Comprehensive Guide to Teacher Appreciation Week 2018 Freebies and Discounts

Teacher Appreciation Week, observed during the first full week of May each year, serves as a designated period for businesses and communities to express gratitude to educators through various freebies, discounts, and special offers. In 2018, this week spanned from May 7 to May 11, with National Teacher Appreciation Day falling on Tuesday, May 8. The National Education Association describes this day as an opportunity to honor teachers and recognize their lasting contributions to society. Numerous national and local businesses participated by providing promotions specifically for educators, including teachers, administrators, support staff, and in some cases, homeschool parents. These offers typically required verification of educator status, most commonly through a valid school ID. The following guide details the freebies and discounts available during the 2018 Teacher Appreciation Week, organized by category for clarity.

Restaurant and Food Freebies

Food and beverage establishments were among the most prominent participants in Teacher Appreciation Week 2018, offering a range of free meals, discounted buffets, and promotional pricing. These deals were often valid only on May 8, though some extended throughout the week or month.

National and Regional Chains

Chick-fil-A locations offered various promotions depending on the region. In the Greater Triangle area, educators received a free Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich on May 8 from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. This offer was available to all educators, teachers, faculty, and staff with a valid school ID, limited to one per person and redeemable only in person. In Erie, Pennsylvania, Chick-fil-A provided a free breakfast meal—including an entrée, side, and small drink—on Thursdays throughout May for educators, support staff, and homeschool parents, valid during breakfast hours (6:30-10:30 AM). In the Baltimore area, some Chick-fil-A locations offered free coffee with a breakfast purchase, while others in Virginia and Delaware provided a free Chicken Biscuit until 10:30 AM or a Chicken Sandwich from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Participation varied by location, so verification with local restaurants was recommended.

Chipotle participated with a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offer on burritos, bowls, salads, or tacos on May 8 from 3:00 PM until close. This deal was available to teachers and required a valid school ID. The promotion was confirmed in multiple sources, including official social media announcements.

Cicis Pizza allowed teachers to dine in for free at the buffet on May 8, though a coupon and valid teacher ID were required. The offer did not include drinks. Participation was location-specific, and educators were advised to contact their local Cicis to confirm.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers provided a free Box Combo to teachers and faculty with a current school ID on May 8 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for dine-in or drive-thru orders.

Bruegger's Bagels was listed among restaurant offers, though specific details were not provided in the source material beyond inclusion in a general roundup.

Einstein Bagels offered 20% off any purchase throughout the week using promo code 9053.

Cici's Pizza (noted as Cici's in some sources) provided a free adult buffet on May 8 with a coupon and valid teacher ID, as previously mentioned.

The Greene Turtle honored teachers on May 8 with a free entrée up to $12 or $12 off their meal.

Other regional food promotions included a free breakfast meal at Chick-fil-A in Erie, PA, as detailed above.

Local and Independent Establishments

In Tucson, Arizona, several local businesses participated. El Guero Canelo offered a 10% discount year-round with valid ID. Culinary Dropout hosted a Teacher Appreciation Happy Hour on May 7 from 5:00-7:00 PM, organized by Tucson Values Teachers. Maynards Market & Kitchen held a similar event on May 8 from 5:00-7:00 PM, featuring drink specials, food, and raffles, with Sentinel Peak Brewing Company providing a firetruck for photos.

In Erie, Pennsylvania, local deals mirrored national ones, with Chick-fil-A's Thursday breakfast promotion throughout May.

Retail and Store Discounts

Retailers across various sectors offered discounts on classroom supplies, personal items, and educational materials, often requiring school-issued payment methods or identification.

Arts, Crafts, and Educational Supplies

A.C. Moore provided a 15% discount on the entire purchase for teachers who presented a state-issued photo ID, school ID, homeschool affidavit, IHIP approval letter, homeschooling certificate, or state-issued preschool/daycare facility certificate/license. Educators were encouraged to contact individual stores for program details.

Hobby Lobby offered a 10% discount on in-store purchases for teachers. To redeem, a check or bank card provided by the school was required.

Home Depot extended a tax-free exemption on classroom purchases for educators, allowing them to buy supplies without sales tax when using school-issued payment methods.

Barnes & Noble provided 20% off the publisher's price for books purchased for classroom use and 25% off the publisher's price on certain "Educator Appreciation" days. Specific dates for these days were not detailed in the source material.

Technology and Electronics

Apple offered Education Pricing on Mac computers and iPads to faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels, as well as current and newly accepted college students and their parents. The full price list was available through Apple's Education Institution Discount program.

