2018 Teacher Appreciation Week Freebies and Discounts: A Guide to Nationwide Offers

Teacher Appreciation Week in 2018, observed from May 7 through May 11, brought a wave of gratitude from businesses across the United States. National Teacher Day, falling on Tuesday, May 8, served as the focal point for many of these promotions. Educational institutions and private companies collaborated to offer a variety of freebies, discounts, and special deals designed to honor the dedication of teachers, administrators, support staff, and even homeschooling parents. These offers spanned multiple categories, with a significant focus on food and beverage, retail supplies, and professional tools. To access these benefits, educators were generally required to present valid identification, such as a school ID or proof of homeschooling status, and participation was often limited to specific locations or dates.

Restaurant and Food Service Offers

The food and beverage sector provided the most prominent freebies during the 2018 celebration. Participating chains offered everything from breakfast entrees to dinner buffets, usually requiring proof of educator status and adherence to specific time frames.

Chick-fil-A offered a highly publicized freebie on May 8. Participating Greater Triangle locations provided a free Original Chick-fil-A Chicken sandwich to educators, faculty, and staff between 10:30 AM and 10:00 PM. This offer required the presence of the eligible individual and a valid school ID, with a limit of one sandwich per person. In Erie, Pennsylvania, the local Chick-fil-A location expanded the offer to include a free breakfast meal—consisting of an entrée, side, and small drink—available on Thursdays throughout May from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM for educators, support staff, and homeschool parents.

Chipotle participated with a Buy One Get One (BOGO) offer on May 8. Educators could receive a free burrito, bowl, salad, or taco order with the purchase of an entrée of equal or lesser value. This deal was valid from 3:00 PM until closing for in-restaurant customers only, limited to one free entrée per teacher ID. Some sources noted that the offer was not valid through the Chipotle app.

Cicis Pizza provided a free adult buffet on May 8 (and in some reports, May 9) for teachers and administrative staff. While the buffet was free, a drink was not included. Redemption required a valid teacher ID and, in some cases, a specific coupon.

PDQ extended a 50% discount on entire food orders to teachers and nurses on May 8, requiring a valid ID. Bruegger’s Bagels was also noted as a participant, though specific offer details beyond the general category of restaurant offers were limited in the source data.

Retail and Supply Discounts

Beyond food, various retail chains offered percentage-based discounts on items commonly used in classrooms or for professional attire.

A.C. Moore offered a standing 15% discount on entire purchases for educators. This discount was available not just on Teacher Appreciation Day but whenever teachers shopped, provided they presented a State Issued Photo ID, School ID, Home School Affidavit, or similar documentation.

Michaels provided a similar 15% discount on entire purchases, including sale items, for in-store shopping. A valid educator ID was required to redeem this coupon.

Ann Taylor LOFT offered a 15% discount on all full-priced items for teachers. Hobby Lobby provided a 10% discount on in-store purchases, specifically requiring the use of a check or bank card provided by the school.

Barnes & Noble structured their appreciation with a 20% discount on the publisher's price for books purchased for classroom use. They also offered 25% off the publisher's price during specific "Educator Appreciation" days.

Home Depot offered a tax-free exemption on classroom purchases, a valuable financial benefit for educators buying supplies out-of-pocket.

Technology and Professional Development Offers

Several companies focused on professional development and technology tools, offering substantial discounts on software and hardware.

Adobe Creative Cloud for Education offered a significant discount of over 60% off the "All Apps" membership. This subscription provided access to a suite of professional tools including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.

Apple extended its Education Pricing to faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers, as well as college students and their parents. This discount applied to Mac computers and iPads.

Hewlett Packard (HP) offered a 20% discount and free shipping to U.S. teachers through its "HP Academy" program.

Verification and Eligibility Requirements

Accessing these offers generally required specific documentation. The most common requirement was a valid school ID. However, sources indicated that a variety of credentials were accepted depending on the retailer. For homeschooling parents, acceptable documentation often included a Home School Affidavit, IHIP approval letter, or a State Issued Preschool/Daycare Facility Certificate/License.

It was emphasized that offers were valid only at participating locations. Consumers were advised to call ahead to confirm that specific stores or restaurants were honoring the promotions. Furthermore, many deals were restricted to in-store or in-restaurant redemption and excluded app-based orders or online purchases. The NEA and National PTA also ran a #ThankATeacher social media campaign, encouraging the public to download printable templates, fill them out with personal messages of gratitude, and share them on social media.

Conclusion

The 2018 Teacher Appreciation Week offered a diverse range of freebies and discounts designed to support educators across the United States. From free meals at major restaurant chains like Chick-fil-A and Chipotle to substantial discounts on classroom supplies at A.C. Moore and technology tools from Adobe and Apple, the promotions acknowledged the financial and professional needs of the teaching community. Success in redeeming these offers depended on verifying participation at local establishments and carrying the appropriate identification. While specific details like dates and coupon requirements varied by provider, the collective effort highlighted a national commitment to recognizing the contributions of teachers and school staff.