Teens, Kids: Submit Essay On Your Favorite Teacher To Local NJ Applebee's

CLIFTON, NJ — Does your son or daughter have a favorite teacher? From now until March 16, children and teens across New Jersey are asked to write an essay about who their favorite teacher is and why.

By March 16, students should submit their essay to all Doherty Enterprises-owned Applebee's in New Jersey, which is running the contest. (See the complete list of participating locations below.)

At the conclusion of the judging process this spring, eight teachers from New Jersey will be awarded a $500 sponsorship check to support their classrooms for the 2025-2026 school year. Winning teachers will also have the opportunity to host a celebratory end-of-the-year party at Applebee's in June.

Students in elementary, middle and high school are asked to participate. Elementary school students are asked to write a half-page essay, while middle and high school students are required to submit a 500-word essay explaining why their teacher is most deserving of this honor. Essays can be handwritten or typed.

As a bonus, all students who enter will receive a free ice cream certificate to enjoy on a future visit.

Entries must come from students who attend school in the following New Jersey counties only: Passaic, Bergen, Hudson, Sussex, Essex, Morris, Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean.

Each student is allowed one essay submission, which will be accepted at participating Applebee's restaurants from January 6 - March 16, with a firm deadline of 10 p.m. ET on March 16 (a Sunday).

Winners will be announced on April 18, and the class celebrations will take place in June. If circumstances prevent the parties, they will be replaced with two Free-Dinner-for-Four certificates for the student who wrote the winning essay.

This is now the ninth year Doherty-owned Applebee's in New Jersey is holding the contest. The panel of judges typically consists of Doherty's NJ leadership team.

"We are delighted to launch our ninth annual 'Above and BEEYond Teacher Essay Contest' at our New Jersey Applebee’s locations," said Kevin Coughlin, operations director for Doherty Enterprises. "It's a privilege to honor the dedication and hard work of local educators who inspire and guide their students every day. Providing students with the chance to express their gratitude and shine a spotlight on these outstanding teachers is incredibly fulfilling."

Here are all the participating Applebee's owned and operated by Doherty Enterprises:

• Brick
• Bridgewater
• Butler
• Clark
• Clifton
• Edison
• Garfield
• Hackensack
• Hackettstown
• Hillsborough
• Howell
• Jersey City
• Jersey Gardens
• Kearny
• Lacey
• Linden
• Manahawkin
• Manalapan
• Manchester
• Middletown
• Milltown
• Mt. Olive
• Newark
• Newton
• North Bergen
• Ocean
• Paramus
• Parsippany
• Phillipsburg
• Piscataway
• Rockaway
• Tinton Falls
• Totowa
• Union

Winners will be announced on April 18, and the class celebrations will take place in June. Eight New Jersey teachers will be named as winners.