Art teacher encourages students to let go of perfectionism
An art teacher in Louisville, Kentucky, shares positive words with her students, reminding them that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect.
As the end of the school year approaches, National Teacher Appreciation Week, held from Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8, provides an opportunity to thank educators.
The 2025-2026 school calendar may end in the coming weeks, but that doesn’t mean it’s a vacation period for all teachers. More than a fifth (21%) of K-12 teachers say they find it difficult to survive on their teacher salary, according to a Gallup poll of more than 2,000 U.S. teachers conducted Oct. 16 to Nov. 11. Released in May 2025 and March 2026.
Side jobs are common, with nearly half (46%) of financially strapped teachers saying they have a second job unrelated to teaching, the survey found. Most part-time teachers (85%) say they work a second job at least partially during the school year. According to Gallup, “side jobs are more than just ‘summer jobs’ that teachers do while they’re away from teaching.”
According to the National Education Association’s website, National Teacher’s Day, Tuesday, May 5, was born in 1953 from then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s lobbying efforts in Congress. The NEA then established National Teacher Appreciation Week in 1985.
For ideas on how to show appreciation to your favorite teachers, visit the National PTA and NEA websites and the We Are Teachers site. All these sites have ideas and projects.
Many restaurants and businesses will be offering sales and specials for teachers and gift specials for educators this week. Here’s a summary.
Chipotle free meal offer
Teachers and educators have a chance to win one of 100,000 free meals as part of Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Teacher Appreciation Week benefit. Through May 12, teachers can visit Chipotle’s Teacher Thanks website and enter their name and email address for a chance to win an e-gift card.
Starting May 13th, randomly selected winners will be notified and asked to confirm their employment as an educator via ID.me within 48 hours. Those who do not provide proof of employment will be removed from the award list and another name will be chosen.
Chipotle launched a program to reward teachers in 2016 and a similar promotion for National Nursing Week, which runs from May 6 to 12. Since then, the company has distributed a total of $16 million in free food to teachers and health care workers.
“Recognizing teachers and health care workers through this program is one way we can give back in a meaningful way,” Stephanie Perdue, Chipotle’s senior vice president of brand marketing, said in a statement.
Whataburger offers free breakfast during National Teacher Appreciation Week
The San Antonio-based burger chain will be offering free breakfast to teachers and school staff nationwide from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 7. Promotional times may vary by store, so check with your local Whataburger for exact timings. This offer is valid for dine-in, takeout and drive-thru orders and is limited to one per person. Eligible recipient must be present for redemption.
At the restaurant chain’s online Whatastore, you can find gifts like WhataTeacher T-shirts and tote bags, and you can even gift your teacher some WhataTeacher merchandise.
As part of Whataburger’s Feeding Student Success initiative, the company will award $1,000 classroom grants to 60 teachers across 17 states.
National Teacher Appreciation Week Sale
- Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: Teachers can take advantage of the restaurant chain’s Cinco de Mayo sale, $5 Bad Ass Margaritas. Yes, we have happy hour deals from 3pm to 6pm all week with drinks starting at $4 and food starting at $6 from 3pm to 6pm. (Happy hour is not available in North Carolina and Georgia. South Carolina hours are 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
- BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Teachers can sign up for free and earn 90 Awesome Achievement certificates (digital or physical) for each grade level to give to elementary school students (kindergarten through 6th grade). Students can redeem a free full-sized Pizookie dessert at BJ’s restaurant. No need to purchase. When students redeem their awards, the restaurant manager congratulates them and presents them with a colorful BJ’s Awesome Achievement silicone bracelet.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Teachers and school staff receive 20% off dine-in dining from May 4th to 10th with a valid school ID. Also, every Tuesday, members of the Buffalo Wild Wings Rewards loyalty program buy one traditional wing on a 6-, 10-, or 15-count order and get a second order of the same value free (dine-in only). Then on Thursdays, buy any quantity of boneless wings and get the same quantity free.
- Kennel: During National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8), teachers receive a 20% discount on meals when they present a valid ID.
- Eddie Merlot: Teachers will receive a free dessert with the purchase of an entree that week (May 4-8). Please present a valid teacher ID to redeem. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Additionally, dessert menu items for two are not included.
- Einstein Brothers Bagel: Teachers can receive a free bagel & schmear of their choice with the purchase of any item when they present a valid ID on Wednesday, May 6th. This offer applies only to in-bakery orders at participating locations.
- See it for the first time: The restaurant chain is offering teachers free coffee all day every weekday through May 8th. This offer applies to hot and iced coffees, and diners will receive a free refill on their hot coffee. Just present your valid school ID at the register.
- Flutter customs: The online eyelash shop is offering teachers 30% off orders (excluding bundles and kits) through ID.me during National Teacher Appreciation Week.
