11 Creative Ways to Show Teacher Appreciation 

Teachers are the heroes of your school. They are living, breathing examples of your school’s mission, vision, and values and they regularly serve fellow teachers, students, parents, and community members. Showing teacher appreciation is an important part of increasing and maintaining morale, but it doesn’t have to be costly. You can show how much you appreciate your teachers on any budget!  

In anticipation of the upcoming Employee Appreciation Day, FACTS has a few tips to help your school express sincere gratitude for your teachers and keep them motivated with small yet meaningful gestures. Here are a few creative ideas to try:  

1. Tell your teachers “thank you” often. 

To ensure your teachers feel appreciated, it’s important to regularly verbalize how much they mean to you and your community. “Thank you” are two words we may not say enough, but they can go a long way. Use these two powerful words to encourage your teachers, keep them motivated, and increase their loyalty to your school.  

2. Give your teachers a handwritten gratitude card. 

Expressing appreciation for your teachers doesn’t have to stop with words passed in the hallway. On this upcoming Employee Appreciation Day, our team at FACTS recommends writing personalized, handwritten cards for each teacher in your school. Need some inspiration? Here’s an example: 

Dear [Teacher’s Name], 

Thank you for your dedication to [School]. Your compassion and kindness toward others are an inspiration to all members of our community. [Acknowledge the specific role your teacher played or a particular strength of the teacher]. We are incredibly grateful for and humbled by your efforts, and we want you to know that your work has not gone unnoticed. Thank you again for all that you do. 

Sincerely, 

[Your Name] 

3. Use your school’s mobile app to connect with teachers.  

Giving handwritten cards and letters to your teachers is thoughtful and provides a nice touch, but you can also use your school’s mobile app or texting capability to show appreciation in a quick, efficient way. Sending an encouraging and appreciative text before or after your teacher’s day can make a huge difference in how they feel going into (or leaving) their classroom. Are you looking to add a mobile app to your school’s repertoire or upgrade your existing mobile experience? FACTS Family App offers a tailored, user-friendly way to connect administrators, teachers, and families. 

Want more insight into how you can use your school’s technology to connect with your community? Check out the FACTS blog, which discusses eight ways technology improves the family experience.

4. Throw a teacher appreciation dinner.  

Another way to appreciation for your teachers is to host a special evening to celebrate your teachers’ accomplishments throughout the year. You could make it as simple and fun as a pizza party, a potluck, or something more formal. Think about other teacher appreciation dinner ideas that you can use, like picking a theme for your gathering, or reserving a special location for the event. 

5. Give your teachers a public shout-out on Employee Appreciation Day.  

Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day by surprising your teachers with an announcement over the intercom, a school-wide email, or a poster in the front office to show everyone in your community how grateful you are for their hard work.  

6. Take photos of your teachers at work and post them on social media.  

Bring your appreciation for your teachers to Facebook, Instagram, or another social media platform to show the world how amazing your teachers are. Take lots of photos of them teaching, interacting with students, or helping your community and post them. Your teachers are proud of what they do and will love that you’re celebrating their work.  

7. Offer to write letters of reference for student teachers or encourage more opportunities. 

On Employee Appreciation Day, don’t forget about student teachers at your school. Being a reference when they are ready to start their teaching career can give them a feeling of support and encouragement while on their journey.  

8. Provide teachers with snacks and refreshments regularly at school events.  

A great way to continuously show appreciation for your teachers is to set up a coffee bar, hot cocoa bar, or dessert bar at school events. Be sure to include a sign that shares your thankfulness for their participation. 

9. Showcase your teachers’ successes by sharing their stories. 

Show appreciation for your teachers by highlighting all the ways they support their students and your school, making them feel special and inspiring others to get involved in education within their community.

Let your teachers tell their stories firsthand! Take the time to interview them and publish their stories on your school website, mobile app, or newsletter. Tools like FACTS Family App and Website Services will make it even easier for you to share these stories with your entire school community 

Another great way to showcase your teachers’ contributions is to host a learning camp and highlight your teachers having a fun and engaging experience with students. After the camp, you can put together a recap video showing the way students were able to focus on learning in this environment and discuss how much fun everyone had with teacher interviews. 

10. Listen to your teachers and engage with their ideas.  

Your teachers are always in the classroom, so they’re bound to have great ideas and fresh perspectives. Give them regular opportunities to provide feedback and share their ideas through digital forms and surveys. Listening to the people who regularly show up for your school is critical to not only showing appreciation for teachers but gauging the health of your school’s culture.  

11. Show your teachers how they fit into the school’s big picture.  

No matter how insignificant the task may seem, every teacher wants to know how their work connects to the vision of the school. Remind them regularly that the work they’re doing is important to the school’s mission. Show them how they’re making a difference with success stories, student performance stats, and the overall results of their work. Knowing they’ve made an impact on their community makes them feel fulfilled and deepens their sense of purpose.

Showing teacher appreciation requires creativity, sincerity, and a personal touch. By implementing these 11 strategies, schools can effectively express their gratitude, boost morale, and reinforce the invaluable role teachers play in shaping the future.

How FACTS Can Help Your School Show Teachers You Appreciate Them 

At FACTS, we believe showing teacher appreciation should be easy, meaningful, and built into your school culture.

With FACTS Family App and FACTS Website Services, schools can easily recognize teachers publicly — whether it’s through a push notification or a teacher spotlight article on the school website. These tools make it easy to share teacher stories with the entire school community.

FACTS can also help your school show appreciation for teachers by making their jobs easier every day. Tools like FACTS Student Information System make tasks like taking attendance, lesson planning, and logging grades simple, so teachers have more time to focus on the aspects of the job that they love most.

When teachers feel supported and seen, everyone benefits, from staff to students to families. Chat with the FACTS team to learn more about how we can help your school build a culture of appreciation.