Teacher Appreciation Week 2025: Celebrating Educators Beyond the Discounts

As the school year winds down and summer edges closer, one of the most quietly significant observances of the year takes center stage: Teacher Appreciation Week, running May 5–9, with National Teachers Day on May 6. At first glance, the week looks like a marketing holiday—companies rush to offer freebies and discounts. But beneath the coupons and promo codes lies a deeper, more urgent reality: America’s educators are underpaid, overworked, and too often underprotected.

This article is more than a roundup. It’s a call to reflect on how we treat the people we trust to shape our future—because true appreciation can’t be measured in free burritos alone.

🍎 The State of Teaching in 2025: More Than Just Burnout

Let’s start with the numbers. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey reported that:

• 77% of teachers say their jobs are frequently stressful
• 68% describe the profession as emotionally overwhelming
• Over 30% feel underappreciated, not just by parents or students, but by society at large

In many states, teachers have seen pay stagnation, budget cuts, and rising classroom violence. They face political attacks for simply teaching inclusive history or acknowledging mental health. They often play the roles of counselor, security guard, social worker, and emergency responder—all while trying to meet test scores and learning goals.

Yet despite it all, they stay. Not because of the perks. But because of the purpose.

So when we talk about Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s be honest: this week is a gesture. But gesture is not justice.

🎁 Yes, the Deals Matter. Especially Right Now.

In a country where the average starting salary for a public school teacher is under $44,000, and where many teachers buy supplies out-of-pocket, small savings do help. If we’re being real, many of the educators in our communities—especially Black teachers in underfunded districts—need these deals to stretch their paychecks.

That said, no discount erases systemic disrespect. We should accept these perks for what they are—tokens of thanks—and not confuse them with the compensation educators actually deserve.

Still, if you or someone you know is a teacher, here are the top verified offers this year, curated by BLKsignal for maximum value.

🧃 Food & Drink Deals for Teachers

🔹 Chipotle – Enter to win one of 100,000 free burrito cards through May 13. Winners must verify with ID.me within 48 hours.

🔹 Smoothie King – 20% off in-store with teacher ID (May 6–8).

🔹 Sonic Drive-In – Teachers in the Sonic Teachers’ Circle get:

• Free snack or side
• BOGO Sonic Blast
• $1.99 double cheeseburgers (via app)

🔹 Abuelo’s – 20% off meals for teachers and staff on May 6.

🔹 McAlister’s Deli – Free Big Tea (May 5–12) and a chance to win a catered lunch for 30.

🔹 Whataburger – Free breakfast item from 5–9 a.m. daily (May 5–9) + $1,000 grants for 75 teachers.

🔹 Atomic Wings – Free 5-piece boneless wings with fries (May 6 only).

🔹 Shipley Do-Nuts – Free half-dozen (May 4–6, no purchase needed).

🔹 Peter Piper Pizza – Free personal pizza (3–7 p.m., May 5–9 in select cities).

🔹 Hat Creek Burger Co. – Free burger on May 6.

🔹 la Madeleine – BOGO pastry item via app.

🔹 Sullivan’s & Eddie Merlot’s Steakhouses – Free dessert with entrée.

💻 Retail & Technology Discounts

🔹 Samsung – Up to $620 off monitors and displays; ideal for educators needing home tech or interactive classroom tools.

🔹 Staples – 20% off purchases and free pen pack (in-store with ID and app coupon).

🔹 Stitch Fix – 25% off first clothing box (verify via ID.me by May 9).

🔹 Museum of Illusions – Free entry for teachers + raffle for swag packs.

🔹 The Parking Spot – 25% off airport parking for all 2025 travel (must book in May).

🔹 Box Tops for Education – Earn your school an extra $5 with your first receipt scan (code: TEACHER).

🔹 Doodleface – 20% off creative crayon boards (use code: 20LOVETEACH).

🏨 Travel & Hotel Savings

If you’re planning a summer break:

Hilton & Embassy Suites (Florida) – Use special educator discount codes:

• Miami: PK5
• Fort Lauderdale: PL5
• Tampa: TEAP or TEP

✊🏽 More Than a Discount—A Demand for Respect

At BLKsignal, we know that Black teachers often carry double the weight—educating students and protecting their dignity in systems built to diminish both. Across the country, teachers of color are expected to “relate to the students,” “manage the tough kids,” and act as cultural translators, all while navigating racial bias within their own institutions.

This week, appreciation looks like more than free wings. It looks like:

• School boards listening to teachers, not demonizing them
• Parents advocating for higher teacher pay
• Students defending the teachers who fight for their futures
• Lawmakers funding schools, not surveilling them

Because the truth is: real teacher appreciation is political.

It’s in the budgets we pass, the legislation we support, and the dignity we demand for those who raise our next generation.

🗣️ Want to Show Your Appreciation? Go Public.

We’re not just asking you to send a thank-you card. We want you to amplify the teachers in your life. Tag us on X or Instagram @BLKsignal with your Teacher Appreciation shoutouts and stories. We’ll feature select tributes in our community roundups.

Teachers deserve visibility. Not just in May, but every day.

📚 Closing Thought: Beyond the Freebies

This Teacher Appreciation Week, don’t stop at the coupon. Use this moment as a stepping stone toward something bigger. Our educators deserve more than gratitude—they deserve justice, support, and the resources to thrive.

And if you’re a teacher reading this: thank you. Thank you for holding it down in classrooms where hope and hardship walk side by side. We see you. We honor you. And we’ll keep fighting for you.

BLKsignal.com | Independent News Through Our Lens