National Teachers' Day

Categories:: Appreciation
Tags:: Children Educational
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Tuesday of May's first full week
Holiday emoji:: 🍎

National Teachers’ Day arrives on the Tuesday of May’s first full week, a time to honor the profound impact educators have on our lives. Take a moment to thank a teacher who inspired you, share their story, or support educational initiatives in your community.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
Traditions
Related
Stats

Expected National Teachers' Day Deals

National Teachers’ Day in 2027 will likely bring a wave of appreciation deals for educators. Expect retailers like Target and Barnes & Noble to offer special discounts on classroom supplies and books. Food and beverage chains such as Starbucks, Dunkin’, and Chick-fil-A often provide freebies or discounted items for teachers with valid ID. Apparel brands like J.Crew and Madewell may extend their year-round educator discounts or offer enhanced promotions. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 2027 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Teachers' Day

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #NationalTeachersDay. Share stories of inspiring educators and their impact on professional development.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalTeachersDay. Post photos of your favorite teachers, past or present, and share a brief memory or thank you message.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalTeachersDay. Tweet about an educator who made a difference in your life or highlight current issues in education.

National Teachers' Day Hero

Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady from 1933 to 1945, was a passionate advocate for education and a driving force behind the establishment of National Teachers' Day. Her love for learning, fostered by her aunt, fueled her lifelong commitment to civic duty and supporting educators. She championed the idea of a dedicated day to recognize teachers, eventually leading to its official observance.

History of National Teachers' Day

In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt stood up to Congress in hopes of convincing them that teachers needed a day to be recognized for all that they do. Until that point, the celebration of the day wasn’t clear. It’s believed that some schools in certain states were already observing the day, but there wasn’t a clear consensus and she wanted to make it official.

The National Education Association (NEA) in partnership with the Kansas State and Indiana State Boards of Education, lobbied Congress in order for the day to be recognized. Despite her best efforts, the first National Teachers’ Day didn’t become an official national day until 1980.

At its inception, National Teachers’ Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984 when it was moved to May. Thanks to the assistance of the National PTA, it evolved into Teacher Appreciation Week, giving teachers more time to bask in appreciation. A year later, the NEA established that the first Tuesday of the week would be National Teacher Appreciation Day.

Today, the official national day celebrates teachers by gift-giving and the showering of accolades from students and parents alike. The hashtags #TeacherAppreciationDay and #NationalTeachersDay are used on social media to show teachers making a difference to the world at large.

National Teachers' Day timeline

1953

Eleanor vs. Congress

Eleanor Roosevelt takes the idea of National Teachers' Day to Congress.

1970s

Education Boards Assemble

The National Education Association teams up with the Kansas State and Indiana State Boards of Education lobbies Congress to make National Teachers' Day an official national holiday.

1984

From March to May

National Teachers' Day is moved from March 7 to the first Tuesday of May, therefore creating National Teacher Appreciation Week.

1985

It Must be Tuesday

The NEA makes the first Tuesday of May National Teachers' Day.

2000s

Teacher in the 21st Century

Social Media is used to recognize educators on a global scale.

National Teachers' Day Around the World
Country	Holiday	Occasion	Date
Albania	Teachers Day	Celebrates the opening of the first school where lessons were taught in the Albanian language.	March 7
Bhutan	Teacher’s Day	Marking the anniversary of the birth of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who introduced modern education to the country.	May 2
Brazil	Teachers Day	Established by a decree regulating elementary schools in Brazil.	October 15
Estonia	Teachers Day	Students grant leave to teachers by conducting lessons themselves.	October 5
Guatemala	Teachers Day	To commemorate teacher María Chinchilla Recinos who died during a violent riot in protest against the government.	June 25

Traditions of the Day

A teacher is not just limited to the classroom. It can be anyone who you look up to or has taught you lessons in life — a friend, a family member, or a mentor (just like Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid”). The day is all about thanking teachers for imparting knowledge and wisdom, and inspiring us to be better versions of ourselves.

