Nearly one in five teachers say they definitely won’t or may not return to their classroom jobs next year. If you’re one of the many who’ve decided it’s time to move on, you may wonder what’s next. First up: Schedule a conversation with your principal or supervisor. Then, submit your letter of resignation. Fortunately, that part is easy! Find out what to include in your teacher resignation letter, plus see examples and get free templates you can customize in a flash.

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How To Write a Teacher Resignation Letter Tips

A resignation letter is simply the formal document your employer will add to your file, verifying that you resigned from your job voluntarily. That’s it. It’s short and very easy to write.

IMPORTANT: This is not a multi-page screed describing everything you hate about your job, dashed off in triumph and delivered by storming into your principal’s office. It’s also not a place to write a love letter to your school, although you can include a statement about being grateful to have worked there or something similar. Despite what you’ve seen in movies, a resignation letter is just a piece of paper for your file, nothing more.

Here are the basics:

Use Formal Business Letter Format

Write this official document as a standard business letter. If you’ve forgotten the format, here’s a refresher. You can print out the letter and present it in person or via mail, or attach it to an email, depending on your school district requirements.

Include Only Basic Information

Your letter doesn’t need to say much at all, just these basics:

• Current date: This will help verify that you gave the required amount of notice.
• Decision to resign: Just write one simple sentence stating that you’ve made the decision to resign. There’s no need to include a reason (and in fact, it’s probably better not to).
• Final day of employment: Even if you mention a “two-week notice” in your letter, be sure to include the exact final date that you’ll be working.
• Full legal name: Include your name as it appears on your contract or employment paperwork.

That’s it! We told you it was easy!

Examples of Teacher Resignation Letters

Here are a few examples of teacher resignation letters for different scenarios.

End-of-School-Year Teacher Resignation Letter

April 12, 2026

This letter is to confirm that I am resigning my position as a second grade teacher at Springfield Elementary School at the end of the current school year. My final day will be Wednesday, June 3, 2026. I’ve appreciated the opportunities I had to learn and grow here and wish the school every success in the future.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hoover

Midyear Teacher Resignation Letter

January 23, 2026

This letter confirms my decision to resign from my teaching position at John Adams High School, effective two weeks from the date of this letter. My final day will be Friday, February 6, 2024. I will do my best over my final two weeks to ensure a smooth transition of my duties.

Sincerely,
George Hamilton Feeny

Teacher Resignation Letter Templates

Copy and paste the text from these templates, or fill out the form on this page to get fully editable Google Doc templates. Either way, this is a quick and easy way to take care of this part of your resignation process.

Template #1: Paper Letter of Resignation

[Your Name][Your Address][City, State, Zip Code][Your Email Address][Your Phone Number] [Date] [Principal’s Name][School Name][School Address][City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Principal’s Name],

I am writing to formally resign from my position as [Your Position] at [School Name], effective [Last Working Day]. I’ve truly appreciated my time working, learning, and growing here and am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had.

Sincerely,
[Signature][Full Legal Name]

Template #2: Email Letter of Resignation

Subject: Resignation Letter of [Your Name]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

This is to confirm my decision to resign from my position as [Your Position] at [School Name] at the end of the current school year. My final working day will be [Last Day of Employment]. Please know that my time here has been very special to me, and I wish everyone at [School Name] success in the future.

Sincerely,
[Full Legal Name]

Teacher Resignation Letter FAQs

What is a teacher resignation letter?

A teacher resignation letter is a short, simple document stating your intent to resign your position. Your employer will keep this letter in your personnel file.

What should I include in my resignation letter?

Write your resignation using a business letter format, and include the current date, your decision to resign, your final day of work, and your full legal name and signature. If you like, you can include one more sentence about appreciating your time at the school, or stating your willingness to help make the transition period easier. It’s a nice way to leave a professional, polished image behind as you move on, but it’s not required.

When do I write and submit my teacher resignation letter?

Write and submit your resignation letter at the same time that you have a face-to-face conversation with your principal or supervisor to let them know you’re resigning. Do NOT use a resignation letter as a substitute for this in-person conversation. You can bring the letter with you to the meeting, or send it afterwards as a confirmation of your decision.

Do this before telling anyone else you’re leaving, because you don’t want the news trickling back to administration secondhand.

Do teachers need to give two weeks notice when they resign?

Teachers should give the amount of notice required by their employment contract. Before you resign, make sure you’re not breaking any of the conditions or clauses in your contract. If you’re resigning at the end of the school year, choose a resignation date that allows you to complete any final administrative work. You and your principal may want to decide on this date together.

If you’re resigning in the middle of the school year, things might be a little different. Again, check your contract. It may state the required amount of notice you need to provide. If not, give at least the standard two-week notice expected for most jobs. If in doubt, consult an employment attorney for advice.

Where do I send my resignation letter?

In most cases, you’ll address and send your letter to the principal, superintendent, or school board. Each district is likely to have their own requirements for your letter of resignation, so check your contract or employee handbook, and ask your principal if you’re not sure.

Often, you can hand your letter to your principal, and they’ll take care of it. But if you’re required to submit it to another location, like the county school board, you may decide you want to mail your letter. If so, consider using certified mail so you can ensure it was received. You don’t want to arrive on your final day and find out you’ve got a paperwork problem that could hold things up.

Can I send my resignation letter via email?

Some districts are happy to accept your resignation letter via email, either as an attachment or in the body of the email. But others may ask you to submit a hard copy. If you’re unsure, just ask your principal or school administrator.

Don’t forget to grab your free editable resignation letter templates!

Get both of the teacher resignation letter examples above as an editable Google Doc template on letterhead. All you need to do is customize them and print!

Have more questions about resigning from your teaching job? Come ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out jobs for teachers who want to leave the classroom but not education.