National Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 runs from Monday, May 5, through Friday, May 9, with National Teachers Day observed on Tuesday, May 6. During this period, various brands and retailers are offering specific deals, free products, and discounts to educators across the United States. These offers generally require proof of employment, such as a valid school ID or teacher badge, and many are limited to in-store redemption or specific participation dates.
Data from consumer reports indicates that parents consistently rate teachers highly, with 73% of respondents in a 2023 Gallup poll rating their children's teachers as excellent or good. Conversely, surveys suggest that many teachers feel underappreciated; a Horace Mann survey from March-April 2024 found that over 30% of educators do not feel appreciated, while a Pew Research Center survey from April 2024 reported that 77% of teachers find their job frequently stressful. In response to these sentiments, numerous companies have structured promotions specifically for Teacher Appreciation Week 2025.
Food and Beverage Offers
A significant portion of the available deals focuses on free food and beverages. These offers range from single-item freebies to percentage-based discounts on meals.
Donuts and Bakeries
- Krispy Kreme: On May 7, educators can receive a free doughnut.
- Shipley Do-Nuts: Teachers can receive a free order of half a dozen donuts on specific days, including May 4, May 5, and May 6. No other purchase is required to redeem this deal.
- Einstein Bros. Bagels: Two distinct offers are available. Educators can receive 20% off all gift card purchases made in stores. Additionally, 20% off is available for all gift card purchases made online through June 24.
- la Madeleine: On May 6, teachers can get a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) bakery item free deal. This requires downloading the Bonjour Rewards app; no ID is required for redemption.
- Happy Joe’s: Teachers receive 20% off their order at participating locations during the week, requiring a valid school ID.
Casual Dining and Restaurants
- Grimaldi’s: Educators receive 15% off all orders from May 5 through May 9 at participating locations. A valid school ID is required.
- Eddie Merlot’s: Teachers receive a free dessert with the purchase of an entrée throughout the week. A valid teacher ID is required. The offer excludes items from the "Dessert for Two" menu and cannot be combined with other discounts.
- Logan’s Roadhouse: Teachers receive 20% off when ordering an entrée from May 5 through May 12. A valid ID is required.
- McAlister’s Deli: Teachers receive a free big tea in-store at participating locations from May 5 through May 12 with a badge or ID. This offer is valid in-store only.
- MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes: On May 7, teachers can get a buy-one-get-one burgers deal when showing an ID. This is valid in-store at participating locations only, limited to one per customer.
- Mountain Mike's Pizza: Teachers receive 15% off all pizzas from May 6 through May 9 using the code APPRECIATE25.
- Old Chicago: While primarily a gift card promotion (detailed below), Old Chicago also offers a free Starter when joining OC rewards and completing a first visit.
- Original ChopShop: Teachers receive 10% off dine-in and carryout orders from May 5 through May 9 with a valid badge or ID.
- Peter Piper Pizza: Teachers receive a free 7-inch one-topping personal pizza from May 5 through May 9, available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. This offer is valid at Arizona and Albuquerque locations with a valid school ID.
- The Greene Turtle: On May 6, teachers receive a free dine-in meal valued up to $15 with a valid teacher ID.
- Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant: Teachers and school staff receive a 20% discount off their entire check at all locations on May 6.
- Atomic Wings: On May 6, teachers receive a free 5-piece order of boneless wings with fries. This is available for dine-in only.
- Bad Daddy’s: This chain offers Bad Ass Margaritas for $5 on Monday, May 5, and $8 for the rest of the month. Additionally, half-price appetizers are available during the two hours before closing time throughout the week.
- BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Teachers can sign up online for the "Awesome Achievement Program." This program provides up to 90 certificates per school year to honor "Awesome Achiever" students. Students presenting a certificate receive a free Snickers Pizookie. When dining in to redeem the award, students are congratulated by the restaurant manager and given an Awesome Achiever silicone bracelet.
