A Year's Worth of School Staff and Teacher Appreciation Ideas

Credit: TikTok @mamamcgoon

Easy, fun ideas to celebrate your school's teachers and staff every month of the year!

by Kerri Beauchesne

01/13/2025

Your school's teachers and staff work hard every day, so why not show your appreciation every month with a special appreciation treat? Below, we round up lots of fun and easy school staff appreciation ideas to do each month of the school year. (Want to see your school featured? Tag @ptotoday on social and you just might see it here!)

✨ Get our FREE school appreciation mega bundle featuring printable treat tags and signs to use throughout the school year!

January: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

School Supply Charcuterie

Come January, it's safe to say most teachers are running low on school supplies for their classroom. Help your school staff restock by laying out a variety of school supplies "charcuterie board style" in the teachers' lounge and invite teachers and staff to take what they need. You can also do a school supply bar using this set of school supply pun signs, part of our free school appreciation mega bundle.

@mamamcgoon This staff appreciation week our PTA hosted a School Supply Charcuterie. We included a shopping list of items they were to collect as well as the quantity of each. They had a blast and it was gorgeous! #PTAideas #PTA #schoolsupplies #schoolsupplyshopping #teacherapprecationweek #teacherappreciation #teachers #teachersoftiktok #teacherlife #elementaryschool #charcuterieboard #charcuterie ♬ Creative - Smile

"Happy Halfway There" Woot Woot Wagon

Cue the Bon Jovi playlist! Celebrate the halfway point of the school year by wheeling out the treats in a "happy halfway there" treat trolley (also called a "woot woot" wagon). More teacher treat trolley ideas and free printable treat trolley signs 👉

Photo credit: Ashburn Elementary PTO, Ashburn, Virginia

Serve Mocktails in the Teachers' Lounge

Start the new year off right with fun, teacher-themed mocktails! Get our teacher themed recipes, signage and more 👉

@tacklingtheteks Cheers to the New Year! Our staff enjoyed a “mocktail” bar in the lounge! 🍸#teachersoftiktok #teacher #teach #teachersbelike #teachersontiktok #teachertok #teachtok #teachers #iteach ♬ Dance You Outta My Head - Cat Janice

"Hats Off to a New Year" Hat Bar for Teachers

Invite teachers and staff to customize their very own trucker hats at a DIY hat bar! This gesture of appreciation is a fun way for school staff members to socialize as they get their creative juices flowing.

Bagel Bar for National Bagel Day (January 15)

Display bagels and spreads (butter, cream cheese, jams) in the teachers' lounge on National Bagel Day, celebrated annually on January 15.

Popcorn Bar on National Popcorn Day

National Popcorn Day is January 19. Treat teachers and staff to a popcorn bar with all the mix-ins! Get free popcorn bar sign and tags 🍿

@ptotoday Love this fun popcorn bar from Soaring Heights for their monthly staff hospitality set up! #teacherappreciation #ptopresident #schoolvolunteerlife #ptolife #ptomomsoftiktok #popcornbar ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media

"Teachers Are Sweeter Than Pie"

Teachers are sweeter than pie! Celebrate National Pie Day on January 23 by gifting teachers mini pies, or set up a variety of pies in the teachers' lounge for staff to enjoy.

Hot Cocoa Bar

National Hot Chocolate Day is officially celebrated on January 31, so it's the perfect time to treat teachers and staff to a warm cup of hot cocoa! Set up hot cocoa and fixings for a hot cocoa bar in the teachers' lounge, ask teachers to BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug), or set up a hot cocoa cart (treat trolley) and bring cups of hot cocoa right to teachers' doors! Get hot cocoa bar signage in our free school staff appreciation bundle.

@_pocketfullofsunshine Our school loves “a bar” of any kind lol #teacher #teachersoftiktok #teachertok #teachertoker #teachervlogger #teachervlog #teacherlife #teachertips #christmastime #christmasideas #hotchocolatebar #hotcocoabar ♬ I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday - Leona Lewis

February: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

Health and Wellness "Immuni-TEA" Bar

Help teachers and staff stay healthy during cold and flu season with a wellness bar featuring variety of teas and self-care goodies. Get teacher appreciation wellness bar signs in our free appreciation mega bundle.

Soup and Potato Bar for the "SOUPER" Bowl

The Super Bowl is every February, so this is a great time to treat teachers and staff to a baked potato bar and/or soup in the teachers' lounge.

Pizza Trolley on National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day is February 9 (get all the special days to celebrate at school in our school year planning calendar). Treat teachers and staff to a hot slice or two in the lounge or via a teacher treat trolley. Here's everything you'll need for a pizza-themed treat trolley, including a free printable sign.

Thanks a "Choco-lot" Chocolate Buffet for Valentine's Day

Give your teachers the ultimate treat on Valentine's Day! Set up a variety of chocolates in the teachers' lounge for teachers and staff to snack on. You can also provide gift bags or snackleboxes for teachers to assemble their own stash of "emergency" chocolate. You can use our "Thanks a Choco-lot" sign, part of our free appreciation printables mega bundle.

