How Will You Celebrate American Education Week?

What’s happening: American Education Week celebrates the educators — from certified teachers to cafeteria workers — who help the nation’s public school students succeed every single day.

• AEW 2025 will be celebrated Nov. 17-21.

The theme: The overall theme is “Together for Safe, Just and Equitable Schools.” Each day has its own sub-theme:

• Nov. 17: Kickoff
• Nov. 18: Family Day
• Nov. 19: Education Support Professionals Day
• Nov. 20: Educator for a Day
• Nov. 21: Substitute Educators Day

How you can celebrate: The National Education Association, which sponsors and promotes AEW, has amazing toolkits to help you celebrate every day of the week. Here are just a few ideas to get the ball rolling.

• Make community members Educator for a Day: Ever wish members of your community could stand in your shoes for a little while? The Educator for a Day program helps education allies understand the full scope of what it takes to work in a classroom by performing all the duties of a public school employee for one day.
• Recognize ESPs: Education support professionals are the backbone of our public school system. Yet these hardworking educators are often underpaid for difficult work — and in Idaho, the state has not yet recognized ESPs’ right to collectively bargain. Nov. 19 is dedicated to ESPs throughout the country.
• Bring AEW into the classroom: Hold a poetry reading about “What I Like Best About My School,” have students decorate cards of support, and add AEW to morning announcements on Monday.
• Share AEW with the world: Post photos and tag Idaho Education Association social media accounts while using the hashtag #aew2025.

Get even more ideas: Head to the AEW page on NEA’s website for more history, celebration ideas, and ways to involve your community.