- Salata Salad Kitchen: Educators receive 20% off their meal when showing a valid ID in-restaurant through May 9.
- Picazzo's: Teachers dining in from May 5 through May 9 receive a $10 gift card to use on a return visit, while supplies last.
Fast Food and Quick Service
- Chipotle: Through May 13, teachers and healthcare workers can sign up online to be randomly selected among 100,000 winners for a free burrito. Selected winners receive an email to verify employment status via ID.me within 48 hours to receive a free burrito e-card. Chipotle also utilizes its Round-Up for Real Change feature to support the Kids In Need Foundation and American Nurses Foundation.
- Sonic Drive-In: Teachers can join the "Sonic Teachers’ Circle" rewards program by downloading the Sonic app and selecting "I'm a Teacher" in their profile settings. Members receive three exclusive deals during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9): a free Sonic Snack or side with purchase, buy one Sonic Blast get one free, and a $1.99 Quarter Pound Double Cheeseburger.
- Smoothie King: Teachers receive 20% off their in-store order from May 6 through May 8 when showing a valid working ID.
- Hat Creek Burger Company: All school staff can get a free Little Hat Burger on May 6.
Retail and Product Discounts
Beyond food and beverage, several retailers are offering free products or significant discounts on supplies and electronics.
Office Supplies and Tech
- Staples: During Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-10), teachers receive 20% off in-store purchases with a valid teacher ID. Additionally, they can receive a free 12-pack of Tru Red Stick Pens (one per customer while supplies last); coupons for this are found in the Staples app. Source [1] also notes that Staples is offering a free set of Tru Red Stick Pens while shopping in stores until May 10.
- Samsung: Samsung is offering major discounts on select electronics for educators. Deals include a $620 discount on the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 monitor, $300 off the curved 34-inch ViewFinity S65VC, and a $700 discount on the Samsung WAD Interactive Display.
- Doodleface: From May 5 through May 9, teachers can get 20% off sustainable, smudge-free crayon boards online and on Amazon using the code 20LOVETEACH.
- Box Tops for Education: During May (Teacher Appreciation Month), educators can get a $5 bonus for their school by downloading the Box Tops app and scanning their first receipt. The code TEACHER must be used to receive the bonus.
Travel and Services
- The Parking Spot: Teachers typically receive a 10% discount, but during the month of May, this increases to 25% off any reservation made for travel through the end of 2025.
- Hilton and Embassy Suites by Hilton: Teachers can get deals at six specific Florida properties for the summer. Booking codes are required for each location:
- Miami: Code PK5
- Miami Beach: Code P1
- Deerfield Beach: Code PL5
- Fort Lauderdale: Code PL5
- Tampa: Code TEAP
- Tampa (Convention Center): Code TEP
Pet Products
- Petlibro: Educators receive 20% off Petlibro devices, including automatic feeders and drinking fountains for cats and dogs, on May 6 using the code TEACHERSPET.
Entertainment and Miscellaneous Offers
- Museum of Illusions: Educators receive free admission to the 29 locations across the U.S. During Teacher Appreciation Week, they can register with their work email for a chance to be one of three winners in a raffle for Museum of Illusions goodie bags.
- Old Chicago: In addition to the free Starter mentioned earlier, Old Chicago offers a gift card promotion: for every $50 spent on gift cards, customers receive a $10 bonus card. Through May 5, purchasing a $50 gift card online results in two bonus cards.
Conclusion
The 2025 Teacher Appreciation Week offers a diverse range of freebies and discounts for educators, spanning from essential school supplies like pens and crayons to food, electronics, and travel. Most participating brands require valid teacher identification for in-store redemption, while digital sign-ups and specific booking codes are necessary for online or app-based offers. The majority of these deals are time-sensitive, falling strictly within the May 5-9 window, with a few extending slightly before or after these dates. Educators looking to utilize these offers should ensure they have valid identification and, where required, have downloaded the necessary applications or registered for rewards programs in advance.