Teacher Appreciation Week 2025: Comprehensive Guide to Freebies and Discounts for Educators

Teacher Appreciation Week in 2025, scheduled for May 5 through May 9, serves as a dedicated period for recognizing the contributions of educators across the United States. During this time, numerous national brands and local businesses extend special offers, including free food items, percentage-based discounts on retail purchases, and complimentary digital tools. These promotions are typically available to teachers, school support staff, and sometimes homeschooling parents who present valid identification.

The following guide details the verified freebies and discounts available during this period, categorized by industry and location. All information is derived from reports published by deal aggregators and local news outlets in early May 2025.

Restaurant and Food Freebies

The food and beverage sector offers the most extensive list of promotions during Teacher Appreciation Week. These offers generally require the presentation of a valid school ID or faculty badge. Participation and specific terms often vary by franchise location.

National Restaurant Chains

Several major restaurant chains have announced specific deals valid during the week of May 5–9:

Adobe: Educators can visit the Adobe website to verify their eligibility as a teacher or student, resulting in a 60% savings on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan.
Applebee’s: Teachers who show a valid teacher ID receive a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée. The appetizer is valued at up to $12.
Aroma Joe’s: On May 6 (Teacher Appreciation Day), educators receive a free 24-ounce drink with a valid teacher ID.
Burger King: Teachers can flash their badge to receive free fries with any purchase during the appreciation week.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Presenting a valid school ID unlocks a 20% discount on the entire order.
Chick-fil-A: On May 6, teachers can receive a free Chicken Biscuit with the purchase of any Iced Coffee or specialty beverage. This offer is subject to location-specific variations.
Krispy Kreme: While not exclusively for teachers, the brand offers one free glazed doughnut to every guest on May 7 via the Krispy Kreme app.
McAlister’s Deli: Through May 12, teachers and nurses receive a free 32 oz tea upon showing a valid badge or ID. This applies to both dine-in and takeout.
McDonald’s: On May 6, teachers receive a free soft drink, sweet tea, or hot/iced drip coffee when showing a school ID.
Potbelly: Reports indicate a likely return of the previous year's offer: a free cookie or fountain drink with an entrée purchase.
Shipley Do-Nuts: Previously offered a half-dozen glazed donuts free with any purchase for loyalty members.
Sonic: Teachers in the Sonic Teachers’ Circle previously received app-exclusive freebies.
Starbucks: Many locations previously offered a tall brewed coffee to educators.
TGI Fridays: Look out for free entrées for teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day.
Whataburger: Previously offered free breakfast items for teachers before 9 a.m. with a valid school ID.
Zaxby’s: In 2024, they offered a BOGO Boneless Wings Meal for rewards members.

Regional and Local Offers

Specific deals in North Carolina, particularly the Triangle area (Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville), include:

Bengong’s Tea: Located at 4141 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC, teachers receive 10% off all drinks with a school ID from May 5 to 9.
MeetFresh: Located at 4509 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC, teachers receive 10% off all drinks and desserts with a valid school ID from May 5 to 9.
SoHot HotPot: Locations in Raleigh (4509 Creedmoor Road) and Cary (1937 High House Road) offer 10% off from May 5 to 9 with a teacher ID.
Toyar’s BBQ Hotpot: Located at 4075 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC, offers 10% off from May 5 to 9.

Other Food and Beverage Retailers

RaceTrac: Educators could previously get a free medium coffee.
Bose: While not a restaurant, Bose offers $30 off any purchase of $199 or more after verifying education status on their website.

Retail and Service Discounts

Beyond food, several retailers offer discounts on products and services to show appreciation for educators.

Technology and Office Supplies

Apple: Apple offers education pricing on various products, though specific details for 2025 were not fully elaborated in the source data beyond standard education discount structures.
Canva for Education: Offers always-free classroom-ready design tools for teachers.
Headspace: Provides a free annual subscription for educators who register with a school email.
Loom for Education: Offers a free video recording platform for teachers.
Microsoft Office 365 Education: Free access is available with a school email.
Staples: In 2024, teachers received free supply kits with ID (supplies run out fast). They also typically offer 20% off in-store purchases.

General Retail and Services

AT&T: Offers educators and their families 25% off "best unlimited plans."
Brio Italian Kitchen: On May 6, teachers can earn a $20 bonus card with catering orders.
Bravo Italian Kitchen: On May 6, teachers can earn a $20 bonus card with catering orders.
Chipotle: Teachers can enter at teacherthanks.chipotle.com through May 12 for a chance to win a free Chipotle e-card (part of a $1 million giveaway).
Crocs: Offers exclusive deals on school-inspired Jibbitz charms, clogs, sandals, and a teacher discount.
Eddie Merlot’s: Free dessert with the purchase of an entrée and valid teacher ID (May 5-9).
Hertz: Offers teachers 25% off everyday base rates for car rental services.
Home Chef: Verifies via ID.me to offer 50% off the first box plus 10% off each recurring box.
Michaels: Teachers receive 15% off their entire purchase, including sale items.
Stanley 1913: Offers discounts through ID.me to teachers, hospital employees, medical providers, military nurses, first responders, and students.

Special Programs and Giveaways

Chipotle Teacher Thanks

Chipotle is running a significant promotion where they are giving away $1 million in free Chipotle. Teachers can enter their information at teacherthanks.chipotle.com through May 12 for a chance to win a free Chipotle e-card with a promo code for an entrée.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

BJ’s has an "Awesome Achievement Program" designed for elementary school teachers to reward students. Students earning "Awesome Achiever" status receive a certificate redeemable for a free Snickers Pizookie and a silicone bracelet. Teachers can sign up for this program.

Burger King Promo Code

Burger King is reportedly giving away $1 million in promo codes for entrées during this period.

Eligibility and Verification

To access these offers, educators generally need to verify their status. Common methods include: * Physical ID: A valid school ID, faculty badge, or homeschool ID card. * Digital Verification: Platforms like ID.me are used by brands such as Home Chef, Stanley 1913, and Adobe to verify eligibility for discounts. * Email Verification: Services like Headspace and Microsoft Office 365 Education require a school email address for sign-up.

Important Considerations

Participation Varies: As noted in the source material, participation may vary by location, especially for chain restaurants. It is recommended to verify with the local establishment before visiting.
Dates: The core celebration week is May 5–9, 2025, though some offers extend to May 12.
Exclusions: Please note that tax and tip are generally not included with free items.

Conclusion

Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 offers a diverse array of value for educators, ranging from immediate gratification in the form of free food to substantial savings on retail purchases and digital subscriptions. By preparing valid identification and checking local participating locations, teachers can fully utilize the discounts available to them during the week of May 5–9.