10+ Teacher Appreciation Ideas for Fall

Candy Apple Bar

To pull off a teacher appreciation candy apple bar, you'll want to go with an apple theme: "We couldn't have picked a sweeter staff" or "Our teachers are awesome to the core". Display a variety of toppings (caramel and chocolate syrups, marshmallows, mini chocolate covered candies, chocolate chips, toffee bits, etc.) and apples. Invite teachers to slice up an apple and add their toppings to make a plate of candy apple "nachos"! 

Apple Cider Bar

Inspired by something they saw in Magnolia magazine, Sage Canyon Elementary PTO in Castle Rock, Colorado, decided to treat teachers and staff to an extra special apple cider bar to welcome fall—and boy was it a hit! In addition to serving classic apple cider, teachers were encouraged to mix up fun cider drink variations using the apple cider recipes below. PTO President Ashley Rupp shares that the PTO purchased 6 gallons of apple cider for 100 staff members—and that the garnishes the PTO provided made the drinks that much more fun (10/10 recommend!): cinnamon sticks, Anise star, limes, jalapeños, apple slices, and pomegranate seeds. The PTO organized the table by drink recipe and grouped all the ingredients together to make it easy for staff to mix up their fall beverage of choice:

• "Spicy orchard": apple cider + orange juice + lime juice + jalapeno
• "Cherry maple": apple cider + cherry juice + maple syrup
• "Caramel apple": apple cider + lemon + caramel sauce + cinnamon + sea salt
• "Pomegranate spice": apple cider + ginger beverage + pomegranate juice + cinnamon

Photo: Sage Canyon Elementary in Castle Rock, CO

Charcuterie boxes filled with treats for teachers

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

"Thankful for Teachers" Coffee Cart

There's nothing teachers love more than a coffee cart that rolls right on up to their classroom door (or into the teachers' lounge). Pro tip: always have more coffee than you think you'll need! 

Pluck a Feather From the Thankful Turkey

Teachers will love this turkey treat because its feathers are actually gift cards packaged in colorful envelopes! Teachers can "pluck" a feather from the turkey to get a surprise gift card.

Stovetop Potpourri (Simmer Pots)

Package up ingredients for stovetop potpourri in "grab and go" bags, or set up a DIY simmer pot bar and invite teachers to make their own! You'll need the following supplies for each teacher:

• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• A handful of star anise 
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 1/3 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 whole, unpeeled orange (if you prefer to use slices, cut oranges into slices and dehydrate first; plan on 3-4 slices per teacher) 

Include the following instructions on a cute fall-themed gift tag: "Cut orange into slices. Add all ingredients to 2 cups water in a pot or saucepan. Simmer on stove and enjoy!" Package in a clear baggie or a mason jar and finish off with ribbon. 

Freshly "Boo'ed" Coffee

Set up coffee, flavored syrups, and creamer and invite teachers to some freshly "boo'ed" coffee! Display our free freshly "boo'ed" coffee sign (free printable).

Photo: Ella Barnes PTA, Corpus Christi, Texas

Halloween Surprise Cup Woot Woot Wagon

@marshvillepta It’s that time again people… WOOT WOOT WAGON!! 👻spooky👻 edition! We 🧡 our staff here at Marshville Elementary! #funfriday #marshvilleelementary #pta #wootwootwagon #PTA #MarshvilleBeavers #bestteachersaround #GoBeavers #halloween2024 ♬ Somebody's Watching Me - Sped Up - Rockwell

Rice Krispie Treats for National Rice Krispie Treat Day

National Rice Krispie Treats Day is on September 18...a fun and inexpensive mid-day treat for teachers!

Teacher Coffee Bar for National Coffee Day

National Coffee Day is September 29. Set up a coffee and tea bar for teachers in the teachers' lounge, or do a coffee and tea teacher treat trolley and deliver a little pick-me-up to classrooms.

Halloween Hydration Station in the Teachers' Lounge

Decorate the teachers' lounge with Halloween decorations and Liquid Death water. Or set up a hydration station and invite teachers to "pick their poison" with a Halloween-themed flavored water bar. Here's how to set up a hydration station in the teachers' lounge!

Thanks for Being So Fa-BOO-lous Boo Bags

Use our free "fa-boo-lous" teachers gift tag Canva template to make your teachers spooktacular boo bags. Fill boo bags with treats and snacks and pass out to teachers Halloween morning. 

"Witches' Brew" Teacher Treat Trolley 

Hocus Pocus...have some witches' brew (aka coffee) to help you focus! We love this fun Halloween spin on a teacher treat trolley.  

Moon Pies for a Full Moon

There's something about a full moon in the fall, right? Treat your teachers to moon pies for a fun treat on the day of a full moon. Get free full moon teacher gift tags, part of our free school appreciation mega bundle. 

Full moons during the 2025-2026 school year: August 9, September 7, October 6, November 5, December 4, January 3, February 1, March 3, April 1, May 1, May 31

Boo Bags Stuffed With Teacher Treats

We love how Mount Zio PTO wore "Boo Crew" shirts while they delivered treats to teachers!

Vampire Donuts in the Teachers' Lounge

To make vampire donuts, insert plastic vampire fangs into the donut hole, then press on candy eyeballs. Leave them in the teachers' lounge for a spooktacular treat. 

@ptotoday Teacher appreciation donuts to celebrate the start of October 🍩🧛‍♂️ #ptomom #ptamom #ptamomsoftiktok #teacherappreciation #halloween #teachertreats #schoolvolunteerlife ♬ Halloween Theme Music Box (Short) - kesokid

Our Teachers Are "Spooktacular"

Treat your teachers to no tricks, just treats! Set up snacks and munchies in the teachers' lounge. We love a good self-serve spooky popcorn bar featuring popcorn and fun Halloween-themed mix-ins like candy corn. 

Photo credit: Amanda Bidwell, Fairview Elementary PTO, Rogers, Arkansas

Thankful for Teachers Woot Woot Wagon

@marshvillepta It’s how we roll here at Marshville Elementary School, especially on FUN FRIDAY!💛🦫💙 #marshvilleelementary #pta #PTA #ptapresident #vicepresident #wootwoot #wootwootwagon #MarshvilleBeavers #GoBeavers #greatestschoolonearth #fyp #foryoupage #MVES #funfriday #letsgo ♬ ANOTHA DAY ANOTHA SLAYY PERIODTT - .kyute

Trail Mix Bar

A trail mix bar is the perfect grab and go treat during parent teacher conferences! Be sure to check if there are any teacher allergies, first. 

@ptotoday It’s parent teacher conference time, and a trail mix bar is a great way to help teachers keep their energy up 🤪! What’s your PTO doing for teachers? Trail mix bar 📸 @NelsonPTA #parentteacherconference #teacherappreciation #ptolife #ptopresident #ptapresident ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media

Any Way You Slice It, We Are Thankful for Our Teachers (Mini Pies)

Trust us...you'll want to snatch up those mini pies from Walmart before they're all gone 😉 You can get our free pie-themed teacher appreciation printable in our free mega bundle. Fun teacher appreciation pie themes include "Appreciating you is as easy as pie" and "Any way you slice it, we are thankful for our teachers".

Health and Wellness "Immuni-TEA" Bar

Help your teachers stay healthy ahead of (and during) cold and flu season with an "immuni-TEA" bar featuring a variety of teas and health and wellness goodies. Get a set of teacher appreciation wellness bar signs in our free appreciation mega bundle. 

Baked Potato Bar

Send teachers off to Thanksgiving break with a baked potato bar. Here's to a "SPUD-tacular" Thanksgiving break, teachers!

 

 

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