Teacher Appreciation Week Deals (Free Food, Retail Discounts and More!)

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Celebrate your favorite educators with the best deals and freebies for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!

mug with yellow ruler print and "Teachers Rule" printed on it

Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with these freebies & deals for educators! 🏫🚸📚

National Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 runs from Monday, May 5th, through today, Friday, May 9th!

Many restaurants and retailers will show their appreciation for hard-working educators everywhere by offering some great Teacher Appreciation freebies and special deals.

Check out our list of retailers and restaurants celebrating teachers year-round with special discounts, freebies, and other offers!

person making cards for teachers with gift cards attached

Thank a teacher with a creative gift idea paired with one of our free teacher appreciation printables

THANK YOU, teachers, for all you do!  💖


Applebees boneless wings with celery and ranch

Free appetizer with ID at Applebee’s 

In 2024, teachers could score a free appetizer with their ID at Applebee’s.


buffalo wild wings on a plate

20% off at Buffalo Wild Wings

During Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, Buffalo Wild Wings offered teachers and school staff 20% off dine-in and pay in-store pickup orders with a valid school ID.


Burgerfi offered teachers a 20% discount in 2024.

In 2024, teachers could score 20% off their entire dine-in purchase by showing a valid teacher ID. Delivery and takeout orders were excluded.


three pairs of crocs clogs in shopping cart

20% off Crocs

Crocs offered Teachers 20% off full-price styles when they verified their Teacher status with ID.me.


Costco shop card on counter for teacher appreciation week

$20 Shop Card from Costco

For a limited time, teachers can join Costco as a new member and receive a $20 Costco Shop Card. Just head on over here to verify your eligibility through SheerID.


four dickey's barbecue pit cups being toasted in store

Teachers got a free Big Yellow Cup from Dickey’s BBQ Pit.

During Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, any teacher with a valid employment ID got a FREE Big Yellow Cup with a minimum purchase of $10.


10% off at Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor

Throughout Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, teachers received a 10% discount at participating Happy Joe’s locations.


6-pack of Insomnia cookies next to notebook

Insomnia Cookies gave teachers a Free Cookie in 2024!

During Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, teachers and school staff could head to Insomnia Cookies to snag a FREE classic cookie with valid proof of employment.

As a joint Nurse and Teacher Appreciation celebration, Insomnia Cookies also had a SWEETstakes! Five nurses and/or teachers won a $250 cookie catering package for themselves and their coworkers.


Logan's Roadhouse Meals

20% off an entrée at Logan’s Roadhouse

Logan’s Roadhouse gave teachers 20% off their entrée throughout Teacher Appreciation Week 2024.


hand holding a cup of McAlister's Tea

Teachers got a free iced tea from McAlister’s Deli.

Throughout Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, teachers could get a FREE Big Tea (flavor shots excluded) at participating McAlister’s Deli locations. An educator’s ID was required at checkout to claim this freebie (in-store only)!


Sonic Bag

Teachers received exclusive deals from Sonic all week long.

Sonic App users enrolled in the Teachers’ Circle Rewards program received exclusive deals for Teacher Appreciation Week 2024. Note that you needed to sign up for this rewards program prior to May 6th, 2024 to receive these offers.


Stitch Fix Box

Stitch Fix offered Teachers a $50 credit. 

Teachers could log in to their Stitch Fix account and verify their status with ID.me to redeem a $50 Teacher Credit in 2024! If creating a new account, you had to take a style quiz first. In addition to the $50 teacher credit, first-time customers also got $20 off their first fix!


woman holding up three eyeshadow sticks near her face

40% off Tarte Cosmetics

For Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, Tarte Cosmetics gave all K-12 teachers 40% off their purchase and free shipping when you verified through Sheer ID!


holding box of crayons near Staples basket full of school supplies

Teachers got a FREE Staples Teacher Appreciation Kit

Through May 11th, Staples stores will offer teachers a FREE Teacher Supply Kit! Note that there will only be 20 kits per store, so bring your teacher ID and plan to arrive early for your best chance of getting a kit!

Teachers can score 20% off Staples purchases during Teacher Appreciation Week – just be sure to show your teacher ID at checkout!


Do you know of any other Teacher Appreciation Week freebies or special offers?! If so, please share them with us below!


These educator discounts are available all year long!


About the writer:

Jenna has a Bachelor's Degree from Lycoming College and her Master's from Penn State, holding 4 years of writing experience between a variety of publications and Hip2Save.


