Golden Apple Foundation News:
The Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a leading nonprofit committed to preparing, supporting, and mentoring aspiring teachers, is accepting applications for the New Mexico Scholars program through April 1.
Scholars will receive extensive classroom teaching experience, instruction from award-winning New Mexico educators, job placement assistance upon graduation from college, a stipend, and mentoring throughout their journey. The Scholars Program creates a new pipeline of great teachers to help address both the teacher shortage and supporting those to return to their communities to teach.
“New Mexico is making headway in addressing the teacher shortage, but now is not the time to let our foot off the gas,” said Alan Mather, President of The Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. “Our first cohort of Scholars in New Mexico is already making progress toward entering classrooms of need, and we look forward to seeing the aspiring educators who apply for this second cohort. Great teachers are built from extensive education, experience, and support, and we are grateful to be able to provide that through our Scholars Program here in New Mexico.”
Golden Apple believes in the importance of preparing future educators who mirror the experiences of the students they will eventually serve. 82 percent of Golden Apple Scholars stay in the profession for more than five years, a higher retention rate than any other teaching preparation program. If teachers are recruited from the community and teach in the community, then they are more likely to stay and help the community through quality education.
“As a former school and district administrator, and in my current role, the Golden Apple Scholars program is a wonderful opportunity for our school districts in New Mexico to grow and develop their own teachers supported by amazing Golden Apple mentors and programming,” said Bobbie Gutierrez, New Mexico Regional Education Cooperative Association Executive Director.
The inaugural cohort represented the geographical diversity of the state, coming from rural and metro areas, as well as a broad spectrum of age and community origins.
“I feel really inspired and more motivated because of the support and mentorship from Golden Apple,” said Erick Olivas, Golden Apple Scholar from Western New Mexico University. “I’m now more confident and more motivated to become a teacher, especially to go back and teach in the community that I’m from.”
New Mexico residents who are high school seniors, freshmen or sophomores in college, or enrolled in community college are eligible to apply now at www.goldenapple.org/scholars-