Adobe Creative Cloud for Education provided over 60% off the Creative Cloud All Apps membership, which includes access to Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Adobe XD, and over 20 other apps. This discount targeted students and teachers.

Hewlett Packard (HP) offered a 20% discount and free shipping to U.S. teachers through HP Academy.

Clothing and General Retail

Ann Taylor LOFT provided 15% off all full-priced items for teachers.

Entertainment and Service Offers

Entertainment venues and service providers also joined in, offering discounted memberships, tickets, and services to educators.

Cinemas and Theme Parks

The Loft Cinema in Tucson, Arizona, offered a teacher/student rate of $7.50 year-round. For Teacher Appreciation Week (May 7-11, 2018), they provided a $40 Teacher Membership, a $10 discount, available only at the box office with a current picture ID. Online or mail purchases were not permitted.

SeaWorld San Diego offered a complimentary Teacher Fun Card plus two free Single Day Tickets to all active and certified K-12 California and Arizona credentialed school teachers. The Fun Card likely allowed multiple visits, though specific terms were not detailed.

Other Services

No other service-specific freebies were detailed in the source material beyond these entertainment examples.

Eligibility and Redemption Requirements

Most offers required educators to present a valid school ID to verify their status. Some promotions accepted alternative forms of identification, such as state-issued educator licenses or homeschool documentation. For example, A.C. Moore allowed homeschool parents to use affidavits or certificates.

Participation was often location-specific, particularly for restaurant chains like Chick-fil-A and Cicis. Educators were advised to call ahead to confirm if their local branch honored the promotion. Many deals were valid only on May 8, though some, like Chick-fil-A's Erie breakfast or SeaWorld's Fun Card, extended throughout the month or longer.

Home educators were included in select offers, such as Chick-fil-A's Erie promotion and Apple's Education Pricing, but not all businesses recognized homeschool status. Verification methods for homeschoolers varied, with some requiring specific state-issued documents.

Social Media and Community Campaigns

The National Education Association and National PTA ran a #ThankATeacher social media campaign during the week. They provided free printable templates on their websites for individuals to write personal thanks to teachers. Participants could share photos of themselves with the signs on social media using the hashtag to promote awareness.

In Tucson, Tucson Values Teachers organized happy hours at Culinary Dropout and Maynards, encouraging community participation.

Geographic Variations and Limitations

Offers differed by region. For instance, Chick-fil-A's promotions varied between the Greater Triangle area, Erie, PA, and the Baltimore region. SeaWorld's teacher offer was limited to California and Arizona credentialed teachers. Local deals, such as those in Tucson or Erie, were not universally available.

Educators outside major urban areas might find fewer options, as many promotions were concentrated in specific locations. Checking local news sources or business websites was recommended for area-specific details.

Summary of Key Offers by Category

To assist educators in navigating the 2018 promotions, here is a consolidated list based on the source material:

Food and Beverage

Chick-fil-A: Free sandwich or breakfast meal (location-dependent).
Chipotle: BOGO on May 8 from 3 PM to close.
Cicis: Free buffet on May 8 with coupon and ID.
Raising Cane's: Free Box Combo on May 8 evening.
Einstein Bagels: 20% off with code 9053.
The Greene Turtle: Free entrée up to $12 on May 8.
Bruegger's Bagels: Listed as a restaurant offer (details unspecified).

Retail

A.C. Moore: 15% off entire purchase with ID.
Apple: Education pricing on Macs and iPads.
Barnes & Noble: 20% off classroom books, 25% off on Educator Appreciation days.
Hobby Lobby: 10% off with school payment method.
Home Depot: Tax exemption on classroom purchases.
Ann Taylor LOFT: 15% off full-priced items.
HP: 20% discount and free shipping via HP Academy.
Adobe: Over 60% off Creative Cloud.

Entertainment

The Loft Cinema: $40 teacher membership during appreciation week.
SeaWorld San Diego: Complimentary Teacher Fun Card plus two tickets.

Community

#ThankATeacher social media campaign.

Practical Tips for Redeeming Offers

Verify Participation: Contact local businesses before visiting to confirm the promotion is honored.
Bring Identification: Always carry a valid school ID or accepted alternative documentation.
Check Timing: Many deals are valid only on specific dates or hours; note May 8 as the primary day.
Review Terms: Some offers exclude drinks, limit quantities, or require presence.
Explore Local Options: Inquire with regional chambers of commerce or teacher organizations for additional deals.

The 2018 Teacher Appreciation Week provided a diverse array of opportunities for educators to receive recognition through freebies and discounts. While national chains offered widespread promotions, local businesses added unique value. By understanding the eligibility requirements and planning ahead, teachers could maximize these benefits.