BENTONVILLE — Walmart announced Monday it intends to offer teachers nationwide 10 percent back on school supplies during its upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week.

Walmart officials and employees from the Bentonville Supercenter dropped in on an orientation session for Bentonville School District teachers to make the announcement. They also surprised those teachers with gift cards and shopping baskets full of school supplies for their classrooms.

Steve Bratspies, executive vice president of general merchandise for Walmart U.S., told the teachers the retailer works hard to serve teachers' needs and is committed to helping them as much as it can.

"But we realize that's not enough," Bratspies said.

Teachers in the United States spend an average of $1,000 preparing their classrooms for each new school year. About half of that money comes from their own pockets, Bratspies said.

Walmart's Teacher Appreciation Week is Friday through July 31. Teachers who buy school supplies at Walmart during that week will be eligible to receive gift cards equal to 10 percent of their purchases.