Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 is scheduled for May 5 through May 9, offering educators across the United States opportunities to access various food deals, discounts, and freebies. The annual celebration, which originated in 1953 as a single day and expanded to a week-long event in 1986, honors the contributions of teachers. Participating businesses typically require educators to verify their status, often through a valid school ID or employment verification services.
Among the most prominent offers is the Chipotle Teacher Appreciation Week giveaway. Through May 13, teachers can sign up online for a chance to be one of 100,000 winners selected to receive a free burrito. Selected winners receive an email prompting them to verify their employment status via ID.me. Upon successful verification within 48 hours, a free burrito e-card is issued. This promotion is distinct from other Chipotle offers, such as the Cinco de Mayo Chipotle IQ game, which provided buy-one-get-one free coupon codes in previous years.
Burger King offers a specific deal for teachers during the appreciation week. Educators who present a valid teacher ID can receive free fries with any purchase. This offer is available to teachers and other customers during the promotional period.
Buffalo Wild Wings provides a discount for teachers, offering 20% off orders for dine-in or takeout during Teacher Appreciation Week. To redeem this discount, teachers must show a valid teacher ID. In addition to the percentage discount, Buffalo Wild Wings has offered a specific promotion of six boneless wings for $1 with the purchase of any Buffalo Wild Wings burger.
Sonic Drive-In supports teachers through its Teachers’ Circle rewards program. Members of this free program can access exclusive deals during Teacher Appreciation Week, including a free Sonic Snack or side with purchase, a buy-one-get-one-free offer on Sonic Blasts, and a $1.99 Quarter Pound Double Cheeseburger. To join, teachers must download the Sonic app, create an account, and update their profile settings to indicate their teacher status.
Other restaurants participating in Teacher Appreciation Week include Freddy’s Frozen Custard, Insomnia Cookies, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and Shake Shack. Freddy’s offers a free mini sundae with a valid school ID. Insomnia Cookies provides a free Classic cookie from May 5-9 for in-store shoppers with a valid ID, with no purchase necessary. Potbelly Sandwich Shop gives teachers a free cookie or regular-sized soft drink when they purchase an entrée between May 5 and May 11. Shake Shack offers a hand-spun shake to educators who show their work ID badge during the week. Additionally, select McDonald's locations offer a free soft drink, sweet tea, or hot or iced drip coffee with a valid teacher ID on May 6.
In addition to restaurant deals, office supply stores offer significant discounts for educators. Staples provides 20% off in-store purchases during Teacher Appreciation Week (typically May 4-10 or May 2-9) when a valid school ID is presented at checkout. Office Depot and OfficeMax offer 30% back in Bonus Rewards on qualifying in-store purchases. These rewards are generally available via a coupon accessible at officedepot.com/teachers.
Other non-food discounts include 25% off airport parking at The Parking Spot for teachers who create an account with a school email address. Ford offered a $50 e-gift card for teachers who took a virtual test drive through May 7, intended for use on DonorsChoose. SheerID partners with various brands to provide exclusive discounts to teachers, which can be found at sheerid.com/shoppers/teacherdeals.
Teachers are advised to check with local participating locations before visiting, as deals often vary by restaurant and region. Most offers require proof of employment, such as a school ID or verification through a third-party service like ID.me.
Conclusion
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 features a wide range of food deals and retail discounts designed to honor educators. From national chains like Chipotle, Burger King, and Buffalo Wild Wings to office supply discounts at Staples and Office Depot, there are numerous ways for teachers to save. Key offers include the Chipotle burrito giveaway, which requires sign-up and ID verification, and the Sonic Teachers’ Circle program, which provides app-based rewards. Educators should verify participation details with local establishments and ensure they have valid identification ready to redeem these offers.