Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 is scheduled to take place from Monday, May 5, through Friday, May 9. This annual event, established as a full week in 1986 after originating as a single day in the 1950s, serves as a designated period for businesses and organizations to offer discounts and freebies to educators. According to historical context provided in the source material, Eleanor Roosevelt played a key role in establishing National Teachers Day in 1953, eventually leading to the week-long celebration recognized today.
The motivation behind these offers is underscored by recent statistics regarding the teaching profession. A 2023 Gallup poll indicates that 73% of parents rate their children's teachers as excellent or good. Conversely, a April 2024 Pew Survey revealed that 77% of teachers consider their jobs "frequently stressful," with 68% describing them as "overwhelming." In response, the National Education Association has stated, "Teachers do all they can for their students, and we’re doing all we can for teachers."
While the search query requested information regarding 2022 freebies in Michigan, the provided source data focuses specifically on verified offers and policies for the year 2025. The following comprehensive guide details the discounts, freebies, and sweepstakes available to educators during the upcoming observance, based exclusively on the provided documentation.
Restaurant and Food Freebies
Numerous dining establishments offer incentives for teachers during this week. It is important to note that most of these offers require the presentation of a valid school ID or educator verification, and many are strictly limited to the dates of May 5–9, 2025.
Chipotle Sweepstakes Through May 13, Chipotle is conducting a sweepstakes specifically for educators. Teachers can sign up online for a chance to be randomly selected to receive a free burrito. The company is selecting 100,000 teachers to win this prize. It is noted in the source material that this offer is also extended to health care workers during National Nurse Appreciation Week.
Applebee’s Applebee’s is offering teachers a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entrée during Teacher Appreciation Week. The free appetizer is valid for options up to a $12 value. To redeem this offer, educators must show a valid teacher ID at the time of purchase.
Burger King Burger King offers a free fries coupon for teachers. This offer is activated when a teacher flashes their badge or school ID.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop Potbelly is providing educators with a free cookie or a regular-sized soft drink with the purchase of any entrée. This offer is valid from May 1 through May 8 and is available at participating locations.
Buffalo Wild Wings Teachers can receive a 20% discount on their entire order at Buffalo Wild Wings by presenting a valid school ID.
BurgerFi While not officially announced for 2025 at the time of the source documentation, BurgerFi historically provided a 20% discount to teachers with a school ID. The source material suggests a return of this offer is likely, but advises consumers to call their nearest location for confirmation.
McAlister’s Deli McAlister’s Deli is offering a free tea to teachers who join the McAlister’s Rewards program.
Other Food Establishments The source material mentions potential deals at Chick-fil-A, though specific details regarding the offer amount or redemption method are not provided in the text. Additionally, J.Crew is mentioned in the context of food offers, though this appears to be a categorization error in the source data; J.Crew offers are detailed in the Retail and Apparel section below.
Retail and Apparel Discounts
Several major retailers offer percentage-based discounts on purchases, often requiring verification through a third-party service or direct presentation of credentials.
Staples Staples is offering a 20% in-store discount to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week 2025. To utilize this discount, a valid teacher ID and a coupon from the Staples app are required. The offer applies to participating locations and excludes items such as gift cards and furniture.
J.Crew J.Crew offers a 15% discount to teachers on both in-store and online purchases. To redeem this offer online, educators must verify their status through the J.Crew website or via SheerID to receive a unique promo code. For in-store purchases, a valid teacher ID must be presented at checkout.
Vineyard Vines Vineyard Vines offers a 15% discount to teachers year-round. While the specific verification method is not detailed in the provided text, the discount is established as a permanent offering rather than a week-specific promotion.
Target Source material mentions that Target has released deals for Black Friday. However, the text does not specify any active Teacher Appreciation Week offers for Target in 2025. Educators should monitor Target’s official channels for any potential overlap between these events.
Technology, Office Supplies, and Educational Materials
For teachers looking to stock up on classroom essentials or upgrade their technology, several brands offer specialized discounts.
Adobe Adobe offers a significant discount for educators and students. By visiting the Adobe website and verifying eligibility, teachers can save 60% on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan.
Bose Bose provides a $30 discount on any purchase of $199 or more to educators. This requires visiting the Bose Education Discount page and verifying one's ID.
Crayola Crayola offers a 20% discount on all products listed in its "Teacher Gift Ideas" category. To redeem this, educators must use the promo code "EDUCATORS" at checkout on the Crayola website.
Scholastic During Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, Scholastic is offering daily deals on books and supplies at The Teacher Store. Additionally, they provide the option to raise classroom funds through ClassroomsCount™. Free thank-you note printables are also available for download for teachers, parents, and students.
Office Depot / OfficeMax Office Depot and OfficeMax are offering a "Teacher Exclusive Coupon" that provides 30% back in Bonus Rewards on qualifying purchases.
Book Retailers (Michigan Specific) A specific offer for Michigan educators is available through a book retailer (specific name not provided in text, but described as offering books from Young Adult, Children’s, and Education sections). This retailer offers a 20% discount to fully certified K-12 educators working in Michigan who are purchasing educational materials for classroom use.
Health, Fitness, and Travel
Discounts extend beyond the classroom into personal wellness and travel, though verification is strictly enforced.
Peloton The source material notes that a specific organization (likely "SheerID" or a similar verification partner, though not named explicitly) has partnered with brands like Peloton to offer exclusive teacher deals. While specific discount details are not provided in the text, Peloton is listed as a participating brand.
Hilton Hilton is listed among the businesses offering discounts and giveaways to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Specific terms and discount rates are not detailed in the provided source material.
Verification and Eligibility Requirements
Accessing these offers generally requires proof of employment as an educator. The sources highlight several methods of verification:
- Physical ID: A valid school ID is the most common requirement for in-person dining and retail offers (e.g., Applebee's, Buffalo Wild Wings).
- Online Verification: Technology and online retailers frequently utilize third-party verification services. Adobe, Bose, and J.Crew (online) require users to verify their status through their respective websites or services like SheerID.
- App Coupons: Staples requires a specific coupon downloaded to the Staples app in addition to a teacher ID.
- Promo Codes: Crayola requires the use of a specific promo code ("EDUCATORS") at checkout.
Sweepstakes and Random Selection
In addition to immediate discounts, some brands utilize sweepstakes mechanics.
Chipotle As noted, Chipotle is not offering an immediate free item to every teacher but is entering verified sign-ups into a random drawing for one of 100,000 free burritos. The sign-up window is open through May 13, 2025.
Conclusion
Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 offers a wide array of benefits for educators, ranging from immediate food freebies to substantial savings on technology and apparel. The offers detailed above are derived from verified reports and brand announcements specific to the 2025 observance. Educators are advised to carry valid identification and check specific location participation, as many offers are available "at participating locations" only. While the provided source material did not detail every brand's participation, the listed restaurants and retailers represent a significant cross-section of the available 2025 deals.