal matters, they can indicate it in the letter. However, if the teacher is leaving for another job, he/she should avoid including sensitive details about the next job, e.g., remuneration details.
Step 5- Close with a Sign-off
The writer can conclude the teacher resignation letter by restating their appreciation and gratitude for the school’s administration and the principal and offer to remain in contact with the school in case they need any help transitioning.
Afterward, write a sign-off statement, provide the sender’s full legal name, and write the signature.
Free Templates and Examples
Here are customizable templates that can be downloaded for free:
Teacher Resignation Letter Samples
In order to develop a better understanding of the format, tone, and sentence structuring, go through the samples given below:
Teacher resignation letter sample – Text version
Aggrey Myles
201 Savestay Lane
New Jersey NJ, 97100
Cell: (500) 917-3434
[email protected]
Dear Prof. Malian,
This letter serves as my two weeks official resignation notice from my position as a grade 2 teacher at Parkways Junior School. My last day of employment will be October 20, 20XX.
My family will be relocating to Wales in the next month, and thus I must leave with them. I must say this is one of my most difficult decisions that I have to make because I have been a teacher in this school for the last 20 years. But I find consolation in that I have inspired so many students to succeed in their education. I will miss the lovely community of teachers, students, and parents at Parkways Junior School.
I thank the school administration for the chance to exploit my skills and talent to inspire the young generation for all these years. As I leave, I wish you all the best, and I promise to keep in touch.
You can always reach me via (444) 323-6780 or email [email protected]
Sincerely,
Aggrey Myles
Teacher resignation letter sample – Word format
Teacher resignation email sample – Text version
Subject: resignation- Aggrey Myles
Dear Ms. Debra,
I write this letter to inform you of my decision to resign from Excel Schools at the end of this current year.
Although my past three years as a teacher in your institution have been the best part of my career, I must make this tough decision and enrol for higher education. I have enjoyed helping the students lay a solid education foundation for their lives besides interacting with the fantastic team of co-workers.
It now time to advance my studies and craft another significant journey in my career. I thank you all for your cooperation support and guidance.
I wish my co-workers and the student’s success. I promise to keep in touch.
Thank you for your love, patience, and understanding.
Sincerely,
Jane Mark
Teacher resignation email sample – Word format
Tips For Writing a Teacher Resignation Letter
While there are several reasons for resigning from a current teaching post, it is always essential to remain positive and professional throughout the teacher resignation letter.
Here are some tips to ensure the intention to resign is communicated clearly and professionally:
Be concise
A teacher resignation letter should be brief and straightforward. The only essential information to include is the sender’s contact information, the intent to resign, and the effective resignation date. Any additional information should be communicated carefully to avoid “burning bridges” that may be essential for one’s career in the future.
Give enough notice
Giving adequate notice before resigning from work is always highly advisable. This ensures that the school has enough time to prepare adequately for one’s departure, and it generally demonstrates professionalism.
Demonstrate professionalism
Regardless of the circumstances for leaving the school, one should show professionalism by maintaining an upbeat tone and mentioning a positive experience while teaching at the school. Whereas it might be tempting to include negative expressions in the teacher resignation letter, one should refrain from doing so to remain in “good books” with the employer.
Avoid using improper language
Despite the relationship between the resigning teacher and the recipient of the teacher resignation letter, one should not use improper language while composing the letter. Keep in mind that the teacher resignation letter will be documented; thus, the addressee won’t be the only one reading it.
Consider the timing
If an individual plans to resign from their current employment, it is always wise to consider the right timing and avoid leaving during the school year as much as possible. Remember resigning from a teaching job mid-year could look bad to future employers, and consider that finding a suitable replacement in the middle of a school year could also be very difficult for the current employer.
Note: Make final payment arrangements with the relevant department
Instead of including details about the final paycheck, the writer of the teacher resignation letter should discuss these with the relevant department rather than including them in the resignation letter.
Request to schedule an exit interview
If the individual resigning from a teaching post has any constructive criticism that they feel they should share, he/she can request to have an exit interview with the superintendent or the administration to discuss the matters in detail instead of writing them in the teacher resignation letter.
Proofread
A teacher resignation letter or email is a formal document, and like any other formal document, grammatical and spelling errors are unacceptable. Therefore, before forwarding the letter to the recipient, consider proofreading it or ask other objective individuals to review it as they might detect mistakes that the writer missed.
Conclusion
When quitting a teaching position, it is always best to inform the school’s administration and parents about leaving by writing them a positive and professional teacher resignation letter or email. Whereas writing the teacher resignation letter can be challenging as it requires tact and consideration, one must find a way to compose the letter professionally as it will set the tone for the teacher’s final weeks at the school and their relationship with the school moving forward.
