5 Simple Back To School Gifts To Make Staff Smile
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When a new school year kicks off, staff often feel the stress of fresh schedules, busy classrooms, and long to-do lists. A small gift can go a long way in lifting their mood and showing you care.
I picked out five simple back-to-school gift ideas that are easy on the wallet but packed with thoughtfulness.
These little gestures can bring a smile to any teacher or staff member’s face and remind them their hard work matters.
5 Back To School Gift Ideas For Staff
1. Personalized Desk Plant
A living plant instantly makes a desk feel less like a workspace and more like a personal corner. Instead of giving the same old mug or pen set, a small succulent, cactus, or snake plant can bring freshness and calm energy to a staff member’s day.
Personalizing it takes the gift a step further—think a pot painted with the teacher’s name, the school’s mascot, or even a motivational phrase like “You Grow Minds.”
It’s a constant reminder that their work has life and growth too.
Where to Buy: Check your local nursery for budget-friendly plants, or order customized pots and succulents from Etsy and Amazon.
Price: $10–$20 depending on the plant and personalization.
2. Coffee-Free Morning Boost Kit
Most staff already get overloaded with coffee mugs and caffeine gifts, so this idea flips the script. A Coffee-Free Boost Kit can include things like calming herbal teas, fruit-infused water packets, vitamin drink sticks, and quick energy snacks such as granola bars or dried fruit.
It’s a thoughtful way to remind them that staying energized doesn’t always need caffeine, and they might even discover new favorites they never thought to try.
Pack it in a fun reusable pouch or small box to make it feel like a morning survival kit.
Where to Buy: Target, Walmart, or any grocery store for bulk teas and snacks. If you want ready-made sets, online stores like Amazon have plenty of options.
Price: $8–$15 per kit, depending on how much you add.
3. Customized Sticky Note Set
Sticky notes are the lifeblood of every school staff member—notes to students, reminders for meetings, quick lesson plans, or even motivational doodles.
Instead of boring plain ones, imagine handing out sticky note pads printed with the teacher’s name, the school logo, or even small positive messages like “You’ve got this!” They’ll still use them daily, but now each note feels a little more special.
It’s practical, thoughtful, and surprisingly affordable for a personalized touch.
Where to Buy: Online printers like Vistaprint, Zazzle, or Etsy sellers who specialize in custom stationery.
Price: $7–$12 per set depending on the number of pads.
4. Relaxation-in-a-Bag
School days can be exhausting, and staff often don’t get a moment to themselves. A relaxation bag shows them you actually care about their well-being, not just their work.
Fill a small drawstring pouch with stress-relief tools—think a squishy stress ball, a mini roll-on essential oil, lavender-scented wipes, herbal mints, or even a calming tea bag.
It’s the kind of gift they can keep in their drawer and pull out during tough days. Even just opening the bag can feel like hitting a reset button.
Where to Buy: Amazon has affordable bundles of stress-relief goodies, while local wellness shops may have more unique options. Pouches can be bought in bulk on craft websites.
Price: $10–$18 per bag depending on what you include.
5. After-School Snack Box
After hours of teaching or managing students, staff are usually drained by the time the bell rings. A snack box filled with healthier, energy-boosting foods feels like an instant pick-me-up.
Pack it with single-serve trail mix bags, granola clusters, dried fruit, dark chocolate squares, or protein bites. Avoid the usual candy-heavy route and instead focus on snacks that feel nourishing but still delicious.
Add a playful label like “Fuel for Heroes” or “After-School Recharge” to make them smile when they grab it.
Where to Buy: Costco, Trader Joe’s, or Sam’s Club for bulk snack packs. DIY snack boxes can be assembled with small containers or decorative boxes from craft stores.
Price: $6–$12 per box depending on snack variety.
