How To Write an Application Letter for the School Superintendency
Adapted by Jack McKay from an article by the Indeed Editorial Team
The application letter is sent with your resume during the job application process. The letter adds more personality to your application by providing more details about your background and interest in the position, while a resume outlines your professional skills and experience in more detail. The letter may not help in the application process, but it certainly can end any chance, if poorly written or omitted.
What is an application letter?
An application letter is a standalone document you submit to a school board or search consultant to express your interest in the superintendency. The letter explains who you are as a professional and an individual. The letter should highlight your achievements and skills. This letter explains to the reader why they should ask you for an interview and highlights the key qualifications that make you a fit for their required and desired qualifications and skills.
The cover letter, in one page, should express your interest and familiarity with the school district and community. You can explain how your professional goals and aspirations align with the school board’s needs.
Application letter tips
When preparing the application letter, follow these tips to make sure your letter includes the information the school board needs:
- Emphasize your skills and abilities. The letter is your opportunity to show how your skills and experiences match directly with the desired qualifications and needs of the school district.
- Stay concise. It is important to be concise. Brevity out weights lengthy details. The details are in the resume.
- Proofread the letter. Make sure your letter does not have any grammatical or spelling errors.
- Match the desired qualifications to your experiences. Show how you are uniquely qualified for this particular superintendency and community.
- Use a professional format. Keep your application letter to one page. Format it professionally and keep it concise.
The Letter
- Create the heading. The heading should include your name and contact information, the date, The position, and the school board president’s name or the search consultant.
- Customize the letter to the specific position and school district. Compare your qualifications and experience with the list of skills in that posting. You may also want to think about specific experiences that have prepared you for the role, such as leading a team or managing a major event.
- Express your interest in the particular school district. In the first paragraph of your letter, mention the superintendency you’re applying to and where you saw the position vacancy. Briefly state the main experience and qualifications that match the desired needs of the school board or district.
- Outline your experience and qualifications. The next few paragraphs of your letter should highlight your experience, qualifications, and skills, that match the required and desired qualifications.
- Include aspects of your personality. Consider how you can show your personality while remaining professional.
- Express appreciation. Express your appreciation to the school board president or search consultant for reviewing your letter and considering you for the position.
- Close the letter. Use “Sincerely” or “Best” to close the letter. The final line of the letter should be your full name.