Free Planner
Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 Planner + Teacher Favorite Things Form
Our schools are full of people who do so much for our kids, and remembering everyone can feel like a job of its own! This free planner puts the 2026–27 appreciation dates, teacher favorites form, and a manageable May celebration plan in one place.
When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2027?
Go ahead and circle May 3–7, 2027 on your school calendar! National PTA recognizes Teacher Appreciation Week from May 2–8, with most schools celebrating Monday through Friday. National Teacher Day is Tuesday, May 4, School Lunch Hero Day is Friday, May 7, and School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 12.
Staff appreciation dates for the 2026-27 school year
May gets a lot of attention, but there are wonderful people keeping schools running all year long. Use these dates as a chance to recognize the office team, counselors, nutrition staff, custodians, and everyone else who cares for your school community. Choose the celebrations your calendar can comfortably support.
| When | Who we're celebrating |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | National Principals Month |
| Nov 9-13, 2026 | National School Psychology Week |
| Nov 16-20, 2026 | American Education Week |
| Nov 18, 2026 | Education Support Professionals Day |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Substitute Educators Day |
| Feb 1-5, 2027 | National School Counseling Week |
| Mar 7-13, 2027 | School Social Work Week |
| April 2027 | School Library Month |
| May 2-8, 2027 | Teacher Appreciation Week (school days May 3-7) |
| May 4, 2027 | National Teacher Day |
| May 7, 2027 | School Lunch Hero Day |
| May 12, 2027 | School Nurse Day |
November 18 can be a lovely time for one all-staff thank-you that includes support professionals. Your district may also have its own recognition days, so add those to the calendar.
The teacher favorite things form
Want to give teachers something they'll actually enjoy? Start by asking! Page 5 has a printable favorite things form you can share privately or recreate online. Every question is optional, and staff members can choose not to receive gifts at all. The form asks for:
- Name, role or grade, and the days they're on campus
- Their best contact method at school
- A favorite snack or treat
- A favorite drink, and how they like it
- A favorite shop, restaurant or hobby
- One school-approved classroom or team wish-list item
- Their appreciation style: a personal note, a shared staff celebration, a quiet thank-you, or "please skip personal gifts"
Keep food needs private, provide nonfood options, and send the form early in the school year. That way you aren't scrambling for everyone's favorites when May arrives.
A Teacher Appreciation Week plan, Monday to Friday
By May, your board may be juggling field days, elections, celebrations, and all the end-of-year details. Teacher Appreciation Week doesn't have to mean five elaborate events. One meaningful celebration, thoughtful notes, and a few shared responsibilities can make staff feel valued without exhausting volunteers.
- Monday, May 3: Notes that mean something. Students write or draw a specific thank-you, and staff beyond the classroom get one too.
- Tuesday, May 4 (National Teacher Day): A good morning, made easier. Offer an approved coffee or breakfast stop that works for different schedules, with a nonfood option.
- Wednesday, May 5: A wish-list win. Deliver an approved classroom or team supply request from your budget, with no required family purchase.
- Thursday, May 6: Lunch with the details handled. Arrange an approved meal with choices for food needs, plus delivery, setup and cleanup.
- Friday, May 7 (School Lunch Hero Day): A cheer for the whole team. Thank the nutrition team by name and close the week with a warm all-staff message.
And don't forget your school nurse! School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 12, so you can prepare that thank-you while you're already planning.
Remember everyone on staff
Before you settle on treats or decorations, take a look at who might get missed. Ask a school contact to help you include specialists, aides, counselors, social workers, nurses, office staff, cafeteria and custodial teams, bus drivers, substitutes, and staff who work across campuses or outside the usual school day.
Check the gift rules before you buy
A thoughtful gift should never create a problem for your treasurer or a staff member. Before purchasing anything, check both your group's spending rules and the district's employee gift policy. California State PTA, for example, prohibits personal gifts purchased with PTA funds, including gift cards, though approved hospitality may be allowed. Washington State PTA guidance generally allows gift cards under $25 from a member-approved appreciation budget. Independent PTOs follow their own policies.
A personal note is still one of the sweetest options, and it costs nothing. In a Study.com survey of 800 teachers, 51.5% included handwritten cards or letters among their favorite gifts.
A little peek inside the kit
- A 2026-27 staff appreciation calendar
- A thoughtful-gesture menu, from $0 notes to group projects
- A printable teacher favorite things form
- A gift and spending policy check
- A Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 day-by-day plan
- A budget and cost planner
- Family invitation and thank-you note templates
Ready to put it to use?
- Confirm your dates and everyone you'll recognize.
- Send the favorites form this fall.
- Check district and PTA gift rules, then set the budget.
- Give each day an owner and prepare your thank-you messages.
Apex · Free resource
Staff Appreciation Planner
Put the resource to work.
Use it as a starting point and adapt it to your school.
Enter your email and school details to request your copy. Free for PTA and PTO leaders, with or without an Apex program.
Staff appreciation questions from PTA leaders
Can a PTA buy gift cards for teachers?
This depends on both your district and your state PTA rules. California State PTA doesn't allow personal gifts or gift cards to staff using PTA funds. Washington State PTA guidance generally permits gift cards under $25 when the appreciation budget has member approval. Check with your treasurer before purchasing anything.
What should a teacher favorite things form ask?
Keep the form simple and let staff skip any question. Favorites like snacks, drinks, shops, hobbies, and approved classroom wishes are useful, along with a choice about how they'd prefer to be thanked. Collect food needs privately and make it easy to say no to gifts.
When is National Teacher Day 2027?
National Teacher Day is Tuesday, May 4, 2027. The National Education Association places it on the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week.
Sources, checked September 28, 2026: National PTA, Teacher Appreciation Week; NEA, American Education Week; NAESP; NASP; ASCA; SSWAA; ALA; School Nutrition Association; NASN; California State PTA; Washington State PTA; Study.com teacher gift survey.
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