Cards and gifts are sent to teachers as expressions of gratitude. Teachers get plenty of mugs throughout the year, so gift cards are a great alternative. Teachers themselves celebrate the day by having get-togethers or mini parties in the staff room.

By the Numbers

33% – the percentage of teachers who leave the profession within the first three years.

7,000,000 – the estimated number of teachers in the United States.

14% – the percentage of fewer earnings that teachers make compared to other professions requiring similar levels of education.

10 hours – the average hours a teacher works in a day.

52 – the average number of hours worked by teachers in a week.

92.4% – the percentage of teachers who spend their own money on classroom activities or students.

2–3 times – the likelihood of minority teachers working in high-poverty and high-minority schools.

59 years – the modal age of retirement for teachers.

28% – the percentage increase in males entering teaching as a profession.

20% – the percentage of public school teachers who have second jobs outside of teaching.

National Teachers' Day FAQs

When is National Teachers' Day?

National Teachers’ Day in 2026 falls on Tuesday, May 5, marking a crucial moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of educators nationwide.

How many teachers are there in the U.S.?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are approximately 3.2 million public school teachers and about 0.5 million private school teachers in the U.S. as of the most recent data.

What is Teacher Appreciation Week?

Teacher Appreciation Week is a national observance held annually during the first full week of May, with National Teachers’ Day falling on the Tuesday of that week. It’s a dedicated period for schools and communities to show gratitude.

Is National Teachers' Day a federal holiday?

No, National Teachers’ Day is not a federal holiday, meaning government offices and most businesses remain open. However, schools and communities across the country widely observe it.

National Teachers' Day Activities

Make it personal
There are only so many apples a teacher can consume, why not make it personal? Write a letter to your favorite teacher, properly expressing what they mean to you. Be sure to detail specific examples, letting them know that you’ve noticed them. It’s sure to warm their hearts once they realize how much of an impact they’ve made.
Offer your assistance
A teachers’ workload can be heavy. Long hours at school and after school on top of having to account for all of their students in their classes can be taxing. Offering your assistance can help lessen the load they carry. Perhaps they need their room cleaned or they could use help grading papers. These small acts stack up and make a huge difference.
Instagram it
With their permission, post them on your social media account and express just what makes them stand out. We all need inspiration sometimes, even those whose job it is to inspire. By recognizing them on a grander stage, you can uplift their spirits and inspire other students to think about the teachers in their lives that have influenced them.

Five Surprising Facts About Teachers

Dancing with the First Lady
At the beginning of her career, Eleanor Roosevelt was a teacher of dance and calisthenics.
Numbers game
There are over 3 million K-12 teachers in the US and over 55 million students.
Going rogue
Massachusetts celebrates their teachers on the first Sunday of June, possibly to enjoy the break away from work.
Growth potential
Pre K-12 teachers form the largest occupational group in the US.
Retirement Advantages
Most teachers are eligible for a 401(k) plan and a 403(b) plan because of the nature of their employer i.e. public schools.

Why We Love National Teachers' Day

We see you
Teachers take on so much and ask for so little. Their job is one of the most important in the world, shaping young minds and teaching them important lessons. In order for them to do their job effectively, it’s only right to encourage them so that we have a brighter tomorrow.
They stay with you
If you ask any famous athlete or singer who their favorite teacher is, it’s likely that they already have them in mind. Life is hard and it’s easy to doubt yourself, but our favorite educators know just when to lift us up and remind us of our potential. They see our greatness before we do and that deserves respect.
Knowledge is power
Our greatest tool is knowledge and teachers are the purveyors of it. Teaching is an age-old profession. Everyone from Albert Einstein to Aristotle were educators that have affected the world on a scale that’s immeasurable. There’s a need to keep this legacy of continued knowledge going so that we may learn and grow from it.