Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico

💛 “Waves Behavioral Health is honored to partner with the GAFNM to support our incredible educators!” – Rebecca Sonnenberg, LCSW, CEO.
Access free, confidential counseling through The Core Connection here: goldenapplenm.org/teachers/resources
#GoldenAppleNM #TeacherWellness

🎃🍎 Happy Halloween from the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico! 👻
Classrooms may be full of tricks and treats today, but every day NM teachers spark curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning. ✨
Wishing everyone a fun, safe, and spooky Halloween! 💛
#GoldenAppleNM #HappyHalloween

Nominate | Golden Apple Foundation Of New Mexico Watch our video to see how to Nominate and Apply for the Golden Apple Award! https://youtu.be/DU38pJMnkic

🍎✨ Know an elementary teacher who inspires and makes learning shine? The deadline is fast approaching! Nominate them for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching today! 💛
👉 goldenapplenm.org/awards/nominate-apply
#GoldenAppleNM #ThankATeacher

🌱 Watch Them Grow Wednesday 🌱
Sierra Beverly, a 9th-grade teacher at Los Lunas High School and "From Seeds to Golden Apples" Micro-Grant recipient, is growing her skills and inspiring students across NM! 🍎✨
Apply today: goldenapplenm.org/teachers/grants-scholarships/
#GoldenAppleNM #TeacherSupport

🌟 Today is National Mentoring Day! 🌟
Mentorship is at the heart of what we do at the Golden Apple Foundation of NM.
Don’t miss our free virtual course for new teachers, led by 2025 Fellow Mary Kershaw!
📅 Nov 8 | 12–1:30 PM | Online
👉 Register: forms.gle/qX2m1Bz2LpoJ...
#NationalMentoringDay

🎶 It’s #FellowsFriday! Check out Randy Martin (2015 GAFNM Fellow), Social Studies teacher at La Cueva HS and banjo player for The Kipsies, named Top Musical Artist by NM Entertainment Magazine. Their new single “Softly” is out now! 🎵
👉 www.krqe.com/video/award-...

🍎✨ #ThrowbackThursday Reflections ✨
We’re still glowing from our 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award Tribute Luncheon! 💛
A day of inspiration, gratitude, and celebration honoring the incredible educators who make New Mexico classrooms shine. 🌟
#GoldenAppleNM #TributeToTeaching

You’ve heard their stories and seen their passion. These are some of the inspiring educators of the “From Seeds to Golden Apples” Micro-Grant Program! 🍎
Thanks to the Lange Family Foundation, early-career teachers are growing and thriving across NM!
👉 goldenapplenm.org/teachers/grants-scholarships/

Writing Contest Para ver la página web del Concurso de Escritura en español, haga clic aquí.

🌿 Collaboration is Key! 🌿 The Leopold Writing Program is accepting submissions for the 2026 Aldo Leopold Writing Contest! NM students in grades 6–12 can share essays on lessons learned from nature. 🌎✏️ Submit here: www.leopoldwritingprogram.org/writing-cont...
#WritingContest #GoldenAppleNM

🍎✨ Celebrate the incredible elementary teachers who make NM classrooms shine! 🌟 Nominate an outstanding educator for the 2026 Golden Apple Award by Nov 8, 2025.
👉 goldenapplenm.org/awards/nominate-apply
#GoldenAppleNM #ThankATeacher #InspireLearning

🍎 #FellowsFotoFriday Spotlight!
Golden Apple Fellow & 2025 Awardee Mary Kershaw is leading a free virtual course for new & Level 1 teachers!

📅 Nov 8 | 12–1:30 PM | Online
👉 Register here: forms.gle/qX2m1Bz2LpoJ...

🍎 October is National Apple Month!
At the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico, we celebrate growth, knowledge, and the incredible educators who plant the seeds of learning every day.
Join us in honoring the teachers who make New Mexico shine! 💛
#GoldenAppleNM

🌱 Watch Them Grow Wednesday 🌱
Meet Amanda Montoya, 4th grade teacher at Pecos Elementary and a From Seeds to Golden Apples Micro-Grant recipient! “I am so grateful for this award. It will help me gain great tools and resources for my classroom.”
goldenapplenm.org/teachers/grants-scholarships/

It’s always inspiring to see our Teachers of Distinction and Fellows in action! 🎶Miguel Jaramillo, a 2025 Teacher of Distinction, is the Choir and Music Teacher at Lincoln Middle School in Rio Rancho, and has spent over a decade helping students find their voice through music.🍎

🌱 Watch Them Grow Wednesday! Spotlight on Erick Hernandez Montanez, a Golden Apple Micro-Grant recipient at Native American Community Academy. “Thanks to GAFNM, I finished my final micro-credential for my Level 2 license.” 💛 New teacher? Apply: goldenapplenm.org/teachers/gra...