- Green sea turtle: Teachers dining on Wednesday, May 6th will receive a free meal valued at up to $15 when they present a valid ID.
- Mr. Grimaldi: The pizza chain is offering teachers a 15% discount on their orders from May 4th to May 8th. Please present a valid school or work ID to complete the transaction. Offer available at all participating Grimaldi’s Pizzeria locations and cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions.
- Happy Joes: On Wednesday, May 6, teachers can order a free small Cheese Stix with the purchase of a large pizza at participating locations.
- Horace Mann Educators Corporation: The financial services company has several programs in conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs through May 22nd. This includes over $17,000 in prizes, including daily $150 gift card prizes and weekly $500 gift card prizes. It also includes a chance to recognize and nominate an educator and win $1,000 towards a project of your choice.
- Jason’s Deli: Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with Hot Breakfast Sandwich Bundles (priced at $40, serves 12) and Catering Packages (starting at $6.59 per person).
- crystal: Teachers can enjoy 50% off all breakfast sets from May 4th to 8th. This benefit is available in-store with valid identification.
- Logan’s Roadhouse: The steakhouse chain is having a gift card sale through May 8, where you can get a $50 gift card for $40 if you want to use a gift card as a gift for a teacher.
- McAllister’s Deli: Teachers will receive a free cup of sweet or unsweetened tea from May 4th to May 8th. No need to purchase.
- Mod pizza: The Bellevue, Wash.-based pizza chain with more than 440 locations is offering a buy-one-get-one-free offer on MOD-sized pizzas or salads from Monday, May 4 through Thursday, May 7. (This offer is valid in-store upon presentation of a valid teacher ID at participating locations.
- Mountain Mike’s Pizza: Teachers and nurses get 15% off all pizzas on Wednesday, May 6th and Thursday, May 7th using code CARE15OFF.
- Noodles & Company: Through Tuesday, May 5th, teachers can take advantage of a limited-time catering deal with 10% off orders over $150. Use code APPRECIATION2026 to get the deal.
- Plain bundt cake: Members of the Bundtastic Rewards loyalty program can earn 100, 200, or 300 bonus points when they purchase a single, double, or triple Bundlet tower during the week, perhaps as a teacher appreciation gift. Transactions can only be made once during the campaign period. You must be logged into a valid Bundtastic Rewards account before making a purchase. Bonus points will be loaded on or about May 29, 2026.
- Mr. Paisano: The pizza restaurant chain, which has 40 locations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., is offering teachers 25% off their orders from May 5th to May 8th (code TEACH25). Also, as part of Paisano’s “Community Tuesday” initiative, every Tuesday, teachers, nurses, military personnel, and first responders will receive 25% off their orders (use code COMMUNITY).
- Pancheros: The Mexican restaurant chain will be giving out cards to teachers for $2 off each entree through May 10. You can redeem your card in the Rewards Burrito app within the next two weeks.
- parking: Teachers can get a 10% discount every day from the company, while they can get a 25% discount on bookings made in May for travel through the end of 2026.
- Peet’s coffee: On Tuesday, May 5th, teachers who present a valid ID will receive a free small drip coffee, cold brew coffee, hot tea pouch, or iced tea pouch.
- Potbelly: Teachers will receive a free cookie or regular-sized fountain drink with the purchase of an entree from Monday, May 4th through Tuesday, May 12th. Eligible entrees include sandwiches, wraps, whole salads, or bowls of soup. This offer is valid in-store only. Simply present a valid school ID at checkout to redeem. School staff and groups will also receive 10% off catering orders over $200 (use code SAVE10) through Sunday, May 10th.
- Shake Shack: Teachers can get a free Single Shack Burger or Veggie Shack with any purchase from Monday, May 4th through Tuesday, May 12th (in-store offer with valid ID, limit one per order).
- Starbird: The quick-service chicken chain is offering a free entree (up to a $15 value) to educators on Tuesday, May 5th. Eligible entree options include sandwiches, tenders, or salads. (Please present a valid school ID. One ticket per person. Not valid at stadiums and airports.)
- Stone fire grill: From Monday, May 4th through May 28th, get 10% off catering orders for schools, hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices with code APPRECIATE10. (Please call our catering office or fill out our online form. Not valid for private events.)
- Sullivan’s Steakhouse: From May 4th to 8th, teachers will receive a free dessert with the purchase of an entree. Please provide a valid teacher ID to sign up. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.
- TGI Friday: The restaurant chain is offering free meals to teachers from select menus on May 6 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Please present a valid employee ID to qualify; this deal cannot be combined with other promotions, coupons, or meal deals). Options include a cheeseburger with fries, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, and a half rack of ribs and sides.
- Via 313: Teachers can get 15% off their orders from May 4th to May 8th. Just provide a valid ID.
Contributor: Drew Pittock/USA TODAYMike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
