How to Write a Letter of Recommendation for a Teacher

Updated 19 August 2023

A teacher provides instruction and guidance to students in a variety of subjects and disciplines with the aim of promoting intellectual and personal development. They design lesson plans, grade assignments, manage classroom behaviour and work closely with students, parents and colleagues to promote academic achievement and create a safe and supportive learning environment. Knowing how to write a letter of recommendation for a teacher can help you support the careers of your colleagues.

In this article, we explain what a recommendation letter is, outline how to write one for a teacher, provide a template and offer an example that you can use as inspiration.

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What is a letter of recommendation for a teacher?

Usually, you might write a letter of recommendation for a teacher if you want to endorse that teacher for an open job position, promotion or educational opportunity. For example, one of your colleagues may ask you to write a recommendation letter for them if they intend to apply for the job of school principal.

This letter then praises their skills and qualities, thereby adding credibility and support to the teacher's application. This can help them to convince the hiring manager that they're the most suitable candidate, ultimately helping their career and reputation.

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How to write a recommendation letter for a teacher

This is a guide on how to write a teacher's recommendation letter in four steps:

1. Introduce yourself

Begin the letter by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship with the teacher you want to recommend. In the introduction, state the full name of the teacher, the name of the institution you both worked at, how long they worked with you and mention both of your job titles. For example, perhaps you were their colleague or supervisor. This information helps the hiring manager better understand your relationship.

2. Give specific examples

After the introduction, you can provide examples of the teacher's accomplishments and traits. Providing real-life examples helps you to elaborate on their strengths and capabilities, while providing credibility to your own claims. Go into detail when describing their contributions to the school, including specific achievements such as accomplishments concerning student growth or curriculum development.

For instance, you can mention the innovative teaching techniques they implemented in their classroom or any special projects they led. Make sure that you highlight their skills, such as their creativity, empathy or proficiency in technology. Other in-demand teacher skills include:

Communication: Strong communication skills are essential to engaging effectively with students, parents and colleagues.
Collaboration: Collaboration allows teachers to work together with their colleagues to create an enriching educational experience for students.
Pedagogical expertise: This refers to the need for a strong knowledge of teaching methods and practices, developmentally appropriate activities and pedagogical theories that enable the teacher to design and deliver effective instruction.
Problem-solving: Being a creative and responsive problem-solver helps the teacher actively find solutions to any challenges or needs their students may have.
Evaluation skills: Teachers use their evaluation skills when performing duties such as monitoring a student's learning, tracking their progress and making decisions based on the information they find.
Commitment to professional development: Having a commitment to learning and to continuous professional development allows the teacher to maintain their skills and to keep up with the latest best practices and trends in education.
Classroom management: Classroom management involves the techniques and strategies that teachers use to create an effective and comfortable learning environment while maintaining discipline and control over the classroom, such as by monitoring behaviour or using positive reinforcement.
Lesson planning: This refers to the writing and designing of learning objectives, lesson plans and assessments.
Subject matter expertise: When a teacher has a deep knowledge of the subject they're instructing in, including both the theories and practical applications, then it's easier for them to motivate students and to answer their questions.
Data analysis: Data analysis skills, including the ability to collect, organise and interpret data, help teachers assess student performance, identify areas for improvement and modify their strategies accordingly.

3. Evaluate the teacher

Next, provide an objective evaluation of how their skills and achievements directly relate to their potential. Give your opinion on their qualities, accomplishments and personal attributes. Remember to use examples and data to support your evaluation. For example, if you mentioned their innovative teaching techniques, you can support this by describing their high test scores. The aim is to provide the hiring manager with an overall assessment of how their past experience and skills make them a great candidate for the job.

4. Close with a strong endorsement

In the closing section of your letter, express a convincingly strong endorsement of the teacher's work and offer to be available for further discussion or explanation of your letter. Make the recommendation as clear and strong as possible, letting the reader know that you have no doubts about this teacher's abilities. Make sure you provide the employer with a way of contacting you, such as via your phone number or email address. Sign off with your full name, professional title and signature.

Teacher recommendation letter template

The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.

You can use this template as a framework when drafting your letter:

Dear [Hiring manager or admissions committee], I am writing this letter to recommend [Teacher's full name] for [Job or position] at [School or institution]. I have known [Teacher's name] for [Time period] years and had the pleasure of working with them as [Your position and relationship to teacher].

In the time that I have known [Teacher's name], they have impressed me with their [Soft or hard skill], [Soft or hard skill] and [Soft or hard skill]. [Teacher's name] exhibits exceptional [specific example of how the teacher demonstrated their skill]. They consistently demonstrate a high level of [trait] which makes them incredibly effective at [aspect of their job].

[Teacher's name] has a solid foundation in [Subject matter expertise] and is able to engage their students effectively by designing and delivering [relevant details of how the teacher delivered lessons]. Besides being a masterful educator, [Teacher's name] is also [Quality]. This trait enables them to [Specific example of how the teacher demonstrated their trait], which had a positive impact on both the student's academic performance and their personal development.

I believe [Teacher's name] is an excellent candidate for [Job or position] at [School or institution]. They have [Specific examples of how the teacher demonstrated their skills and traits] and are an asset to any educational institution. I wholeheartedly recommend them for [Job or position].

If you require more information or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [Phone number or email address].

Sincerely,

[Your full name and signature]

Example of a teacher recommendation letter

When writing your own letter, you can use the template above as a guide, but remember to add your personal tone of voice to the material, including your own examples and details about the teacher you want to recommend. For reference, this example of a recommendation letter from a supervisor uses the template above as inspiration:

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Dear Mr. Tan,

I am writing this letter to recommend Chua Siang Leng for the position of a mathematics teacher at Orchard College. I have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Chua in my position as head of the mathematics department for the past five years of her tenure at Merlion Junior College.

In the time that I have known her, Ms. Chua has impressed me with her deep understanding of mathematics and her ability to communicate complex ideas in ways that were easy for students to understand. Ms. Chua has a solid foundation in mathematical theory and was able to explain the relevant concepts to her students in a manner that was both engaging and concise.

Ms. Chua successfully uses a variety of teaching strategies to engage her students, including project-based learning, teamwork and digital collaboration tools. Additionally, her strong communication skills enhance her effectiveness in grading student work, providing constructive feedback and guiding students towards academic success.

Throughout her tenure at Merlion Junior College, Ms. Chua displayed excellent classroom management and a connection with students that made her an exceptional educator. Her empathy and kindness towards the students are perhaps most evident in the consistently high grades and impressive end-of-term test scores that her class achieves every year.

I believe that Ms. Chua is an outstanding candidate for the open position and a valuable addition to the mathematics faculty at Orchard College. Ms. Chua is professional, knowledgeable and committed to student success. I recommend her without any hesitation.

If you require more information or have any further questions, please contact me at +65 9555 5555.