Comprehensive Teacher Appreciation Week 2025: Freebies, Deals, and Discounts for Educators

Every May, Teacher Appreciation Week provides a dedicated opportunity for brands, restaurants, and retailers to offer special recognition to educators. The 2025 celebration is scheduled for May 5 through May 9, with National Teachers Day falling on May 6. This period features a variety of freebies, discounts, and promotional offers designed to show gratitude for the work of teachers and other school staff. The following guide details the available offers based on official announcements and verified promotional information for the 2025 period.

Restaurant and Food Service Offers

A significant portion of Teacher Appreciation Week benefits comes from the food service industry, with many chains offering free meals, discounted items, and buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals. These offers typically require proof of educator status, such as a valid school ID, and some may involve sign-ups or loyalty program enrollment.

Major National Chains

Buffalo Wild Wings is offering a 20% discount on orders for teachers and school staff from Monday, May 5, to Sunday, May 11. The discount applies to dine-in, call-in, and walk-in orders with a valid ID.

Chipotle has a promotion for teachers and healthcare workers (coinciding with National Nurse Appreciation Week). Educators can sign up online for a chance to be randomly selected among 100,000 teachers to win a free burrito. Selected winners will receive an email to verify their employment status through ID.me within 48 hours to claim their free burrito e-card. The sign-up period is through May 13.

Firehouse Subs is hosting deals through its Firehouse Rewards loyalty program and app, including BOGO sub deals during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Applebee’s is offering a free appetizer or dessert with an entrée purchase at many locations. Offers may vary by location, so checking with a local restaurant is recommended.

Burger King is expected to offer free fries for educators with any purchase. Specific local offers may vary, and users are encouraged to watch for app alerts for details.

Chick-fil-A participation varies by location. In previous years, some locations have offered free breakfast or lunch items during designated hours. Some locations also accept student nominations for teacher rewards.

McDonald’s at many locations may offer free coffee or breakfast products to teachers presenting a valid ID.

Potbelly is offering a complimentary cookie or regular-sized fountain drink with the purchase of any entrée during Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week. Free delivery is also available for catering orders over $150 using a specific promo code.

Shake Shack offers a free milkshake to teachers with a valid school ID.

Sonic teachers in the "Teachers’ Circle" program—a free membership available via the SONIC app—can access offers such as a free SONIC Snack or Side with purchase, BOGO SONIC Blasts®, and discounted Quarter Pound Double Cheeseburgers during the appreciation week.

Starbucks at many locations offers educators a tall brewed coffee with a valid school ID.

TGI Fridays may offer free entrées for teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day.

Whataburger provides free breakfast items for teachers before 9 a.m. with a valid school ID.

Zaxby’s offered a BOGO Boneless Wings Meal for rewards members in 2024.

Breakfast and Snack Focused

Tim Hortons members of the Tims Rewards loyalty program can buy one doughnut and get another of equal or lesser value free, or buy a dozen donuts and get a half dozen of equal or lesser value free through May 11.

Shipley Do-Nuts offers teachers and other heroes a free half dozen donuts from May 4-6 with no purchase necessary.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard offers a free mini sundae to teachers with a valid school ID.

Insomnia Cookies has previously offered teachers with a valid ID a free classic cookie all week. There is also an opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a $250 cookie catering package.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice typically offers a free small Ice or Gelati on Teacher Appreciation Day. Social media channels are recommended for confirming current year offers.

Peter Piper Pizza offers a free personal pizza in-store during specific evening hours (3–7 p.m.).

McAlister’s Deli offers have included a free beverage (iced tea or lemonade) in-store. Teachers can also enter online for a chance to win a catered lunch for up to 30 people.

RaceTrac last year offered educators a free medium coffee, with 2025 announcements expected soon.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse offers all teachers a free dessert from May 5-9 with the purchase of an entrée, requiring a valid teacher’s ID.

Local and Regional Dining

Specific local businesses also participate, particularly in certain geographic areas. For example, Kazzan Ramen & Bar in Houston, TX, offers a 20% discount on Teacher Appreciation Day upon presentation of a work ID. Verde Garden in Houston, TX, offers a 10% discount on the entire tab upon presentation of a work ID.

Retail and Product Discounts

Beyond food, several retailers offer significant savings on products and services for educators during this week.

Crocs offers teachers 15% off on the Crocs website by verifying their teacher status with ID.me.

Dearfoams has a promotion where buying any pair of Dearfoams results in a free pair to give to a teacher. The free pair is provided via email as a promo code.

Samsung has special savings during May on some interactive displays and monitors for Teacher Appreciation Week. This includes $300 off the Interactive Display (available in 65-, 75- and 86-inch models), a $620 discount on the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 monitor, $300 off the curved 34-inch ViewFinity S65VC, and up to $360 off the 34-inch ViewFinity S65TC monitor.

Staples offers free supply kits to teachers with ID in 2024; supplies run out fast, so arriving early is recommended. Teachers can also get 20% off in-store purchases.

Stitch Fix, the online styling service, gives teachers and educators 25% off their first order from May 5-9 to update their wardrobe. To get the deal, one must sign up on the Stitch Fix site, take a style quiz, and get verified by ID.me. The offer is good for 90 days after verification.

Taziki’s offers a deal where with every $50 spent on gift cards, a $10 voucher is received, which can be redeemed when dining-in through August 31. The deal is valid at participating locations through June 15.

Digital and Educational Freebies

Several companies offer year-round or appreciation-week-specific digital tools and subscriptions for educators.

Canva for Education is always free for teachers. Sign-up is required to access classroom-ready design tools.

Headspace offers a free annual subscription for educators. Registration with a school email is necessary.

Loom for Education provides a free video recording platform for teachers.

Microsoft Office 365 Education is available for free with a school email.

Giveaways and Sweepstakes

In addition to direct freebies and discounts, several organizations run giveaways during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Edmentum is running a Teacher Appreciation Giveaway, offering three winners a $500 gift card to their choice of Amazon or Target. Eligible educators can enter for a chance to win, with the giveaway beginning on April 28.

Insomnia Cookies offers an opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a $250 cookie catering package.

McAlister’s Deli allows teachers to enter online for a chance to win a catered lunch for up to 30 people.

Eligibility and Verification

Most offers require proof of educator status. Common methods include: - Presenting a valid school or teacher ID in-store. - Verifying employment through third-party services like ID.me for online offers (e.g., Chipotle, Crocs, Stitch Fix). - Joining brand-specific loyalty programs or apps (e.g., Firehouse Subs, Sonic, Tims Rewards).

Participation can vary by location for many national chains, and some offers are limited to specific days within the week (e.g., National Teachers Day on May 6). It is advisable to check with local establishments or the brand’s official website/app for current details and restrictions.

Conclusion

Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, from May 5 to May 9, presents a wide array of opportunities for educators to receive freebies, discounts, and special offers. The promotions span the food service industry, with major chains providing free meals and discounts, to retail and technology sectors offering savings on products and digital tools. Additionally, sweepstakes and giveaways provide chances for educators to win significant prizes. To maximize benefits, educators should prepare valid identification, consider joining relevant loyalty programs, and verify offer details with local establishments, as participation and terms can vary. This week serves as a tangible acknowledgment of the vital role teachers play in communities across the United States.