As the end of the school year approaches, National Teacher Appreciation Week — which runs from Monday, May 4, to Friday, May 8 — gives us a chance to acknowledge educators.
The 2025-2026 school calendar may come to a close in the ensuing weeks, but that doesn’t mean it’s vacation time for all teachers. More than one-fifth of K-12 teachers (21%) say they are finding it difficult to get by on their teacher salary, according to a Gallup survey of more than 2,000 U.S. teachers conducted Oct. 16-Nov. 5, 2025, released in March 2026.
Side jobs are common, with nearly half of financially struggling teachers (46%) saying they have a second job unrelated to education. Most teachers with a second job (85%) say they work at it at least partially during the school year. “Side gigs aren’t just a ‘summer job’ that teachers take while they are off from teaching,” according to Gallup.
National Teachers Day, which falls on Tuesday, May 5, arose out of then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s lobbying of Congress in 1953, according to the National Education Association. The NEA subsequently established National Teacher Appreciation Week in 1985.
During this week, many restaurants and businesses have deals and specials for teachers. Here’s a roundup.
Chipotle Free Meal Deal
Teachers and educators have a chance to win one of 100,000 free meals as part of Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Teacher Appreciation Week giveaway. Through May 12, teachers can go to Chipotle’s Teacher Thanks website and enter their name and email for the chance to win an e-gift card.
Starting May 13, randomly selected winners will be notified and asked to confirm their employment as an educator via ID.me within 48 hours. Those who don’t verify their employment will be removed from the list of winners, and another name will be drawn.
Chipotle launched the program in 2016; since then, the company has given away a combined $16 million in free food to teachers and healthcare workers.
Whataburger Free Breakfast
The San Antonio-headquartered burger chain is giving free breakfast nationwide to teachers and school staff on Thursday, May 7, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. local time. Check with your local Whataburger for exact timing, as promotion hours may vary by location. The offer is good for dine-in, takeout and drive-thru orders, limited to one per person.
As part of Whataburger’s Feeding Student Success initiative, the company will also award $1,000 classroom grants to 60 teachers across its 17-state footprint.
More Teacher Appreciation Week Deals
- Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: Happy Hour deals all week from 3-6 p.m., with drinks starting at $4 and $6 food items. (Not available in North Carolina or Georgia; South Carolina hours are 4-6 p.m.)
- BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Teachers can sign up at no cost to get 90 Awesome Achievement certificates per school year for students in grades K-6. Students can redeem them for a free full-size Pizookie dessert, no purchase necessary.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Teachers and school staff get 20% off their dine-in order May 4-10 with a valid school ID.
- Dog Haus: Teachers get 20% off their meal May 4-8 when they show a valid ID.
- Eddie Merlot’s: Teachers get a free dessert with the purchase of an entrée May 4-8. Show a valid teacher’s ID to redeem; not valid with other offers or on the Dessert for Two menu.
- Einstein Bros. Bagels: Teachers can get a free Bagel & Shmear of their choice with the purchase of any item on Wednesday, May 6, with a valid work ID. In-bakery orders only at participating locations.
- First Watch: Teachers get free coffee all day through May 8 — hot and iced, with complimentary refills on hot coffee for dine-in guests. Show a valid school ID at the register.
- FlutterHabit: The online lash shop is giving teachers 30% off their order (excluding bundles and kits) during National Teacher Appreciation Week through ID.me.
- The Greene Turtle: Teachers who dine in on Wednesday, May 6, can get a free meal valued up to $15 with a valid ID.
- Grimaldi’s: Teachers get 15% off their order May 4-8 with a valid school or workplace ID. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions.
- Happy Joe’s: On Wednesday, May 6, teachers get a free small order of Cheese Stix with the purchase of a large pizza at participating locations.
- Horace Mann Educators Corp.: Programs through May 22 include more than $17,000 in giveaways — daily $150 gift cards and weekly $500 gift cards — plus the chance to nominate educators for a $1,000 classroom grant.
- Insomnia Cookies: May 5-12, Rewards Members get a buy-one-get-one-free cookie deal in-store with a valid ID. Use code EARNEDIT26 for 20% off online orders of 50-200 cookie packs.
- Jason’s Deli: Warm breakfast sandwich bundles (priced at $40, serving 12) and catering packages starting at $6.59 per person during Teacher Appreciation Week.
- Krystal: Teachers get 50% off all breakfast combos from May 4-8 in-store with a valid ID.
- Logan’s Roadhouse: Get $50 in gift cards for $40 through May 8 — a solid teacher appreciation gift.
- McAlister’s Deli: Teachers get one free Sweet or Unsweet Tea May 4-8, no purchase necessary.
- Mod Pizza: Buy one MOD-sized pizza or salad, get one free, from Monday, May 4, to Thursday, May 7. In-store only with a valid teacher ID at participating locations.
- Mountain Mike’s Pizza: Teachers and nurses get 15% off all pizzas on May 6-7 with code CARE15OFF.
- Noodles & Company: Through Tuesday, May 5, teachers get 10% off catering orders of $150 or more. Use code APPRECIATION2026.
- Nothing Bundt Cakes: Bundtastic Rewards members earn bonus points when purchasing Bundtlet Towers during the week. Bonus points loaded on or about May 29, 2026.
- Paisano’s: Teachers get 25% off orders May 5-8 with code TEACH25 at 40 locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Every Tuesday, teachers, nurses, military, and first responders get 25% off with code COMMUNITY.
- Pancheros: Teachers receive cards for $2 off an entrée through May 10, redeemable in the Burritos with Benefits app within two weeks.
- The Parking Spot: Teachers get 10% off every day, plus 25% off any reservation made in May for travel through the end of 2026.
- Peet’s Coffee: Teachers get a free small drip coffee, cold brew, hot tea pouch, or iced tea pouch on Tuesday, May 5, with a valid ID.
- Potbelly: Teachers get a free cookie or regular-sized fountain drink with any entrée purchase May 4-12. Show a valid school ID at checkout. School faculty and groups can also get 10% off catering orders over $200 through May 10 (use code SAVE10).
- Red Robin: Buy a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus gift card through May 7.
- Shake Shack: Teachers get a free Single ShackBurger or Veggie Shack with any purchase from May 4-12. In-store with a valid ID; limit one per order.
- Starbird: Educators get a free entrée (up to $15 value) on Tuesday, May 5 — sandwich, tenders, or salad. Show a valid school ID; one per person. Not valid at stadium or airport locations.
- Stonefire Grill: Get 10% off catering orders for schools, hospitals, or clinics May 4-28 when mentioning code APPRECIATE10. Not valid for private events.
- Sullivan’s Steakhouse: Teachers get a free dessert May 4-8 with the purchase of an entrée. Show a valid teacher’s ID; not valid with other offers or discounts.
- TGI Fridays: Teachers get a free meal from a select menu on May 6 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a valid employee ID. Options include a cheeseburger with fries, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, or a half rack of ribs with a side. Cannot be combined with other promotions or coupons.
- Via 313: Teachers get 15% off their order from May 4-8 with a valid ID.
This story has been updated to add new information.
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