The school day may only last seven or eight hours, but for teachers, it’s so much longer. They’re the first ones to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night — not to mention the work they do at home. And let’s not forget their incredible adaptability with online classes.
All that hard work deserves to be noticed, which is why Teacher Appreciation Day exists. This May 2, organize something special for the teachers who do so much for the school, students and community.
If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some great ideas to say thank you this Teachers’ Day.
Food-related ideas to show teachers appreciation
Your teachers go above and beyond to ensure students receive the support and guidance they need. They come in early and stay late to meet with students, finish grading papers and plan for the next class.
And chances are, they use their lunch period to catch up on work. According to a survey commissioned by Subway and ezCater, over half of teachers always work during their lunch break, and 40% skip meals entirely to get classroom work done.
Just as you tell the students that eating healthy meals is essential for brain health, your teachers need healthy, regular meals. With that in mind, one of the best ways to show teacher appreciation is to provide them with food.
Catered lunch at work
Teachers deserve to enjoy a full meal — without interruptions! You can make that happen by ordering a catered lunch for the teachers from one of your local restaurants.
A barbecue lunch might add some sizzle to the classroom, or perhaps a Mediterranean menu appeals more to your teachers. Either way, the options are endless with ezCater. The ezCater marketplace lets your teachers choose personalized meals so everyone gets exactly what they want.
Breakfast or brunch delivery
Your teachers are up at the crack of dawn and often have a family to care for before they even get to school. That means they might not have time for a real breakfast — maybe just a cup of coffee and a day-old muffin.
So why not help change that by organizing a breakfast or brunch delivery? You can get a breakfast bar catered to your school, full of breakfast bagels, egg sandwiches, fruit salad, bacon and, of course, coffee.
Donut day or special desserts
Who doesn’t love a table full of cupcakes, donuts, cookies and tarts?
Surprise your teachers by setting up a dessert display in the break room for them to enjoy throughout the day. Or, make it more personal by creating a cookie cart and delivering sweet treats to each teacher (which would let you personally thank each and every teacher).
No matter how you decide to do it, make sure you have enough dessert options by ordering through your local bakery. Just search for treats on ezCater, and you’ll find plenty of dessert catering options.
Food trucks
If you want to shake things up, try food truck catering so your teachers can enjoy a unique experience. It’s a great way to share a fun experience with your teachers, all while trying some new and delicious cuisine.
All you need to do is search for local food truck options on ezCater, select the type of cuisine (like Mexican, Middle Eastern or classic sandwiches) and place your order.
Other ways to show teachers appreciation
Everyone appreciates the gift of food. But if you want to go above and beyond (like your teachers do daily), consider adding a gift. Here are a few ideas that can work as individual or group gifts.
Gift cards or certificates
Sometimes all teachers want is a break — and you can help provide that with gift cards to a local spa or a health and wellness store. A massage, dip in the hot tub and rejuvenating facial should take away all of that classroom-related stress.
Another option is to give out redeemable “certificates” that teachers can cash in when they want. For example, you can give a set of certificates that offer five casual dress days, a chance for an administrator to teach a class or a free catered lunch. This is a great option if actual gift cards aren’t in the budget.
Staff gift
Have you heard any comments from teachers about needing a new printer? Or maybe they’ve dropped a few hints about getting a new coffee machine or a sofa without old stains for their break room?
Any of those options could make a great gift for the whole staff. If you’re unsure what to get, ask a few teachers what they could use as a team or what the break room is missing. If the budget allows, you could even consider giving the breakroom a full makeover, complete with a fully stocked snack and coffee bar.
Hero bag
You know that your teachers are heroes. But have you told them lately?
This Teacher Appreciation Day, consider creating hero gift bags for your team. Fill them with some sweets and items like a monogrammed teacher hero tumbler or fanny pack. Another idea is to order superhero teacher shirts with your school’s name.
Show your teachers you care — this Teachers’ Day and every day
All the above ideas are great ways to show gratitude and appreciation on Teachers Appreciation Day. But don’t limit it to just one day.
Consider implementing an appreciation program throughout the year to help boost motivation and keep your teachers happy. One way to do that is with regular team meals. ezCater makes that easy for you by letting you set up recurring employee meals that fit within your budget and schedule. Reach out to ezCater today to see how you can make Teacher Appreciation Day a regular thing.