Dh and I are both educators - over the years we have collected quite a few holiday gifts. I agree that heartfelt notes are the best...especially from FORMER students! Nothing is more validating as a teacher than hearing from students who have grown up, graduated, moved on...and still appreciate you! Other gifts that stand out include books, homemade items, holiday treats, student artwork....dh has a framed pencil sketch hanging in his office of our family (in stick figures) by a then 2nd grader who is now in middle school 
I think that pricey gifts can be tacky, and often have strings attached. Some schools prohibit teachers from accepting gifts above a set price to try to avoid this.
As a parent, dd (in preschool) and I do a craft together (this year small beeswax ornaments), we write a nice note, and this time we included a small gift certficate to a coffee shop near the school where I know her teachers often stop before work.
I think that pricey gifts can be tacky, and often have strings attached. Some schools prohibit teachers from accepting gifts above a set price to try to avoid this.As a parent, dd (in preschool) and I do a craft together (this year small beeswax ornaments), we write a nice note, and this time we included a small gift certficate to a coffee shop near the school where I know her teachers often stop before work.
