10+ Easy Ways Principals & PTOs Can Boost Teacher and Staff Morale
Boost staff morale at your school with these easy and fun ideas! From the viral "Guess Which Teacher's Voice This Is" game to an "Out of the Blue" themed staff meeting, these ideas will leave your teachers smiling—and feeling supported.
There's no tired like teacher tired, so we're here to shout about all the great ways principals (and PTOs) can support teachers and boost staff morale at school! As a school principal, making an effort to find out what each teacher personally needs from you in order to feel valued and empowered is key—at the end of the day, teachers just want to feel supported and motivated. Also, tap into the secret sauce that makes the magic happen at school...the PTO! Make an effort to bridge that relationship by regularly attending PTO meetings, supporting the ideas your PTO brings to the table, and brainstorming ways you can work together to support staff. Below, we round up some easy ways to boost staff morale at school from our community.
Cover recess or lunch duty for teachers
This gift of time may sound simple, but the opportunity to have a reset in the middle of the school day can go a long way. Meet teachers where they are and offer to help out, just because, by giving the "gift of time" and offering to cover lunch duty or recess duty. (If you know someone on your staff is struggling, check in on them often to see how they’re doing). Get "gift of time" coupons in our free teacher appreciation coupon book.
@ptotoday Get our FREE #teacherappreciation coupon book at PTOtoday.com/trending #ptolife #ptopresident #ptapresident ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media
Fun games, like "Guess Which Teacher's Voice This Is?"
How well do you really know your teachers, principals? You're about to find out with a fun round of "guess the teacher's voice" - the perfect game to bond with your staff and boost morale among teachers. This one's sure to get your teachers laughing!
Host a "Blind Date With a Book" for staff on Professional Development day
Middlefield Memorial Parent Teacher Council asked parents to donate lightly-loved adult books that they thought the staff would enjoy. The PTC wrapped and stuffed the books with goodies (like pens, felt tip markers, highlighters, bookmarks, Chapstick, stickers, tea bags, honey sticks, chocolate squares, under eye patches) and hosted a "Blind Date with a Book" for the school's Professional Development day, which was held on Valentine’s Day! This fun, book-themed appreciation idea is also perfect for National Reading Month in March.
@ptotoday Middlefield Memorial Parent Teacher Council asked parents to donate lightly-loved books that they thought the school staff would enjoy 😍 The PTC wrapped and stuffed the books with goodies and hosted a "Blind Date with a Book" for school staff on Professional Development day! More teacher morale boosters - hit the link in bio! #ptolife #ptopresident #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #principalsoftiktok #principal #ptomomsbelike #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciation week #teachersoftiktok #blinddatewithabook #teachermorale #booktok #fyp ♬ Double Trouble (Sped Up) - Swimming Paul
Underground Spirit Week for staff
A themed Underground Spirit Week is a great way for staff to enjoy some lighthearted fun and low-stress team bonding the week leading up to break (students will get a kick out of it, too!).
Make "intent to return" letters fun for teachers
As the school year winds down, we're seeing principals lean into viral trends like this one to show their teachers just how much they're valued and part of the team.
Encourage students to write appreciation notes to teachers
Invite students to write letters or notes of gratitude to teachers and staff. Set up an appreciation station at school where students can take a minute to write a note to their teacher and drop in the box. Package up notes for each teacher and leave in their mailbox to read later, or display on a bulletin board in the teachers' lounge.
@m.e.t10 I felt the love this week! ❤️#teachersoftiktok #3rdgradeteachers #elementaryteacher #teacherapprecationweek ♬ Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Dave Moffatt
Organize a clap-in for teachers
As teachers come into school, they're met with claps and high fives from students, volunteers, and families - anyone in your school community who wants to show up to express their gratitude for teachers!
@teachbrevard Today we surprised our middle and high school teachers with a clap-in at their secondary conference! We love and appreciate you, teachers!🤩🎉🥰#backtoschool #teachersoftiktok #brevardschools ♬ Simply the Best - Rangers Supporters
Surprise teachers with refreshments at a staff meeting...instead of having an actual meeting
Picture this: your teachers show up to the staff meeting, where they're met with treats, drinks, and a heartfelt thank you from the principal instead. (Oh, and that meeting? It's cancelled!) In the below video, one principal surprised teachers and staff with an “Out of the Blue” Appreciation Day featuring all things blue (blue snacks, etc.) and games. Teachers thought they were attending a staff meeting and were met with quite the surprise!
@kinder_krazy Just another day in the office! EXCEPT it wasn’t! 💙 🩵 Our principal surprised us with an “Out of the Blue” Appreciation Day! Our staff meeting consisted of all things BLUE and games!! Our principal is a ##supportiveQUEEN! So blessed! ##appreciation##staffmeeting##admin##principalsoftiktok##schoollife##fun##fypシ##blue##teacher##outoftheblue@@Tostitos@@Pepsi@@caprisun_usa@@Rice Krispies Treats@@Doritos@@lays@@Nutri-Grain@@Walmart@@Tootsie Roll Industries@@The Office@@Gerrybrooksprin ♬ The Office (Main Theme) - TV Sounds Unlimited
Regularly survey teachers and staff (and most importantly, take action)
Send teachers and staff members a survey where they can share their feedback anonymously. The most part: take action as quickly as possible based on the feedback you collect.
“Kids say the darndest things” bulletin board in teachers' lounge
Leave Post-It notes in the teachers' lounge for teachers to fill out and stick onto the bulletin board. It's a fun read for teachers, and they'll immediately feel a sense of comradery when they realize they're not alone.