March: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

"We're So Lucky to have Teachers Like You" Rainbow Snack Spread

This is a fun one to do ahead of (or on) St. Patrick's Day! Form a rainbow by arranging snacks by color on a table in the lounge (don't forget to add a pot of gold - chocolate coins or Rolos - at the end!). For a fun background, display plastic tablecloths in rainbow order and affix white balloons at the top for clouds. Even more things to celebrate in March this way 🌈

Credit: Marshall Elementary PTO in Fort Campbell, KY

Cereal Bar on National Cereal Day

Celebrate National Cereal Day (March 7) with a cereal bar set up in the teachers' lounge and let them know they are "cereal-sly" appreciated!

April: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

Teacher Hydration Station

Set up a hydration station and invite teachers to mix up a fun drink at the flavored water bar. Here's how to set up a hydration station in the teachers' lounge, including teacher themed recipes and hydration station signage.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Banana) on National Banana Day

National Banana Day is most definitely a thing and is celebrated on the third Wednesday every April. Invite teachers to bring their own banana (BYOB) to make banana splits in the teachers' lounge. Or, banana bomb teachers (leave bananas in teacher mailboxes) along with a note inviting them to bring their banana to the banana split bar in the teachers' lounge.

Pretzel Bar on National Pretzel Day

April 26 is National Pretzel Day. For a simple treat, deliver pretzels to teachers via a treat trolley using the theme, "Our school would KNOT be the same without teachers and staff like you". If you're looking to go all out (you know who you are 😉), consider doing a warm pretzel bar in the teachers' lounge with warm pretzels and toppings, like cheese, butter, salt, cinnamon, and sugar.

May: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

💐 May officially marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week, so you'll definitely want to check out all the teacher appreciation ideas (and free teacher appreciation printables) in our Teacher Appreciation Week planning hub. Below, we feature a few stand-out ideas to try!

Flower Bouquet Bar for Teachers

Because April showers bring May flowers, a DIY flower bouquet bar is the perfect way to surprise for teachers and staff! Purchase a variety of loose flowers or ask for donations of flower bouquets from families, along with affordable vases from the dollar store. Invite teachers and staff to assemble their own bouquet of flowers to take home or leave in the classroom.

@ptotoday Make Your Own Bouquet - super cute easy idea for #teacherapprecationweek! #ptopresident #ptolife #teacherappreciation ♬ French music style, accordion, waltz - arachang

Dirty Soda Bar

A dirty soda bar is a fun teacher appreciation treat to do anytime, but it's extra fun to celebrate on National Have a Coke Day, which is officially observed on May 8! To set up a dirty soda bar in the teachers' lounge, you'll need a variety of sodas, like Coke, Dr. Pepper, and Orange, along with ice and mix-ins like flavored vanilla syrup, half and half (or creamer), and limes.

Buy Your Teacher a Flower for $1

During Teacher Appreciation Week, Santa Fe PTA sold flowers for $1 that students could buy and give to their teachers. This can be set up right in the entrance of the school building or during lunch.

90s Theme Teacher Appreciation Week

From giant cell phones to Clueless, the 90s babies on PTOs and PTAs decided to take the 90s theme straight to the teachers' lounge for a fun 90s themed Teacher Appreciation Week! Each day, try a 90s theme, like "When I dip, you dip, we dip" (veggies and dips), "Sippin' on (coffee) and juice", "OMG Becky...look at that drink cart", "Ice ice baby" (hydration station), and "You're all that and a bag of chips" (chips and subs).

Ice Cream Sundae (or Ice Cream Float) Bar

@ptotoday How Sugar Land, TX does #teacherappreciation 👉 Ice cream sundae / float bar for teachers #PTOlife #ptomomsoftiktok #ptapresident #teacherapprecationweek #icecreambar ♬ Ready - Official Sound Studio

Friends Theme Teacher Appreciation Week

"The one where we appreciate our teachers and staff all week"! It's true, Monica from Friends would have made a great PTO president. Here's everything your PTO needs to pull off a fun Friends-theme teacher appreciation week (including a Friends Teacher Appreciation Week itinerary).

@ptotoday Monica would have made a great #ptopresident 😂 Check out this #friends #teacherappreciation ♬

June: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

"Pooped" Teacher Treat Trolley

The end of the school year can't come soon enough for teachers, so we love the "pooped teachers" treat trolley idea! This is a good one to wheel out a few weeks before the end of school to keep teachers' going. Here's everything you need (including a free printable sign) to do a "pooped" teacher treat trolley.

"Hold On For One More Day" Snack Break

(Can you tell we kinda have a thing for the 90s over here? 😍) Help your teachers end the year on a high note with a Kit Kat break and this fun "hold on for one more day" Wilson Phillips printable meme as a treat tag. Shout out to Ella Barnes PTA for sharing this Wilson Phillips Canva template and snack pairing with us!

August: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

“School is a Picnic with Teachers Like You” Treat Trolley

Summertime picnics may be over, but you can bring the picnic to the hallways of your school with a picnic-themed teacher appreciation treat trolley. Here's everything you need, along with a "School is a Picnic with Teachers Like You" sign.

