16+ End of Year Teacher Appreciation Ideas

We know what you're thinking... Teacher Appreciation Week just ended! But let’s be real—it’s been a year for teachers, and a little extra love can go a long way in boosting morale. From blind date with a book (beach edition) to "pooped" treat trolleys, we’ve rounded up fun ways your PTO can send staff into summer break with a smile. 

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Blind date with a book (beach edition)

The blind date with a book trend was such a hit during Teacher Appreciation Week—so why not bring it back as a fun year-end gift for teachers and staff? Use a permanent marker to jot down a few clues about the genre and plot on the cover, helping them choose a book they'd enjoy reading over summer break. To make it extra special, pair each book with a small summer-y item, like sunglasses, mini sunscreen, a can koozie, or SPF lip balm.

@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

"Orange you glad it's summer break" 🍊☀️

Set up orange-themed snacks and beverages for teachers, like cans of orange Spindrift and Izze, orange Hostess cupcakes, Lindt Orange Excellence chocolate bars. Add orange-themed decorations for a fun teacher appreciation treat with summer vibes. Get a full list of snacks and drinks (organized by color) in our color theme appreciation bundle 

@ptotoday A little teacher appreciation summer send off! 📸 Holy Cross PTL in Wichita, KS #PTOlife #teacherappreciation #orangeyouglad #ptomomsoftiktok #schoolvolunteer #ptamom ♬ original sound - PTO Today ✨School Family Media

Neck and shoulder massages for staff

"Pooped" teacher treat trolley

"We know you're pooped...only a few more weeks of school" is the treat trolley theme you never knew you needed. All you need for this fun summer snack cart? Rolls of toilet paper and poop emoji cupcakes. Get our free printable "Pooped" treat trolley sign

Wilson Phillips “Hold on for one more day, teachers” treat

Love the 90s? Pair this hilarious Wilson Phillips "hold on for one more day" meme gift tag (Canva template) with individually wrapped Life Savers and a Kit Kat for that much needed lifeline and break from the school year.

"Donut know what we'd do without teachers and staff like you"—the perfect theme for National Donut Day (June 6)

Display donuts and bottled Starbucks frappuccinos in the teachers' lounge or on a snack cart to celebrate National Donut Day on June 6.

"Just poppin’ in to wish teachers and staff a great summer break!"

Stock a teacher treat trolley with bags of popcorn and cans of soda (pop) and "pop" by classrooms with a surprise treat for teachers. 

"Sip, sip, hooray...it's time for summer vacay" hydration station

It's getting hot, so why not treat teachers to a flavored water bar? Get teacher-themed drink recipes, signage and a shoppable list of supplies to set up a hydration station in the teachers' lounge.

@hearditfromhannah Got this idea from @Adventures of Bella and added our own spin to it! The teachers LOVED it! @PTOToday ✨ School Family Media #ptomom #ptoideas #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciationweek #teacherappreciationday #watertok #watertok2023 #elementarymom #elementaryteachers ♬ original sound - Hannah | Midsize & Mom Life

Add a splash of summer with a lemon-themed lounge—because your teachers and staff are the "ZEST"

Because we "peely" appreciate our staff (last lemon pun, we promise)! In the teachers' lounge, set up bottled water, lemonade drink mixes, lemonade flavored candies, lemon bars (you get the theme!), and a can koozie.

TOTE-ally cool summer

Treat teachers to tote bags (or Bogg bags!) stocked with mini cell phone fans, snacks and drinks—perfect for that first trip to the beach! Or, pair can koozies with flavored Pellegrino.

Summer survival kit for teachers

Fill small beach pails or mini insulated totes with summer-ready items, like lip balm, handheld fans, sunglasses, lemonade or Liquid IV hydration packets, bug spray or bug bands, Sun Chips, stress balls, facial sheet masks, magnetic bookmarks, cooling towels, and under eye treatment patches. Or, set up items for teachers and staff to make their own summer survival kits.  

Fun teacher shirts with a twist

The message on these teacher shirts is perfect for middle school teachers heading into summer break (IYKYK): "Admit it, you'll low key miss me, bruh".

Individual S'mores kits for teachers, because "you're appreciated S'MORE than you know" 

We love this adorbs S'more to go kit for teachers from Mandarin Middle PTSA in Jacksonville, Florida. Add a s'mores themed gift tag, like "We hope you make S'MORE good memories this summer!"

"Stay Afloat teachers...it's almost summer" float bar 

Flamingo pool float drink holders for your teachers’ fave beverages? Yes, please! Here's everything you'll need (including a "Stay Afloat" Canva template). You could also pair this fun "stay afloat" theme with an ice cream + root beer float bar. 

@ptotoday Stay afloat, teachers! It’s been a long year and having a miniature pool float to hold your beverage just feels right. 🦩📸 @hcspto #teacherappreciation #PTOlife #ptopresident #teacherappreciationweek ♬ Bang the Drum All Day - Todd Rundgren

Raffle off the ultimate summer "bucket" list

One lucky teacher wins a beach bucket or Igloo beach cooler loaded with everything they need to kick off their summer bucket list! Ideas to stash inside include supplies to make S’mores, popsicle molds, a picnic basket, a beach towel, a Stanley tumbler, a 4-pack of Starbucks Frappuccino, a Polaroid camera, can koozies, pair of sunglasses, SPF, a book or magazine, a Crumbl cookie gift card, and a gas gift card.

"Summer is o-FISH-ally here"

Leave a box of Swedish fish candies or Goldfish in teacher mailboxes, or set up in the teachers lounge along with a fun life-sized Go Fish game! Invite teachers to take their turn "fishing" for prizes (like dry erase markers, tissues, Clorox wipes, and school spirit items) using a fishing rod.

Last day teacher breakfast

Set up a breakfast spread for teachers on the last day of school. Pick easy grab and go items, like bagels, pastries, yogurt, granola, fruit, coffee, and tea.

Dirty soda bar

A dirty soda bar is a fun way for teachers to experiment with different flavor profiles to make the perfect fizzing lifting drink to get them to the very last bell before summer break. Use our free dirty soda bar recipes and signage

@ptotoday A little Italian soda bar treat for teachers before spring break! 📸 @willowvilleelemen #ptomomsoftiktok #teacherappreciation #sodabar #schoolvolunteer #ptopresident #PTOlife #ptapresident ♬ original sound - PTOToday ✨ School Family Media

Over the moon about your staff? Try a camping themed set-up

Set up a summer camp themed spread of snacks and drinks for teachers...perfectly timed for summer!

"Thank you for making our students GOODR" (featuring GOODR sunglasses)

If you were one of the PTO leaders who was thinking ahead on Prime Day (like, really far ahead...as in, next summer), you may have scored pairs of GOODR sunglasses for your teachers at a great price.

Pineapple themed teacher gift cards

Thank your teachers for teaching like a pineapple: for standing tall, wearing a crown, and being sweet! Insert individual gift cards for teachers into yellow envelopes (or use yellow construction paper, folded in half). Arrange yellow envelopes in the shape of a pineapple to display for teachers to pick a "sweet" prize.