Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 runs from Monday, May 5, through Friday, May 9, offering Denver-area educators a variety of complimentary food items and discounts. Participating restaurants and national chains have announced promotions for teachers and school staff who present valid identification. Offers are subject to participation at individual locations and generally require in-store redemption.
Eligibility and Verification Requirements
Most promotions require proof of educator status. Participating businesses typically request a valid school ID or professional badge to verify eligibility. Several offers are restricted to in-restaurant dining and exclude online or delivery orders. Some promotions are available to all customers, while others are exclusive to teachers and school staff.
Food and Beverage Freebies
Breakfast and Morning Items
Chick-fil-A is offering specific promotions at participating locations in the Greater Triangle area. On Tuesday, May 6, teachers can receive a free 4-count Chick-n-Minis during breakfast hours or a free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich after 10:30 a.m. with a valid professional ID or badge. Limit one per person while supplies last.
McDonald's offers a free soft drink, sweet tea, or hot or iced drip coffee in any size with a valid teacher ID on Tuesday, May 6, at select locations.
McAlister’s Deli provides teachers and nurses with a free Big tea at participating locations from May 5 through May 12. This offer applies to dine-in and takeout orders only when a valid educator ID or badge is presented.
Lunch and Dinner Deals
Chipotle has two distinct offers. First, teachers can enter a sweepstakes from April 30 through May 12 at teacherthanks.chipotle.com. One hundred thousand teachers will be randomly selected to verify employment via ID.me; successful verification within 48 hours results in a free entrée e-card. Second, on Wednesday, May 7, from 3 p.m. to close, participating locations offer a buy-one, get-one-free deal on burritos, burrito bowls, salads, or tacos. Additionally, a separate sweepstakes allows teachers and healthcare workers to sign up online to win a free burrito, with 100,000 winners selected from each group.
Buffalo Wild Wings provides 20% off the entire order for teachers presenting a valid school ID. This discount applies to dine-in, call-in, or walk-in orders. A separate promotion offers six boneless wings for $1 with the purchase of any Buffalo Wild Wings burger from May 5 to 11.
Burger King offers free fries with any purchase. This promotion is available to teachers and all customers through the end of the year.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen allows teachers to get a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée from May 6 to 10.
Cici’s Pizza offers one free visit to the pizza buffet on May 7 with the presentation of a specific coupon.
MOD Pizza offers a buy-one, get-one-free deal on pizzas and salads on May 7.
Raising Cane’s provides a free box combo to teachers and school faculty on May 7 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sonic Drive-in offers three deals for members of the Sonic Teachers’ Circle rewards program: a free Sonic Snack or side with purchase, buy one Sonic Blast get one free, and a $1.99 Quarter Pound Double Cheeseburger. To access these deals, teachers must join the free rewards program via the Sonic app by navigating to Settings, tapping the "profile" icon, tapping "account," and selecting "I'm a Teacher."
Smoothie King offers 20% off in-store orders from May 6 to 8 when a valid working ID is shown.
Tijuana Flats offers 20% off dine-in or carryout orders on Wednesday, May 7. The discount code "NURTEA25" must be used, and a valid ID must be shown.
Applebee’s offers a free appetizer with any entrée purchase during Teacher Appreciation Week. The appetizer is up to a $12 value.
Non-Food Retail and Service Discounts
While the primary focus of Teacher Appreciation Week is food, some sources mention retail discounts available to educators.
Office Depot and OfficeMax offer 30% back in Bonus Rewards on qualifying in-store purchases, allowing teachers to stock up on classroom essentials.
Ford offers a $50 e-gift card to teachers who complete a virtual test drive through May 7. The e-gift card can be used to contribute to teacher requests on DonorsChoose.
Adobe offers a 60% discount on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan for verified teachers and students.
Bose offers $30 off any purchase of $199 or more through the Bose Education Discount page after ID verification.
Cheap Caribbean offers a Hero Discount for teachers, saving $150 on all-inclusive getaways of five nights or more.
Edmentum is hosting a giveaway for three winners to receive a $500 gift card to Amazon or Target. Eligible educators can enter the giveaway, which began on April 28.
Important Considerations for Redemption
Participation varies by location for all listed offers. It is recommended that teachers contact their local restaurant or retailer to confirm participation before visiting. Most food offers require in-person redemption and the presentation of a valid school ID. Offers are generally limited to one per teacher. Specific restrictions apply to delivery and online orders; most deals are valid for dine-in or carryout only.
Conclusion
Denver educators have access to numerous freebies and discounts during Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, primarily centered on food and beverages. The majority of offers run between May 5 and May 9, though some extend through May 12 or longer. Key participating brands include Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Buffalo Wild Wings, and McDonald's. To redeem these offers, teachers must present valid school identification and verify participation at their specific local outlets. Additionally, several retailers and service providers offer year-round discounts or specific sweepstakes during the appreciation period.