Teacher Appreciation Week in 2019, spanning from May 6th through May 10th, offered a variety of complimentary items and discounts for educators across the United States, with specific opportunities available in California. The period, which includes National Teachers Day on May 7th, serves as a designated time for businesses to express gratitude to school faculty and staff. According to Source [3], 73% of parents rated their children's teachers as excellent or good, and despite 77% of teachers reporting their job as frequently stressful, the majority remain committed to their students. In response to this dedication, numerous companies provide special offers during the week.
Access to these promotions generally requires proof of employment. Source [1] notes that participants must bring a school ID or other documentation identifying them as faculty or staff, or a home school ID card for homeschooling parents. Similarly, Source [2] and Source [4] emphasize that most offers are for teachers or school staff members only and require a valid school ID to claim.
Several food and beverage chains offered specific freebies on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Chick-fil-A participated with a location-dependent offer. Source [1] reported that participating restaurants provided free Chicken Minis before 10:00 AM or a free Chicken Sandwich after 10:30 AM all day on May 7. Source [5] corroborated that many franchises offered free sandwiches, though customers were advised to check with their local franchise for participation. Chipotle offered a Buy One Get One Free deal on burritos, bowls, salads, or orders of tacos on May 7 from 3:00 PM until close. Source [1] specified this offer was valid for teachers, faculty, or staff and had to be placed in-store, not through the app. Source [5] provided the same details, noting the specific time window.
Cicis Pizza (spelled Cicis in Source [1] and Cici's in Source [5]) offered a free adult buffet on May 7. Source [1] specified it was for teachers and administrative staff, while Source [5] required the presentation of a coupon. Other chains offering specific day-of deals included Raising Cane's, which provided a free box combo on May 7 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Source [5]), and MOD Pizza, which offered a buy one, get one free deal on pizzas and salads (Source [5]).
Deals spanning the entirety of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) were also available. Bruegger’s Bagels offered teachers a free medium drip or iced coffee with any purchase and valid ID through Friday, May 10 (Source [4]). Source [1] noted the same offer required a school ID. Buffalo Wild Wings provided a 20% discount for teachers, faculty, and staff through May 10, valid for dine-in only with a school ID (Source [4]). Source [2] listed the same 20% discount for teachers dining in. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen offered teachers a free appetizer with the purchase of an adult entree through Friday, May 10 (Source [4]), a deal also noted by Source [5].
McAlister's Deli offered a free cup of tea to teachers from May 6 to 10 (Source [5]). Sonic Drive-In offered a free Route 44 Drink or Slush for teachers and those who appreciate them when ordering ahead in the SONIC app and using promo code TEACHERS. This offer was valid with any purchase through Friday, May 31 (Source [1]).
Several other deals were reported by various sources, though participation varied by location. Applebee's offered $1 margaritas all May long, available to anyone but specifically for teachers (Source [2]). Source [6] indicated that many Applebee's locations offered a free appetizer or dessert with an entrée purchase, though this was based on prior year data. 7-Eleven offered small coffees, medium cold brews, and medium slurpees for $1 through May 21 (Source [2]). Burger King was expected to offer free fries with any purchase, though Source [6] noted customers should watch for app alerts. Dairy Queen offered $2 off any mobile app purchase of at least $10 through May 12 (Source [2]). The Greene Turtle offered a $14 dine-in meal for free with a valid school ID on Tuesday, May 7 (Source [2]). Shake Shack offered a free milkshake with valid school ID (Source [6]). Shipley Do-Nuts offered a half-dozen glazed donuts free with any purchase for loyalty members (Source [6]). Starbucks offered a tall brewed coffee at many locations (Source [6]). TGI Fridays looked to offer free entrees for teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day (Source [6]). Whataburger offered free breakfast items before 9:00 AM with a valid school ID (Source [6]). Zaxby's offered a BOGO Boneless Wings Meal for rewards members (Source [6]). Potbelly offered a free cookie or fountain drink with entrée purchase (Source [6]).
RaceTrac offered a free medium coffee to educators in the prior year, with 2025 announcements pending (Source [6]). Source [6] also mentioned that Sonic Teachers’ Circle members received app-exclusive freebies in the previous year.
Non-food freebies were also available. Staples provided free supply kits with ID in 2024 (Source [6]), and teachers could get 20% off in-store purchases. Digital freebies included Canva for Education (always free), Headspace (free annual subscription with school email), Loom for Education (free video recording platform), and Microsoft Office 365 Education (free access with school email) (Source [6]).
Edmentum offered a $500 gift card giveaway for educators, with three winners selected (Source [6]). The giveaway began on April 28, 2025.
It is important to note that offers often vary by location. Source [1] advised checking with individual Chick-fil-A stores before ordering. Source [4] recommended calling ahead to confirm participation and noting that some offers require an app or email sign-up. Source [2] also noted that specific offers for Chick-fil-A could be found by checking local Facebook pages.
While many sources list deals for 2019, Source [3] and Source [6] provide information regarding 2025 Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs from May 5 to May 9, 2025. Source [3] focuses on California educators specifically. However, the primary focus of the available data regarding specific freebies and deals for California educators in 2019 relies on the national chains listed above, as Source [3] does not list specific 2019 freebies but rather general dates and survey data regarding teacher sentiment.
Conclusion
Teacher Appreciation Week 2019 provided California educators with numerous opportunities for free food and discounts. The bulk of the offers centered on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, with chains like Chipotle, Cicis, and Raising Cane's providing specific free items. The week-long period also saw discounts at Buffalo Wild Wings and free coffee at Bruegger's Bagels. Eligibility generally required a valid school ID, and participation varied by location, necessitating verification with local establishments. While the provided sources also contain information regarding 2025 promotions, the verified 2019 offers for California teachers were primarily food-related and available at national restaurant chains.