As both a parent who spent a lot of time volunteering in elementary school, and as a preschool teacher, I can tell you that a lot of teachers do not want home-baked goods. A gift card is much more appreciated.

Our room parent collected money at the beginning of the year for the Halloween, Valentines Day parties and the end of the school gift for the teacher.

I still plan on getting the teacher a gift card of some sort for Christmas.

When my kids were in MCPS elementary, I would give $50 gift cards to the main teachers (reading and math) and $10 gift cards to the specialists. Our elementary also had a policy (started a few years ago) prohibiting room mom from collecting money for a class gift. I am not sure whether it was just the school's policy or something from MCPS.

I don't think there is a published policy, I just think that as a public school teacher, cash (I was thinking actual cash, a bill) is inappropriate as a gift. Not offensive, just inappropriate, more on the end of the teacher who would accept it than on the end of the giver.

To show the teacher that you appreciate them, you could write a letter about exactly why you think they are great, and give a copy to the teacher's principal. This could accompany a small token, like some of the things I suggested earlier. (I'm 11:01)

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. A cash gift for a public school teacher would be totally inappropriate and a professional teacher would return it.

Baked goods, Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card, a gift of "stuff" for the classroom (fancy art supplies that would be in the normal ordering system, nice books for the classroom library, board games for indoor recess, etc) would be great, too.

I also have a question on how is a cash gift (or Amex/Visa gift card) inappropriate, but a gift card to Amazon or B&N isn't. Does the amount matter (I noted the PP said $50 or $100, which is WAY more than I would consider.) Is a crisp $20 bill in a homemade card offensive?

Does MCPS have a published policy? I have been searching on their website but cannot find anything.

Anonymous wrote:What about high school? We were new to MCPS last year and did not do gifts last year. Do families give gifts to HS teachers?

oh no . . .

It's rare.

I'll get cards, an occasional candy cane, etc. - but never gifts. The cards expressing appreciation are great, by the way!

Middle school is different, however. I did receive gifts!

What about high school? We were new to MCPS last year and did not do gifts last year. Do families give gifts to HS teachers?

We do a nice gift card for the classroon teacher (ie: $50 for a restaurant or store) and $10 gift cards for the other teachers a bus driver (eg, Panera, Starbucks, etc.).

some PTSAs have a staff gift fund where parents can give in any amount and the school staff together decide on a gift - water for the lounge, staff party, etc.

I'm a teacher. A cash gift for a public school teacher would be totally inappropriate and a professional teacher would return it.

Baked goods, Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card, a gift of "stuff" for the classroom (fancy art supplies that would be in the normal ordering system, nice books for the classroom library, board games for indoor recess, etc) would be great, too.

Why would a giftcard from Amex or Visa (what I was referring to as cash) be inappropriate but a gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble be OK? Is there an issue with amount too? We usually would do $50 or $100 dollars.

We were told that according to new MCPS policy parents can no longer collect money for a class gift. Gifts will have to be given individually by parents.

I'm a teacher. A cash gift for a public school teacher would be totally inappropriate and a professional teacher would return it.

Baked goods, Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card, a gift of "stuff" for the classroom (fancy art supplies that would be in the normal ordering system, nice books for the classroom library, board games for indoor recess, etc) would be great, too.

I always give teachers a gift card to Target or Barnes and Noble. I figure they can get themselves something or get something for the classroom, whatever they like.

My kids have occasionally asked to give a gift to a specials teacher that they love and we have done that. But otherwise we don't get gifts for them.

If your child has a room mom/dad, they will usually ask for a donation for a class gift. You don't have to do this and can go out on your own. Kids have limited interactions w/ special area teachers. My DS sees each special area teacher once a week for 50 mins.

We're new to public school this year. In private, we gave a cash gift and card to each of DD's teachers. We were also used to donating for different things. In MCPS there are so many rules where you can't donate to your school. Are there any rules against giving the teacher a gift?

If this is fine, what do you do about the special teachers? In MCPS, the parents are really kept out of the school. Unless you are in the volunteer spot to help in the library or art room, you don't seem to have any opportunity to interact with these teachers. DD may make a comment occasionally about one but there doesn't seem to be the same level of connection that we had last year with her music or drama teacher at private.

I'd prefer to just give a gift to DD's classroom teacher but if the norm is to give to all then we'll do this.