Join The Discussion

Comments 20

  1. Suzanne

    Kindergarten Mom here so new to all this, Do we get a gift for Teacher appreciation Day or do we need to do something for the whole week??? I am LOST

    • Alicia Denk

      Hi,
      Usually I send in one appreciation gift sometime during the week.

    • Shopper123

      Teacher here, parents often do something small each day during the week (fav candy bar, fav drink, handwritten note/picture, new pens/post it’s and then at the end of the week a gift/gift card). Each family handles it differently but at my school that was the most common!

    • Lynn Redman

      Anything is appreciated I’m sure! Just the fact that you acknowledge them is wonderful! And please don’t forget your school nurse! It’s also nurses week! They are forgotten most of the time.

    • MJ

      I’m a middle school teacher, and the biggest thing is the thought! One gift would be lovely, but a drawing from the student or a little note from the parent would be just as sweet! I definitely would not feel pressure to get them something every day of the week.

    • Brittani Hall

      I have been reading a lot about this on Pinterest and the number one teacher requested item out of all of the articles I’ve read are gift cards. Even if it’s just $5, something just for them. I do come from an area where they ask for something specific each day, however, where we are now they ask for nothing for teacher appreciation week. So, because I love my kids teachers and they are by far the best they’ve ever had, we are sending in something each day. It’s always the thought that counts, but specifically the articles say 70% of teachers would like gift cards. I’m not a teacher, just a caring parent so I had to research a bit. There are a ton of diy projects to do on Pinterest for teacher appreciation week as well and they are adorable. A lot of free printables too.

    • Jessica Nagel

      We do a little something each day, example favorite candy, drink, a sweet note. On Friday we send a card with a message inside from our family and a gift card to their favorite place.

  2. tia in boise

    Teacher of 30 years here. Last year was the first time that a parent gave me a gift every day of the week (and she is a teacher!) At my school most parents/children do nothing. A few send in a plant or candy or a nice card–and anything is loved! Some help contribute to whatever the PTO has put together. This and last year they set up a Sign Up Genius to help stock our fridge with a variety of drinks and provide snacks for us to munch on all week.

    There isn’t anything that is EXPECTED for families to do–just do whatever is in your heart! 🙂

  3. David Johnson

    As a teacher, the PTO/PTA usually does something every day and parents usually give one gift (If they give anything at all). Stay away from mugs, school supplies, and “Best Teacher” items. Stick with gift cards or something personal if you know their favorite food/treat etc. It really is the thought that counts.

  4. AS

    Are these deals for substitute teachers too or permanent teachers. Thanks

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Great question, AS! You could always double check with your locations to be sure on how they will honor it for you. ❤️

    • Melissa M

      I’m hoping they’re for home schooling teachers too! 🙂

      • Lillian Hemphill

        No

      • Betsy

        I used to homeschool my kids and now teach at their school, and I can say that I got these deals both when homeschooling and now when working at a school.
        I always asked first and never was told no.

  5. Ashley

    I work at a preschool. Most don’t do teachers week gift because end of the year is coming. But they do help send in stuff for a breakfast for us to enjoy at the beginning of the week. Of course there is left overs. I agree $5 gift cards are great. Remember not everyone loves plants, not everyone drinks coffee and not everyone needs another mug

  6. Beth

    I always send in one gift for the week. Typically a gift card. Now that I am a teacher at the school I thought it would be interesting to see what most people give. So far I’ve received all items for the classroom. While a gift card would be nice those classroom items are a blessing as well.

  7. Mrs. P

    I’ve worked for over a decade as an Algebra cyber school teacher. Never got a gift from a single student even though I’m just as qualified (have 2 masters degrees). Cyber school teachers are not recognized for their hard work. Maybe I’ll buy myself a teachers apple mug that in-person teachers complain about.

    • laurensmithlns@gmail.com

      It’s less common for teachers to get gifts in middle/high school, since kids have so many teachers compared to elementary school. It’s not just the cyber teachers. 🙂 I love the idea of treating yourself! After all, no one gets into teaching (or they shouldn’t at least) for the recognition! Signed, A fellow upper-grades teacher who has sent all kinds of gifts for my kid’s elementary teachers but has never received any

  8. Bridgette Lett

    Don’t forget about your paras please!!! They work so hard too!

    • laurensmithlns@gmail.com

      100% and school secretary and custodian!

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