Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 runs from May 5 through May 9, offering educators across the United States access to a wide variety of freebies, discounts, and special offers. This annual event provides restaurants, retailers, and brands an opportunity to honor teachers and school staff for their dedication and hard work. The following guide details verified offers available during this period, including food and beverage deals, retail discounts, tech savings, and classroom supply promotions. All information is sourced from official brand announcements and verified promotional materials to ensure accuracy for educators seeking to take advantage of these limited-time opportunities.
Food and Beverage Freebies and Discounts
Several restaurant chains are offering complimentary meals and significant discounts to educators during Teacher Appreciation Week 2025. Most offers require a valid school ID for verification, and some extend beyond the core week of May 5-9.
Whataburger is providing a complimentary breakfast entrée to teachers from May 6 through May 10. Educators who present their school ID badge between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. can select a free Taquito, Breakfast on a Bun, or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. Additionally, while supplies last, participating teachers will receive a WhataTeacher table tent. This offer is available at Whataburger locations nationwide during the specified dates and hours.
Applebee’s has announced a free appetizer for teachers from April 28 through May 10. To redeem, educators must mention the promotional ad and present their school or work badge. The free appetizer is available up to a $12 value with the purchase of an adult entrée. This offer is valid for dine-in orders only at all Flynn Applebee’s locations and cannot be combined with other offers. One coupon is permitted per order, per visit, and the offer expires on May 10, 2025.
Burger King offers teachers a free Whopper Jr. with a purchase of $1 or more. Educators should flash their teacher badge to redeem this offer. Additionally, a separate offer provides free fries with any purchase when showing a badge.
Chipotle is giving away 100,000 burritos in the form of Burrito E-Cards to teachers and other school staff. The giveaway runs from April 30 through May 12. To enter, educators must visit teacherthanks.chipotle.com and complete the entry form. Limit one entry per entrant.
McAlister’s Deli offers a free tea from May 6 through May 12 at participating locations. No purchase is necessary to receive this freebie.
Chick-fil-A provides a free chicken biscuit or chicken sandwich at participating locations on Teacher Appreciation Day, May 7.
Abuelo’s offers 20% off the entire check on Tuesday, May 6, at every Abuelo’s location. Educators must show a valid teaching or school staff ID to receive the discount. This offer is dine-in only.
Buffalo Wild Wings is offering 20% off the entire order for teachers with valid school IDs. This promotion is available now through May 12.
BurgerFi may offer 20% off meals for teachers with a school ID, based on last year’s promotion. Educators are advised to call their nearest location to confirm participation for 2025.
7 Brew, a drive-thru coffee company, is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with a special offer: any customer who purchases $25 in gift cards from May 6 through May 10 will receive a free drink card, valid through June 16. Additionally, 7 Brew will offer stickers with a drink purchase on Mother’s Day (May 12) and Father’s Day (June 16).
Retail and Apparel Discounts
Numerous retailers are offering exclusive discounts on clothing, accessories, and classroom essentials. Many of these discounts are available year-round for verified educators.
Adidas offers a 30% discount on shoes for teachers. This discount is available at adidas.com and in-store, plus 15% off at factory outlet stores.
Apple provides exclusive discounts on Mac and iPad products through the Apple Education Store for educators. Verification of educator status is required.
Bose offers $30 off any purchase of $199 or more for educators who visit the Bose Education Discount page and verify their ID.
Cole Haan offers educators a 20% discount on online purchases by verifying their status with a valid school email address.
Crayola provides teachers with 20% off all products listed on the Teacher Gift Ideas category page by using the code "EDUCATORS" during checkout.
Dockers offers a 25% discount on Dockers apparel for educators.
J. Crew offers 15% off purchases for students and teachers.
Joann Fabrics allows educators to save 15% on every purchase by registering with Joann's Teacher Rewards Program.
L.L. Bean offers a 10% discount to teachers, though specific verification details were not provided in the source material.
Michaels provides teachers with 15% off both in-store and online purchases year-round after verifying educator ID online through the Michaels Rewards program.
Target offers savings on classroom essentials through Target Circle, though specific discount percentages were not detailed.
Tech and Office Supply Discounts
Technology and office supply retailers are offering substantial savings for educators during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Adobe offers educators and students a 60% savings on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan after verifying eligibility on the Adobe website.
Office Depot and OfficeMax are offering two Teacher Exclusive coupons from May 5 through June 25. Educators can receive 20% off qualifying purchases and 20% back in rewards. A valid form of teacher identification must be shown in-store.
Staples is offering 20% back in classroom rewards on in-store purchases, with 5% back for the educator, now through May 7. Educators must present a valid teacher ID to receive this benefit.
Classroom and Educational Supply Discounts
Several retailers offer year-round discounts for educators looking to restock classroom supplies or purchase educational materials.
Half Price Books offers a 10% discount on purchases year-round with the Educator Discount Card.
JOANN provides teachers with a 15% savings every day with JOANN Teacher Rewards.
Michaels offers 15% off both in-store and online purchases year-round for educators who verify their status through the Michaels Rewards program.
Sweepstakes and Special Promotions
In addition to immediate discounts, some brands are hosting sweepstakes for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Insomnia Cookies is offering teachers a chance to win a $250 cookie catering package for themselves and their team. Entries must be submitted by May 13 at 3 p.m. PT.
Important Considerations for Educators
When seeking to redeem these offers, educators should keep several important factors in mind:
Verification Requirements: Most offers require a valid school ID, educator email address, or verification through a third-party service such as SheerID. It is advisable to have proper identification readily available.
Participating Locations: Many offers are valid only at participating locations. Educators should call ahead to confirm that their local establishment is honoring the promotion, particularly for restaurant offers.
Timing: While Teacher Appreciation Week officially runs from May 5 through May 9, some promotions begin earlier or extend beyond these dates. Pay close attention to specific offer periods to avoid missing out.
Purchase Requirements: Some offers require a purchase (such as the Burger King Whopper Jr. with a $1 purchase), while others are completely free with proper identification. Read the fine care carefully.
Combining Offers: Most promotions cannot be combined with other discounts or offers. Each establishment typically has its own policy regarding offer stacking.
Geographic Availability: While many of these are national chains, regional variations may exist. Some offers may be limited to specific states or regions.
Conclusion
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 offers educators a valuable opportunity to receive free products, meals, and significant discounts from a wide variety of brands. From complimentary breakfasts at Whataburger to substantial savings on technology from Adobe and Apple, the available promotions span multiple categories to meet the diverse needs of teachers. By preparing proper identification and reviewing offer terms in advance, educators can maximize their savings during this week-long celebration of their important contributions to communities nationwide.