It goes without saying that the role teachers play in our world is invaluable. There’s a quote—the source of which is unknown—that says, “Today, you lead the school. Tomorrow, your students will lead the world.” Powerful stuff! But it’s also widely understood that, oftentimes, teachers are unintentionally taken for granted.
Enter World Teachers’ Day. Held on October 5, this annual event is a global celebration recognizing all the amazing work teachers worldwide do. To do our part, RetailMeNot has rounded up some teacher discounts that allow for educators to treat themselves. We’ve also included a list of 10 gifts that teachers have expressed they’d love to receive. Enjoy! And if you’re reading this, be sure to thank a teacher on October 5!
The Best Discounts That Teachers Can Enjoy
Adobe
Whether you need Photoshop or Creative Cloud, Adobe offers education discounts like over 60% off you should totally take advantage of. Plus, you can register now with the Adobe MAX creativity conference on Oct. 26-28., featuring presenters like Chloé Zhao, Young Thug, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Tilda Swinton and other amazing artists.
Apple
Shop for an eligible Mac or iPad with education pricing. You can even trade in your eligible Mac and get credit toward a new MacBook.
AT&T Wireless
Check to see if you’re one of the many eligible educators that can get discounts on your cellular plan. They offer a saving of just $10/mo. per line on AT&T Unlimited Elite plans with 5G access included at no extra charge.
Banana Republic
Show your valid teacher ID in stores to get 15% off.
Barnes & Noble
Take part in the B&N Educators program to receive 20% off the publisher’s list price on all purchases for the classroom. Bonus: On Educator Appreciation Days, you’ll get up to 25% off.
Books-A-Million
Save 20% off in-store purchases, free shipping on all eligible booksamillion.com orders throughout the year and additional savings and benefits during special events in-store and online. Ask for a BAM! Educator Discount Card application at the register of any Books-A-Million location or click here to submit a request online.
Carson Dellosa Education
Be sure to sign up for Spark Rewards to receive exclusive discounts, a free gift for every shipped order, free educational printables and fist dibs on new promotions.
Dick Blick Art Materials
With a free Dick Blick Preferred Card, you receive 10% off full-price purchases from Blick and Utrecht stores as well as discounts on bulk orders.
Half Price Books
Get an Educator Discount Card to save 10% off all purchases at Half Price.
Hertz
Are you a member of the National Education Association (NEA)? Then you’ll save up to 25% when you’re renting a car, plus get some other perks if you book ahead.
J.Crew
Show a valid school ID at any J.Crew or J.Crew Factory Stores to get 15% off your purchase.
Jo-Ann
Get a Jo-Ann Teacher Rewards Discount Card and save 15% off your purchases.
Kennedy Space Center
Using the Educator Study Pass, Florida and Georgia, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands K-12 teachers get free admission to the Visitor Complex and the Kennedy Space Center’s Educator Resource Center. Not from those areas? Just show an active badge with photo that shows the title Teacher or Educator .
Lakeshore Learning
Join the Teacher’s Club to get 15% off hundreds of in-store items.
Lenovo
Lenovo offers a great teacher and student discount of 5% off on new laptops, computers and tech items. They even have special financing options to make it even easier to get the tech you need for your school.
LOFT
The LOFT Loves Teachers program gets you 15% off full-price purchases, special teachers-only sweepstakes opportunities and fun teacher appreciation nights!
Madewell
Teachers get 15% off for both online and in-store purchases. Just make sure to show your faculty ID or verify your teacher status on their website.
Michaels
Need supplies for classroom crafts? Michaels will give you 15% off your in-store or online purchases every day.
NEA Magazine Service
If you’re a member of the National Education Association, you have the opportunity to receive more than 800 magazines at up to 85% off the cover price.
New York Times
Get online access to The Gray Lady for 99 cents for four weeks, then 50% off your subscription after that. (Home delivery discounts are available, too!)