Plan fun competitions for teachers and staff
Break up the school day with fun competitions and challenges for teachers and staff. Check out the below for some fun ideas, like "Will You Accept This Rose"!
@sasm2850 Time for some good competitive fun! #educate #teachersoftiktok #teacherlife #officehumor #schoolfun #elementaryschool #elementaryteacher #scarysherrithesecretary #makeyourschoolawesome #teacherswannahavefun #moralebooster #teacherfun #schoolsecretary #officefun #willyouacceptthisrose #funandgames ♬ original sound - Sherri S
Add a "guess who" game to the bulletin board
Display photos of teachers and staff when they were babies (or students!) and have everyone take turns guessing who's who.
@freemanhawks Freeman Elementary staff when we were elementary students! ❤️ #guesswho #bulletinboardideas #kidsloveit #thatsmyteacher ♬ 【Sound effect】 Thinking time 1 - nuppy
Coupons for extra prep
Get a blank coupon you can customize for extra pep in our free teacher coupon book.
Staff shout outs in teachers' lounge
@gcontiktok1 #CapCut show GC Staff some love and appreciation #gandercollegiate #teachersoftiktok #teacherappreciation ♬ I Can Make It - CRi
Add some Zen to the teachers' lounge
The more relaxing you can make the teachers' lounge, the better! Provide self-care items for teachers, like eye masks, lip masks, nail files, Emergen-C, Tylenol, tea, etc. (get our full list of teacher wellness bar items). Add a puzzle table where teachers can work on a puzzle throughout the week, set up an adult coloring station (we love those snarky "Teacher Life" coloring books and gel pens), or bring in a massage chair.
School Staff Member of the Month
Families and fellow staff members are invited to nominate a staff member at the school. Gift the winner a bouquet of flowers, a gift card, or a a prime parking spot for the month, along with the kind words that came in for them. It's important for teachers and staff to hear the good things others have to say about them! Announce the staff member of the month at your monthly faculty meeting. You can also create a video montage that shows photos or videos of the teacher in action at school to play during the meeting.
Ask teachers for input before planning next year's schedule
...And really listen to their feedback! Your goal is to have teachers feel like their perspectives and opinions are valued, and matter.
Holiday morale-boosting games, like "You've Been Gobbled"
The fun part about this staff morale boosting activity is that it can be themed for any season during the school year, but we think the "gobble" version is the perfect game to play ahead of Thanksgiving break. Leave a "You've Been Gobbled" note with a school staff member. The note instructs the recipient to find a colleague they're thankful for and then leave them something that will help them thrive (along with a copy of the note) so they can pay it forward and "gobble" another staff member. Get more holiday moral boosting activities for teachers
Treats or drinks in the teachers' lounge
Try a flavored water hydration station or a "dirty" soda bar and invite teachers and staff to mix up their midday drink of choice. Stock the teachers' lounge (try memes to make it even more fun), or set up a trail mix bar. There are lots of fun food and drink holidays you can plan around, from National Pretzel Day to National Trail Mix Day. Keep our school year "special days" calendar handy for planning!
Small mailbox stuffers
Small mailbox stuffers area an inexpensive way to show teachers you're thinking of them. Pair a cute note with a pack of gum, mints, a candy, a stress ball, a gel pen, etc. Surprise teachers with moon pies the day of a full moon (get our free full moon teacher printable) or leave a cookie with a note that reads, "Our teachers are smart cookies!" on National Cookie Day.
Duty-free lunch for teachers
Bring in lunch for teachers once a month and cover their the classes while they get to eat (sitting down...at a table...without having to rush!)
"Lucky Ducks"
Purchase rubber ducks and number the bottoms of the ducks. Hand out ducks to all teachers and staff. and hand them out to all staff. Use a random number generator to draw a winner. Low-cost prizes include scratch tickets, $5 coffee gift cards, etc. You can do this once a month, on National Rubber Ducky Date (January 13), or whenever you feel like staff needs a boost! Or, set up a treat trolley called the "Lucky Duck Truck" and deliver midday treats and sweets to teachers.
Ask parents to help with tasks
Using an online platform, invite parents to sign up for volunteer opportunities to help out with teacher tasks, like making photo copies, to help your staff save time.
"Thirsty Thursday" drink carts
Because teachers can't pour from an empty cup, right? If your school doesn't have a Sunshine Cart, now's the time to think about creating one! Rotate the types of drinks you offer in your "Drinks On Us!" drink cart, like coffee and tea, hot cocoa, sodas and sparkling waters, "floats", etc. We love how the school below delivered teachers' fave Dunkin' drink orders!
Jeans (All Day, Every Day)
We fully support Principal Lamb's directive that every day should be jeans day! Consider letting your teachers wear jeans, just because...no fundraisers and no strings attached.
Professional teacher head shots
School picture day, step aside. It's time for professional teacher head shots for teachers and staff!
@principal_love Gifting all of our staff professional headshots for teacher appreciation 💙…anything for them! Thank you Joe Carlos Photography. Cant wait to see the final products 🤗🤗🥹🥹♥️ #teacherapprecationweek #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciationideas #principalsoftiktok #atlantapublicschools ♬ original sound - madyson symphony🫶🏾
Name that tune during morning announcements
Every Friday, play part of a song during office announcements. The fifth staff member who correctly names the song and artist wins a prize!
Don't forget about your school's counselors and other professionals
Celebrate ALL your staff members - paras, school counselors, resource officers, etc. Get our full list of school staff appreciation days and ways to celebrate.
More resources and ideas for school principals 👉
