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Secondary teacher skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Suzanne Tiemann,

Kimberly Lewinski Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical secondary teacher skills. We ranked the top skills for secondary teachers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.7% of secondary teacher resumes contained public schools as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a secondary teacher needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 secondary teacher skills for your resume and career

1. Public Schools

Public schools are available for everyone. They are funded and controlled by the government. With state guidance, each school board determines the curricula, finances, and jobs for schools within its borders. The government also decides on academic standards and standardised tests.

Here's how secondary teachers use public schools:

Provided engaging instruction and developed positive relationships with students who had not been successful in comprehensive public schools.
Supervised and facilitated the opening of the Howard County Public Schools Automotive Technology program.

2. Classroom Management

Here's how secondary teachers use classroom management:

Promote a productive learning environment, while implementing effective classroom management strategies targeted to the growing and developing adolescent.
Developed a tailored classroom management techniques to help students achieve an environment conducive to learning.

3. Mathematics

Here's how secondary teachers use mathematics:

Utilized Connected Mathematics Curriculum to teach sixth grade students.
Instructed classrooms of 20 at-risk middle and high school students in both English and Mathematics.

4. Math

Here's how secondary teachers use math:

Participated in seventh grade team meetings and math Professional Learning Community (PLC.)
Participated in the National Math and Science Initiative for English teachers.

5. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how secondary teachers use professional development:

Participated in ongoing professional development geared towards increasing behavioral and academic strategies to implement in the classroom.
Maintained up-to-date subject knowledge by attending various Professional Development opportunities.

6. Language Arts

Language art refers to the ability to master a language.

Here's how secondary teachers use language arts:

Prepared syllabi, course schedules, and provided instruction to middle and high school students in Language Arts and Directed Reading
Generated lessons and collaborated with a paraprofessional to ensure remediation of various Reading and Language Arts skills.

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7. Classroom Environment

Here's how secondary teachers use classroom environment:

Create a classroom environment of respect that establishes a culture for learning.
Manage a safe, orderly, and positive classroom environment.

8. Curriculum Development

Here's how secondary teachers use curriculum development:

Provided technical assistance in the assessment, curriculum development, and use of materials, equipment and management of student behavior.
Served on school committees and taskforces focused on curriculum development, textbook review, fundraising, and anti-bullying efforts.

9. Instructional Materials

Here's how secondary teachers use instructional materials:

Adapted teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, interests, and learning styles.
Prepared course work, planned class sessions: Selected/integrated appropriate instructional materials for classroom instruction - Organized/delivered classroom lectures to students.

10. Student Learning

Here's how secondary teachers use student learning:

Incorporate differentiated instruction strategies to meet individual student learning needs.
Developed and implemented lesson plans that reflect accommodations for differences in student learning styles and abilities as pertains to student IEP.

11. Academic Problems

Here's how secondary teachers use academic problems:

Conferred with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
Counseled students in adjustment and academic problems.

12. Student Achievement

Here's how secondary teachers use student achievement:

Organized cross curriculum activities to encourage student achievement.
Collaborated with colleagues within the department, school, and district to promote high levels of student achievement across all content.

13. Administrative Regulations

Here's how secondary teachers use administrative regulations:

Present subject matter according to guidelines established by Texas Education Agency, board policies, and administrative regulations.
Teach instructional subjects according to guidelines established by Texas Education Agency, charter polices and administrative regulations.

14. Learning Process

Here's how secondary teachers use learning process:

Partnered student with advanced bilingual student ensuring a comfortable learning experience and ability to actively participate in the learning process.
Communicated with parents to acknowledge academic progress/areas of concern, and to encourage their participation in their children learning process.

15. Instructional Strategies

Here's how secondary teachers use instructional strategies:

Implemented a variety of instructional strategies such as cooperative learning, reading strategies, peer learning, note taking, etc.
Utilized a variety of research-based instructional strategies and methods to ensure a rigorous learning environment with high expectations for all students.

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What skills help Secondary Teachers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What secondary teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Suzanne Tiemann

Professor, Park University

I think that learning is on a continuum. By advancing their degrees and graduate credit, teachers can move up the district’s salary schedule while continuing to perfect their craft.

What type of skills will young secondary teachers need?

Kimberly Lewinski Ph.D.

Associate Professor, La Salle University

My hope is that so many people have gotten a glimpse into the life of a teacher this past year and all the hard work that goes into educating children of all levels. It would be wonderful if teachers begin to gain the respect they deserve now that others could see firsthand it's not as easy as it looks. I always said the problem with recognizing the hard work that goes into teaching is that good teachers make it look undemanding and flawless, straight up easy. People can't see the hours of planning and preparation that are required to make those lessons look so effortless.

What technical skills for a secondary teacher stand out to employers?

Dr. Ann Hills

Associate Professor of Spanish & Chair, University of La Verne

Most jobs these days require a modicum of technical skills, including those oriented around language and culture. In addition to solid research, critical thinking, written and oral skills-part and parcel of a language, literature or linguistics major's expertise-candidates are now expected to demonstrate more technical skills, such as information and multimodal literacies.
For educators at all levels of instruction, the conversion of in-person classes to distance learning has made competence in different types of "Edtech" (education technology) essential. Proficiency with videoconferencing platforms, virtual learning environments, collaboration software, and other digital technologies is extremely advantageous (if not obligatory!). Another impressive skill is website design.
It continues to be important to highlight the "soft skills," such as adaptability, creativity, time management, collaborative decision making and effective communication.

Do you want to know more?

List of secondary teacher skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a secondary teacher resume and required skills for a secondary teacher to have include:

Public Schools
Classroom Management
Mathematics
Math
Professional Development
Language Arts
Classroom Environment
Curriculum Development
Instructional Materials
Student Learning
Academic Problems
Student Achievement
Administrative Regulations
Learning Process
Instructional Strategies
English Language

Social Studies
Course Objectives
Chemistry
Literature
K-12
ESL
Curriculum Guidelines
Geometry
IEP
Student Performance
Instructional Program
State Standards
Professional Learning Community
Blended Learning
Drama
Economics

Geography
School Administration
Grammar
Standardized Testing
Parent Conferences
US History
Pre-Algebra
Public Speaking
Core Subjects
Physiology
Learning Environment
PowerPoint
Sociology
Syllabus
Teaching Methodologies
Reading Comprehension

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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