Teacher Appreciation Guide

Overview


This Teacher Appreciation guide offers tips and key resources to help you successfully celebrate teachers and school administration in your community – both in-store and out in local schools.

In-store, teachers and school administrators will be invited to enjoy a free breakfast meal at McDonald’s from Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9, 2025.


Restaurants are encouraged to create festive atmospheres to welcome teachers and show appreciation during the promotion.

If you’re looking for ideas or have any questions, don’t hesitate to use CKP as a resource! Please reach out to Whitney Radley to brainstorm ideas and opportunities in your community.


Pick a Date

Choose one or more days between May 5–9 to host your Teacher Appreciation events.


Activations can take place during breakfast hours while the free breakfast offer is served, or after-school for special McTeacher Night events.

Set the Scene

Create an uplifting, festive environment inside and outside your restaurant to honor teachers in your community.

  • Drive Thru Experience

    • Set up festive, “Thank You Teachers!” signage along your drive-thru lanes.
    • Use window clings, balloons, and chalk art to brighten the space.

  • In-Store Decor

    • Display Teacher Appreciation Week offer posters in windows for high visibility 
    • Create a designated “Thank You Teachers” wall featuring notes from students, parents and staff.
    • Use balloons, table tents, and banners to recognize educators.

  • Surprise Breakfast Deliveries

    • Partner with local schools to deliver free McDonald’s breakfast to teachers and staff.
    • Bonus: Schedule Grimace to make a fun surprise appearance for photos!

  • Giveaways

    Randomly place “Golden Ticket" vouchers inside select teacher breakfast orders.


    Golden Tickets can be redeemed for prizes like:

    • BOGs
    • McDonald’s gift cards
    • McDonald’s swag (mugs, T-shirts, etc.)
    • Vouchers for free coffee for a year

Host a McTeacher's Night


Host a McTeacher’s Night at your McDonald’s restaurant to raise funds for a nearby school and get to know local teachers as they serve their community alongside your staff.


Suggested roles/jobs: 

  • Greeters
  • Donation collectors—one teacher at each door and one in Drive Thru (with safety vest) to collect cash donations
  • In-store meal delivery—delivering meals to tables in the dining room
  • Tidying the lobby—wiping down tables, occasionally sweeping, but no mopping


Before the event:

  • Ask the school to share details via their newsletter, PTO, social media, school bulletin, etc. Suggest that any digital promotion link to your restaurant's Facebook page.
  • Promote the event on your readerboard.
  • Print flyers for doors and Drive Thru windows.
  • Share event details with CKP for a pre-event post on your restaurant's Facebook page.
  • Request 10 teacher volunteers for the evening, ask for the shirt sizes of the teachers working and order special t-shirts via SmileMakers.


After the event:


Keep Us In The Loop

Let us know what you’re doing in your local community by making a submission to CKP’s Social Media Request Form so that we can help promote your activities!


We love to include photos! Just make sure that all people photographed have signed this online photography waiver.


  • Examples of photos to include:
  • Decorated drive-thru lanes
  • Classroom surprise deliveries
  • McTeacher’s Night in action
  • Golden Ticket prize winners



Questions or feedback? Please reach out to Whitney Radley at CKP.