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Cover Letter Guidelines for Ed Leadership Students
Your cover letter should
• Be one to one-and-a-half pages in length with short, clear paragraphs
• Single space within paragraphs; double space between paragraphs
• Describe you, not your previous employer
• Outline the realization of the district’s goals
• Show that you have done your homework (know district/school and its needs)
• Be error free – spelling, punctuation, and grammar must be perfect
• Be positive, void of anything negative (districts want positive leadership)
• Clearly describe YOU and give the district the opportunity to assess the match between you and the position
• Highlight (but not repeat) information in resume that is germane to the position and the district’s needs
In drafting the cover letter, you must assess your knowledge, disposition, skill and match to the position and
district. The letter will be the first impression the district has of you and should bring out the highlights of your
resume and your knowledge of the district and position. It is an opportunity to explain and expand your resume
with a sample of your writing, philosophy and vision, and to establish how these conform to the needs and
expectations of the district/school. The cover letter should contain the following four sections.
Paragraph One
• Begin by stating the position for which you are applying
• Include that you are aware of the duties and responsibilities of the position
• State whether you meet all of the qualifications – if you do not, specify which qualifications you do not meet or
indicate when they will be met
Paragraph Two
• Highlight the knowledge, skill and experience that you will bring to the district
• Intent should be to inform the district about what you can offer them for the future as opposed to what you
have accomplished for someone else in the past. Example: state that you bring two years of experience in
administering a primary reading program, instead of stating that you ran the Distar Program for the XYZ District
• Summarize your resume – might include the highest degree attained, total number of years in education,
relevant training or experience, etc.
• Can include further explanation and/or additional information not included in your resume – information about
your background, the types of students with whom you have worked, evaluations, successes with particular
students, other relevant information.
Paragraph Three – Your Match with the District
• Show how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the current and future needs of the school/district
• Become knowledgeable about the history, current issues and future demands of the district
• Analyze the needs of the district and position in light of your experience and abilities – this is the opportunity to
show that you are the right match
Paragraph Four – Thankful and Bold Conclusion
• Offer a thank you for the time and effort the district took to review your application materials
• Request an opportunity to meet to further discuss your qualifications
Source:
School Leader Internship: Developing, Mentoring and Evaluating Your Leadership Experiences (Martin, Wright, Danzig,
Flanary & Brown, 2005)