🌍✨ It’s World Space Week! 🚀 New Mexico educators inspire the next generation of explorers, scientists, and dreamers to reach for the stars through STEM, creativity, and curiosity. Here’s to the educators who make the universe feel within reach! 💛🍎
#WorldSpaceWeek #GoldenAppleNM

Teachers give so much and support is here for them. 💛 The Core Connection offers confidential, flexible, and culturally responsive counseling for educators across NM. Stronger teachers mean stronger schools and communities. 🍎
👉 goldenapplenm.org/teachers/res...

📢 Golden Apple NM presents the New Teacher Collaborative: Create & Cultivate a Student-Led Classroom 🌟 Led by 2025 Awardee Mary Kershaw.
📅 Sat, Nov 8 | 12–1:30 PM | Online
👉 Register: forms.gle/qX2m1Bz2LpoJ...
✨ Thanks to Intel for sponsoring!
#GoldenAppleNM #NewTeacherSupport #EducationMatters

🌱 Watch Them Grow Wednesday 🌱 Meet Annabelle Vigil, a Golden Apple Micro-Grant recipient at Pablo Roybal Elementary! 💛 Thank you, Annabelle, for your dedication to students. Learn more about our Micro-Grant Program: 👉 goldenapplenm.org/teachers/gra...
#WatchThemGrowWednesday #GoldenAppleNM

Had a fantastic time at the Grant Readiness Workshop with Groundworks NM! Grateful to connect with fundraisers, friends & presenters from NM DFA, Senators Heinrich & Luján’s offices, SWNM COG & The Grant Plant. 🌟🍎✨ #GoldenAppleNM #GroundworksNM #CommunityImpact

Had the pleasure of visiting Chris Chakeres, one of this year’s Teachers of Distinction, at Santa Fe Prep on a perfect New Mexico fall day! 🍂 With 23+ years in education, Chris continues to inspire. Congrats again, Chris! 🍎✨
#GoldenAppleNM #TeacherOfDistinction #NewMexicoEducators

Honored to join the 82nd Annual Convention of the NM Assoc. of Educational Retirees in Santa Fe! 🎉 Grateful to the City Different Retired Educators for your hospitality & to all who continue inspiring, supporting, & strengthening education across NM. 🍎✨💛 #NMAER #GoldenAppleNM

🍎✨ Know an elementary school superstar? 🌟 Nominations for the 2026 Golden Apple Award are OPEN! Deadline: Nov 8, 2025. ✅ Full-time ✅ 6+ yrs teaching (4 in NM) ✅ Elementary classroom. Nominate here: goldenapplenm.org/awards/nomin... #GoldenAppleNM

GAFNM is proud to launch The Core Connection, expanding access to counseling for NM teachers. With trusted partners, we’re ensuring every educator has confidential, culturally responsive support. 💛🍎 Learn more: goldenapplenm.org/teachers/res...

The 29th Tribute to Teaching Excellence Luncheon was a success thanks to our sponsors, Fellows, partners, and friends! We honored 5 new Fellows and 3 Teachers of Distinction and shared exciting news about programs and initiatives shaping education in New Mexico.

🌱 Watch Them Grow Wednesday 🌱 Meet Karina Arvizu Acosta, 2nd-year Culinary Arts teacher at Albuquerque HS. Inspired by her own mentors, she’s building hands-on opportunities for students with support from our Micro-Grant Program! 👉 goldenapplenm.org/teachers/gra... #GoldenAppleNM

🌱 Watch Them Grow Wednesday 🌱 Meet Rachel Pacheco-Duran, teacher at Del Norte HS. She shared, “I am truly grateful for this grant, which allowed me to enroll in APL Level Up classes that enhanced my teaching strategies, technology use, and classroom management.” #GoldenAppleNM

Thank you to NMPED, LANL Foundation, LESC, and WestEd for hosting the Albuquerque community session on the Martinez/Yazzie Action Plan. Inspiring to join educators, parents, and community leaders working for equity, strong teachers, and meaningful learning in NM. #EducationNM #EquityInEducation

Since February, Golden Apple NM has supported new teachers through the From Seeds to Golden Apples Micro-Grant Program, easing financial barriers and fostering community. Apply today: goldenapplenm.org/teachers/gra... #NewTeachers #TeachersMatter #EducationNM #InvestInTeachers

✨ Less than a month away! ✨ We met with Board President Amanda Reyes, AVP Financial Wellbeing at Nusenda, to finalize details for the Sept 13 Golden Apple Tribute Luncheon honoring amazing middle school educators. 🍏 Learn more: goldenapplenm.org/awards/events/