Office Depot & OfficeMax
Through two successful programs, Office Depot makes it possible for schools and teachers to stretch their budgets to help ensure an optimal educational experience for their students. Teachers can join both their 5% Back to Schools Program and Star Teacher Program, both giving major discounts for school supplies.
Party City
Spend at least $75, and you’ll get teacher discounts at Party City. The more you spend, the bigger the discount. You will need a signed letter on official letterhead from an officer of the school. You must also complete the purchase with a check or credit card in the school’s name.
Pets in the Classroom
This awesome organization offers grants to pre-K through eighth-grade classes to help buy and support pets or aquariums in the classroom “for the purposes of teaching children to bond with and care for their pets responsibly.” Just apply for a grant to get this lovely experience in your school.
Samsung
Students and teachers with an .edu email can sign up to access exclusive discounts (up to 30% off!) on the latest Samsung TVs, phones, appliances, tablets and more all directly from Samsung.com.
Scholastic Teacher Store
Teachers can sign up for the Scholastic Book Club and unbox the joy of reading in your classroom for free! The program has been around for more than 70 years and also offers rewards points for additional savings.
Sennheiser
Sennheiser offers a 20% discount on headphones to not just teachers but also first responders, civil servants, military and families and others.
Staples
Become a Teacher Rewards member and earn 5% back in rewards on most items. Plus, get an extra 5% back in rewards on teaching and art supplies.
Theatre Development Fund
Get your play on at great rates. Full-time teachers can join the Theatre Development Fund and get access to discount tickets to a ton of plays, musicals and dance performances in New York City.
Trust & Will
Any U.S.–based teacher can receive 25% off Will-Based Estate Plans through Trust & Will.
Top 10 Gifts for World Teachers’ Day
1. For the teacher with a green thumb, stop by your local nursery and pick out the perfect potted plant to brighten up any room. Kids can decorate the pot or stick in personalized messages. Because teachers are the best at helping things grow!
2. Teachers get up early! For the coffee lover, skip a clutter-making mug and go for a gift card to Starbucks. Or go with exotic-coffee blends.
3. Teachers at our school are well-known around the neighborhood. You can acknowledge your local community by giving a gift card from a small business in your area. I’m sure your teacher has a favorite local joint where everyone knows their name.
4. Apples for teachers may be somewhat cliché, but they are perfectly simple and sweet. A basket of farm-fresh fruits and veggies is always useful and appreciated. Have a garden? Gift the fruits of your labor with a handwritten note letting them know how much they’re appreciated.
5. Summers are the perfect time for exploring and traveling the world. For the jet-set teacher, give a basket of goodies from their favorite exotic travels.
6. On their feet all day and constantly answering questions … teachers deserve some pampering alone time! Whether that means a gift card for a night at the movies or a massage or pedicure, gift them a way to unwind from the stresses of the day.
7. If your teacher has a furry friend (like ours does), consider gifting some goodies from a local pet store. Kids love picking out cute toys and treats for pets, and this gesture will show a little appreciation for teacher’s other pets.
8. One of the teachers at our school is famous for putting on music Fridays at lunch. I plan to gift her an iTunes gift card that can be used to freshen up her playlist. We may even take it up a notch by including a keepsake photo card from a particularly rowdy “Dance Party Friday.”
9. Gifts for the classroom are somewhat controversial because they lack the personal and special touch of something just for teacher. However, about half the teachers we asked wanted items from their classroom supply wish list—the tough reality is that many teachers spend up to $600 of their own money on classroom items that the district budget cannot provide. We plan to buy out the remainder of the class Amazon wish list as an end-of-year gesture—all that’s left on the list at this point are books that the kids have requested, so we will present her with a stack of books and supplies that says “a gift from Kinder 2016 to the class of 2017” and I think it will warm her heart.
10. Give the ultimate gift by starting a fundraising drive. You can easily start a Schoola clothing drive and earn enough to fund a field trip or a development day. Get started in as little as two weeks—there’s still time to book a drive.
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