Teacher Appreciation Week in 2017 offered a wide variety of freebies and discounts for educators in the Dallas, Texas, area. Local businesses, national chains, and community organizations provided special offers to honor the hard work of teachers, faculty, and school staff. These deals typically required proof of employment, such as a valid school identification badge, and many were available only during specific dates and times. The following guide details the verified offers available during that period, including eligibility requirements, redemption processes, and participating locations.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several restaurants and food service providers in the Dallas area offered complimentary meals, snacks, and beverages to educators during Teacher Appreciation Week. These offers ranged from free entrees to discounted items and were generally valid for teachers, faculty, and staff with proper identification.
Salata
Salata provided a free salad or wrap to teachers and school faculty during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 3 through May 5, 2017. The offer was valid from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. Eligible participants included teachers, teachers’ aids, and administrators from any local elementary, middle, or high school, whether public or private. To redeem, educators were required to present a valid school ID that included a photo, the name of the school, and the current school year.
McDonald's Participating North Texas Locations
Participating McDonald's locations in North Texas offered teachers a free breakfast Extra Value Meal on May 3 and May 10, 2017. To receive the free meal, teachers had to present a valid school ID.
PDQ
PDQ extended a 50% discount on the entire check to teachers and nurses on May 9, 2017. This offer was valid all day at participating locations and required a valid teacher or nurse ID.
Chipotle
Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal for teachers, faculty, and staff on May 2, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until close. The promotion applied to burritos, bowls, salads, or orders of tacos. Participants could receive one free entree item with the purchase of an entree item of equal or greater value. The offer was valid for in-restaurant orders only and required a valid school ID. It was not valid for online, mobile, fax, Burritos by the Box, or catering orders. The deal was subject to availability and could not be combined with other coupons, promotions, or special offers. It was valid only at U.S. locations.
Applebees Participating Locations Only
Applebees offered a free lunch or dinner to teachers on May 6, 2017. A valid teacher ID was required to redeem the offer, and it was valid only at participating locations.
World of Beer
On May 9, 2017, World of Beer offered educators a free Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider or Samuel Adams Draught, or a $5 discount on their check. The offer required a valid educator ID and may have varied at participating taverns.
Go Fish Poke
Go Fish Poke offered discounted signature bowls for $9.95 (excluding the seafood bowl) from May 8 through May 12, 2017. Educators had to show a valid teacher ID to receive the discount.
Crawfish Shack
Crawfish Shack offered boiled crawfish for $4.95 per pound on May 3, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The deal was available for dine-in only and included a BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) policy.
Palio's Pizza Cafe
Palio's Pizza Cafe provided a series of free items to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week in 2017: - May 1: Free soda - May 2: Free small cheese bread - May 3: Free dessert (cannoli) - May 4: Free dinner salad - May 5: Free one-topping personal size pizza A valid teacher ID was required for each offer.
Krave Cedar Hill
Krave Cedar Hill offered a free breakfast sandwich or muffin with the purchase of a drink. This deal was available from 7:00 a.m. to noon each day during the appreciation period.
The Daiquiri Shoppe
The Daiquiri Shoppe offered educators a personal daiquiri for $3 with the purchase of a Po-boy, basket, or salad on May 5, 2017. The offer was limited to two per guest and valid from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Persona Pizzeria
Persona Pizzeria offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on salads on May 3, 2017. Teachers with ID could purchase one salad and receive a second salad for free.
Tacos Y Mas
Tacos Y Mas provided one free street taco per day from May 1 through May 5, 2017. A valid ID was required to redeem the offer.
Sonic
Sonic honored educators with a week of free food and drinks in January 2017 as part of its Teachers’ Circle program. To participate, teachers, faculty, or staff at a K-12 school or degree-granting university had to enroll in the Teachers’ Circle program via the Sonic app and verify their teacher status. Once enrolled, members received a new reward each day, redeemable with any app or online purchase: - January 16: Free Large Drink or Slush - January 17: Free Regular Breakfast Burrito - January 18: Free Small Cold Brew - January 19: Free French Toast Sticks Each reward was valid one time only with a purchase made online or in the Sonic app.
Entertainment and Leisure Offers
In addition to food and beverage deals, several entertainment venues in the Dallas area offered free admission or special experiences for educators.
Reunion Tower
Reunion Tower invited teachers to an evening event featuring light refreshments, a field trip experience preview, and giveaways. The event took place at the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, located at 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75207. Previews were scheduled every 20 minutes starting at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The offer was a thank-you to past and future educator guests.
Painting With a Twist Mesquite and Cedar Hill
Painting With a Twist Mesquite and Cedar Hill celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week from April 29 to May 4, 2017. Teachers who showed their school badge received a special prize. Specific daily deals varied by location, so educators were encouraged to contact the location for details.
Big Al's Scoreboard Grill
Big Al's Scoreboard Grill planned specials for teachers on June 2 and 3, 2017. The restaurant intended to pamper educators with deals inspired by their hard work. Specific details were not provided in the source material.
Community and Educational Offers
PTA Teacher Appreciation Week
The National PTA organized Teacher Appreciation Week from May 4 to May 8, 2016 (noted in the source material as 2026, but context suggests a past event). The organization encouraged communities to celebrate teachers for their role in guiding students and sparking curiosity. No specific freebies were detailed, but the event served as a platform for local PTAs to organize appreciation activities.
Free Admission for Teachers
A general offer was noted for free admission and free parking for current teachers and paraprofessionals at daycares, afterschool programs, and schools K-12. This required event pre-registration, but the specific event or venue was not identified in the source material.
Eligibility and Redemption Guidelines
To ensure clarity for consumers, the following guidelines were consistently noted across multiple offers:
- Proof of Employment: Most offers required a valid school ID badge that included a photo, the name of the school, and the current school year. Some offers accepted other forms of educator identification, but a school-issued ID was the standard.
- Participation Limits: Many deals were limited to one per educator per day or required a purchase to redeem a free item. For example, Chipotle required the purchase of one entree to receive a second entree for free.
- Location Restrictions: Offers were valid only at participating locations within the United States. Educators were advised to verify participation with their local store before attempting to redeem a deal.
- Time Restrictions: Several offers were valid only during specific hours, such as Salata’s 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. window or Krave Cedar Hill’s 7:00 a.m. to noon breakfast window.
- Combination Restrictions: Many deals could not be combined with other coupons, promotions, or special offers. Chipotle explicitly stated that its buy-one-get-one-free deal could not be combined with other promotions.
- Availability: Offers were subject to availability and could be void where prohibited. Educators were encouraged to check with individual locations for confirmation.
Conclusion
Teacher Appreciation Week 2017 in Dallas, Texas, provided educators with a diverse array of freebies and discounts from local and national businesses. From free meals at restaurants like Salata and Chipotle to special events at venues like Reunion Tower, teachers had multiple opportunities to be recognized for their contributions. While most offers required valid school identification and adherence to specific time and location constraints, the variety of deals ensured that educators could find meaningful ways to celebrate their hard work. Consumers should always verify participation with individual locations and ensure they meet eligibility requirements before attempting to redeem any offer.