A farewell letter to the teacher from principal is a formal or semi-formal message sent by the school principal to a teacher who is leaving, thanking them for their service and wishing them the best in their future. The letter is typically sent when the said teacher transfers out of school either through resignation or retirement and is sent at least a few days before the teacher has to leave.
Working closely with someone over a long period can create a bond you wouldn’t want to lose even in a professional setting. As a school principal, it is easy to get close to your teachers as you share in their day-to-day lives, which can make saying goodbye difficult.
Are you a school principal scrambling for the right words to say goodbye to a teacher? This post highlights some writing tips and examples to help you draft a professional and meaningful farewell letter.
Pointers for a Farewell Letter from the Principal
As an authority figure, it is easy to get bogged down by all the things you should or shouldn’t say to your subordinates. Keep in mind that your farewell letter to teacher from principal will likely be the last correspondence between you and the teacher. You want to sound supportive about their future and saddened by the loss, without losing the respect you have garnered over the years,
Writing Tips
Consider the following writing tips to keep you on course:
- If you are unsure of the tone to use, try to imagine how you would wish the teacher a happy birthday or successful retirement. You want to sound pleasant, polite, and semi-formal.
- Keep your letter to the point, as it is, after all, not a performance report.
- Be genuine and precise in your praise. How did the teacher improve student relations in the school? Which of her projects made the most impact?
- If the teacher is joining another school, be supportive and keep any resentment you may have for the competition out of your letter.
Drafting Your Farewell Message
The typical farewell letter should thank the teacher for their time at the school and give them a proper sendoff. To achieve that, you must do the following:
- Mention the teacher’s resignation or retirement details
- Express your feelings about this in a simple and dignified manner.’
- Thank the teacher for their service and cooperation
- Wish them well in their future ventures
- Offer to maintain your professional relationship and include your contact information.
Farewell Letter to a Teacher from the Principal (Format)
{Date}
{Teacher’s Name}
{School Name}
{School Address}
{City, State, Zip Code}
Re: Farewell and Best Wishes
Dear {Mr./Mrs./Ms. Teacher’s Last Name},
I was sad to receive your {resignation/retirement} letter on {date}. As you plan to leave {school name} on {leaving date}, I, for one, will be sad to see you go. You have been a {mention the teacher’s positive qualities}, and you will be greatly missed.
The {duration} you have taught at {school name} have marked {briefly describe the teacher’s impact}. The school and I are grateful for {mention their most successful project}, which allowed us to {mention the project’s impact}.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and welcome you to contact us at {contact information} if you ever need any assistance.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
{Your Name}
{Job Title}
Sample Farewell Letter to Teacher from Principal
14 February 2031
Jerry Hilfiger
Prince Academy
001 Pinewood Road
Wilmington, NC 99002
Re: Farewell and Good Luck
Dear Mr. Hilfiger,
I was sad to receive your resignation letter on 12 February 2031. You are an exceptional teacher and mentor who was highly committed to promoting excellence and student discipline, and excellence in Prince Academy. You will be highly missed.
Even as you leave, I would like to thank you on behalf of the school for your help, guidance, support, and cooperation these past ten years. Your sound advice and tireless efforts will remain with us always.
I wish you all the best as you embark on this new stage of your life. Please feel free to keep in touch with us from time to time.
Sincerely,
Pauline Reyes
Principal
Farewell to a Teacher from the Principal (Word Template)
Key Takeaways
The main goal of a farewell letter to the teacher from principal is to express pleasant thoughts to a teacher who is leaving. You want to commemorate your time together, thank them for their work, and wish them the best in their future, all in a concise, to-the-point letter.