National Teacher Day

National Teacher Day Quick Facts

Hashtags	#TeacherAppreciationDay, #ThankATeacher, #TeachersDay
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2020 Date	May 5, 2020
2021 Date	May 4, 2021

2020 Holidays & Dates

National Teacher Day in 2020

National Teacher Day History

National Teacher Day provides an opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for the enormous impact that this nation's teachers have made and continue to make on its youth.

In 1953, an Arkansas teacher wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt about the need to recognize and honor the nation's teachers. Mrs. Roosevelt persuaded Congress to proclaim a day in May as National Teacher Day. National Teacher Day is celebrated on Tuesday of National Teacher Week; this week is observed the first full school week of May each year.

Top Tweets for National Teacher Day

I am grateful to the millions of teachers who put their heart (and countless hours!) into their work. Thank you for your passionate dedication to improving the lives of your students! #TeacherAppreciationDay https://t.co/7uk33GX2jY
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) May 8, 2019

Pay them more. They change the trajectory of a child’s life every single day. #TeacherAppreciationDay
— andy lassner (@andylassner) May 7, 2019

On #TeacherAppreciationDay let us not forget incredible teachers and staff like Aaron Feis, Chris Hixon and Scott Beigel. All of whom died saving kids’ lives. https://t.co/I7z1coI4di
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 8, 2019

National Teacher Day Facts & Quotes

As of May 2012, there were 950,440 teachers, teaching approximately 58 million students in US elementary and secondary schools.
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.
There are currently 3.2 million teachers in the US today, 1.8 million of which will become eligible for retirement within the next decade.
The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth. - Dan Rather
There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race. - John F. Kennedy

National Teacher Day Top Events and Things to Do

Join 2016 #ThankATeacher campaign. Take a picture with your favorite teacher, post it on social media and hashtag #ThankATeacher. Write a personal Thank You note to special teachers.
Provide picture bouquets to teachers using pictures of current students with messages attached as leaves.
Hang congratulatory or thankful banners on classroom doors.
Have the community contribute gifts and gift certificates for teacher gift baskets.
Host a breakfast for teachers before school. Try to involve local stores as sponsors.