National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 5-9, 2025
National Teacher Day (Tues., May 6, 2025)
Great teachers make great public schools. On National Teacher Day, Tues., May 6, 2025, thousands of communities take time to honor their local educators and acknowledge the crucial role teachers play in making sure every student receives a quality education.
#ThankATeacher
National Teacher Day, which falls during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10, 2024), is a wonderful opportunity to remind the larger community of the value that teachers bring to the lives of children. It is also the perfect opportunity for school boards, school administrators, community members, and students to salute and thank those who touch the lives of children through teaching.
To help you celebrate . . .
- Thank a teacher on social media. Be sure to include the #ThankATeacher hashtag in your message, meme, photo, or tweet. Display a Teacher Day poster on your social media page. Sharable image of the poster
- Print the poster now.
- Find more social media ideas, artwork, resources, and videos on the NEA.org website.
Teacher Appreciation Hotline
Do you know an incredible educator? This Teacher Appreciation Week, call NEA's Teacher Appreciation Week Hotline at (202) 743-5371 and share the story of an extraordinary educator or committed colleague you know who gives their best to their students every day, despite hardships and challenges. Or share what you need as an educator to continue to give your best every single day.
We’ll share these stories with fellow members and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to show our leaders how much we value public school teachers, and how critical it is that educators have the resources and support they deserve.
History of National Teacher Day
The origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944, Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.
NEA, along with its Kansas and Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge City (KS) Local, lobbied Congress to create a national day to celebrate teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day for that year only.
NEA and its affiliates continued to observe National Teacher Day in March until 1985 when the NEA Representative Assembly voted to change the event to Tuesday of the first full week of May.