National Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 is scheduled for May 5 through May 9, with National Teacher Appreciation Day falling on Tuesday, May 6. During this period, numerous businesses across the United States offer special promotions, free products, and discounts to educators. These offers typically require verification of employment status, often through a valid school ID or work email address. The following guide details the specific freebies and deals available to teachers, categorized by industry and location, based on current promotional information.
Restaurant and Food Service Offers
A significant portion of Teacher Appreciation Week promotions focuses on complimentary meals and discounted dining experiences. Offers vary by location and often require in-person verification.
Major Fast Food and Casual Dining Chains
Several national chains have confirmed participation in 2025 Teacher Appreciation events:
- Chick-fil-A: Individual franchise locations operate independently regarding Teacher Appreciation Week offers. Educators are advised to contact their local restaurant for specific details. Additionally, the brand is currently running a promotion giving away $1 million in free food.
- McDonald's: Participating locations offer teachers a free 5-piece order of boneless wings with fries on May 6. This offer is valid for dine-in only.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Educators receive a 20% discount on their order with a valid teacher ID.
- Applebees: Teachers can receive a free appetizer (valued up to $12) with the purchase of any entree when showing a valid teacher ID.
- Burger King: During Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers showing a valid ID receive free fries with any purchase.
- Peter Piper Pizza: Teachers are eligible for a free 7-inch, 1-topping personal pizza from May 5 to May 9. The offer is valid between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at locations in Arizona and Albuquerque, requiring a valid school ID.
- Old Chicago: Educators can earn a $10 bonus card for every $50 spent on gift cards purchased through May 5 (online purchases receive two bonus cards). Additionally, new OC Rewards members receive a free Starter item upon joining and completing their first visit.
- Original ChopShop: Teachers receive 10% off dine-in and carryout orders from May 5 through May 9 by showing a valid badge or ID.
- Piada Italian Street Food: This restaurant offers buy-one, get-one-free entrées for teachers and nurses from May 6 through May 10. To redeem, customers must show an ID badge or scrubs and mention the deal to the cashier. This offer is valid only at neighborhood locations, not online or in-app.
- Salata Salad Kitchen: Educators receive 20% off their meal when showing a valid ID in-restaurant through May 9.
- Atomic Wings: Teachers can enjoy a free chicken sandwich on May 6, available for dine-in only.
Specialty Food and Beverage Promotions
- Aroma Joe’s: Teachers receive a free 24-ounce drink with a valid teacher ID on May 6.
- Duck Donuts (Woodbury, MN): Educators can receive free donuts and free coffee by showing their teacher ID in-store.
- Picazzo's: Teachers dining in from May 5 through May 9 will receive a $10 gift card for use on a return visit, while supplies last.
Retail, Technology, and Service Discounts
Beyond food services, various retailers and service providers offer financial incentives and product discounts to support educators.
Classroom and Office Supplies
- Staples: During the week of May 4–11, participating U.S. stores provide a free teacher supply kit to educators who show an ID, though inventory is limited per store. Additionally, teachers receive 20% off in-store purchases with an ID from May 5 through May 11.
- Box Tops for Education: Educators can earn a $5 bonus for their school by scanning their first receipt on the Box Tops app using the code TEACHER. This offer expires on May 31, 2025.
Fashion and Lifestyle
- Stitch Fix: Educators receive a $50 credit to refresh their wardrobe. To redeem, teachers must visit stitchfix.com/teachers to verify their credentials and receive a promo code, which must be used by June 30, 2025.
- The Parking Spot: While teachers already receive a 10% discount, this increases to 25% off any reservation made in May for travel through the end of 2025.
Technology and Pet Care
- Samsung: Samsung offers discounts and promotions for teachers, though specific details on the percentage or product categories are not fully listed in the current data.
- Petlibro: Educators receive 20% off Petlibro devices, including automatic feeders and drinking fountains for cats and dogs, on May 6. The code TEACHERSPET is required for this transaction.
Educational Resources and Creative Projects
Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) serves as a major marketplace for educational materials. During Teacher Appreciation Week, the platform typically hosts a site-wide sale.
- Teachers Pay Teachers Sale: A current promotion allows educators to save up to 25% on resources using the promo code THANKYOU25 at checkout. This sale ends at midnight on the day the data was published. Educators are encouraged to leave feedback on past purchases to earn TPT credits, which can be applied to lower prices further.
- Ms Artastic: This vendor offers a free "Art Lesson Starter Pack" accessible at artastickids.com/freeart. The resource is designed to support educators looking for seasonal art lessons and creative projects.
Entertainment and Cultural Institutions
Museums and cultural venues often participate by offering free admission or special events for educators.
- Museum of Illusions: Teachers can register with their work email during Teacher Appreciation Week to enter a raffle for Museum of Illusions goodie bags.
- Aquariums (National): A national promotion offers teachers and school bus drivers free general admission from May 5 through May 12. Family and friends accompanying educators receive $5 off general admission tickets. This offer is redeemable onsite only by showing proof of employment (e.g., employer or school ID badge) and is subject to capacity limits.
Special Events and Localized Offers
Certain deals are specific to geographic regions or unique event formats.
- Teacher Appreciation Night (Woodbury): A specific event is scheduled for 6 p.m., featuring a presentation by the Manager of School and Gallery Programs, La’Kayla Williams, regarding her article "Arts Funding in Local Public Schools." This event is free and open to K–12 teachers across all disciplines, and educators may bring one additional guest.
Important Redemption Guidelines
To successfully redeem these offers, educators should be aware of common eligibility requirements:
- Verification: Almost all offers require a valid school ID, teacher badge, or work email address for verification.
- Location Specifics: Franchise-based restaurants (such as Chick-fil-A and Peter Piper Pizza) often have varying policies based on ownership and location. It is recommended to call ahead to confirm participation.
- Timing: Most "free" offers are valid specifically on May 6 (National Teacher Appreciation Day), while discount periods often span the entire week (May 5–9 or May 5–12).
- Availability: Supplies for physical items (like supply kits or free donuts) are often limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Conclusion
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 offers a wide array of benefits for educators, ranging from free food and beverages to substantial discounts on retail goods, technology, and educational resources. While specific offers vary by vendor and location, the common thread across all promotions is the requirement of valid employment verification. Educators are encouraged to utilize resources like the Box Tops app and Teachers Pay Teachers sales to maximize savings for their classrooms. As offers are subject to change and local availability, checking with individual providers prior to visiting is advisable.