Teacher Snacklebox

Invite teachers to make their own snacklebox (a stash of emergency goodies stored safely in the teacher's desk 😍), or assemble individual snackleboxes as a fun back-to-school desk treat for teachers and staff.

@ptotoday We ❤️ this Teacher Emergency Stash Snacklebox 😍 #snacklebox #teacherappreciation #backtoschool #ptolife #ptalife #teachergift Creator 📷 @Nikki 🎁gift wrapping whiz 🎀 ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media

September: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

Stock the Lounge: Meme Edition

Kick off the school year with a fully-stocked teachers' lounge and lots of fun and relatable memes that'll give teachers that much-needed laugh in the lounge. Here are popular snacks and drinks to stock the teachers' lounge with, along with printable memes.

@ptotoday Stock the Teachers’ Lounge: Meme Edition #teacherappreciation #PTOlife #ptopresident #ptomomsoftiktok #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #meme ♬ Printer print sound (ink-jet, room) - LEOPARD

Show Your Volunteers Some Love on National PTO Appreciation Day

Yep, you read that right...there's an actual official appreciation day for PTO and PTA volunteers! National PTO Appreciation Day falls on the last Thursday of September (this year, that's September 25, 2025). If you're a PTO/A volunteer, consider showing the rest of your board how much you appreciate them, or go out to celebrate all the work you're about to embark on this year. If you're a principal, this is a great time to step up and recognize your PTO. We have lots of easy ideas to celebrate National PTO Appreciation Day!

@notyouraverageptamoms Things like this make it all worth it ♥️ #pta #mvspta #ptamoms ♬ Little Things - Adrián Berenguer

Caffeinate (and Educate) on National Coffee Day

Because there's no tired like teacher tired, a coffee bar is the perfect way to celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29. Pair individual Starbucks to-go drinks with a candy bar for a fun "caffeinate and educate" to-go treat for teachers and staff!

October: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

Custodian Appreciation Day Gift Idea

Custodian Appreciation Day is on October 2. Here are a few ways to celebrate - plus how to make this fun gift for your school custodians.

@ptotoday Get the full list of ideas (plus where to buy those adorbs mini recycling bins in bulk) at PTOtoday.com/trending 📸 Marshall Elementary PTO - Fort Campbell #custodiansoftiktok #custodianappreciationday #ptolife #ptopresident #ptapresident #demure #mini #ptomom #fyp @Dollar Tree ♬ Sport And Spirit - Atomica Music

Walking Taco Bar

National Taco Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of October (Taco Tuesday). Celebrate with a Walking Taco Bar for teachers and staff! Provide individual bags of chips and taco toppings, which get added directly into the chip bag for a grab and go lunch.

@ptotoday Loving this #walkingtaco bar for #teacherappreciation! Featuring 📸 @shpk8pto #PTOlife #ptomomsoftiktok #ptopresident #schoolvolunteerlife ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media

Chocolate Pretzel Bar

National Chocolate Pretzel Day falls on October 7. Celebrate with a chocolate covered pretzel spread for teachers and staff, or deliver pretzels to teachers and staff via a treat trolley.

Caramel Apple Bar

A caramel apple bar is a fun way to celebrate National Apple Day on October 21 with teachers and staff. Set up apples and toppings. For a theme, try "We couldn't have picked sweeter teachers and staff".

Freshly "Boo'ed" Coffee

Set up coffee along with flavored syrups and creamer/cream and invite staff to enjoy a cup of freshly "boo'ed" coffee! Display this free freshly "boo'ed" coffee sign (free printable).

November: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

Candy Salad on National Candy Day

National Candy Day is on November 4. While it's just a few days after Halloween, too much candy is never a bad idea, and this fun national holiday is the perfect excuse to invite teachers and staff to make their own #candysalad - a fun viral trend from TikTok!

@thatcraftyeducator Candy salad trend faculty room treat for teachers! A great end of year surprise from a PTA! #teachersurprise #facultyroom #pta #endofyearteacher #endofyearpta #pto #candysalad #teachercandysalad #ptacandysalad #teachertreats ♬ Candy - FASSounds

Loaded Baked Potato Bar

Thanksgiving Mini Pies

Get pie-themed teacher appreciation printable gift tags in our free mega bundle.

Thankful for Teachers Like You Charcuterie Treat Boxes

Stanley Elementary PTO filled their Thanksgiving teacher appreciation charcuterie boxes with Nutella, chocolates, and other fun treats!

December: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Ideas

☃️ Get even more holiday appreciation ideas, along with a FREE holiday-themed teacher appreciation printable bundle featuring holiday-themed hydration station drink recipes, signs for a teacher appreciation hot cocoa cart (or bar), and more!

Holiday Hydration Station

It's a hydration station, with a holiday twist! Get our holiday flavored water recipes and signage in our free school staff holiday appreciation mega bundle.

Hot Cocoa Cart

Whether you do a hot cocoa bar or a hot cocoa cart, your teachers and staff will love a hot cup of cocoa during the holiday season! Get a hot cocoa cart sign in our free school staff holiday appreciation printables bundle.