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TeachOtero is an initiative of the Sacramento Mountains Foundation. The Sacramento Mountains Foundation is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation that was formed with the proceeds of the sale of Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center to CHRISTUS Health. The purpose and mission of the Sacramento Mountains Foundation is to improve the lives and health of the residents of Otero County and our TeachOtero initiative accomplishes this by awarding grants that empower our educators to guide, shape and improve the lives of Otero County’s students. We partner with our educators and schools to help shape our future leaders.
A TeachOtero Grant provides up to $1,000 from the Sacramento Mountains Foundation to area schools specifically recognizing and benefiting individual teachers. While we support broader school and district initiatives, each TeachOtero Grant though technically awarded to the school, is designated for one teacher’s classroom use. Funds may be applied toward equipment, supplies, or enrichment activities that would otherwise come from teachers’ personal finances. Typically, the Foundation delivers requested materials directly to the school (addressed to the specific teacher). In special circumstances, we may provide direct payment to the teacher with the requirement that receipts be submitted afterward.
What Can TeachOtero Grants Be Used for?
A TeachOtero Grant may be used for equipment, supplies or enrichment activities for an individual teacher’s classroom that benefit the students. TeachOtero Grants will not be awarded to send individual teachers or students to contests, competitions or conferences. While we believe in supporting the development of our teachers, TeachOtero Grants may not be used for professional development activities that only involve the educator.
How Will TeachOtero Grants Be Awarded?
TeachOtero Grants will be awarded by a committee comprised of educators and Sacramento Mountains Foundation board members. Grants will be awarded based on competitive applications submitted by teachers who teach in Otero County public and private schools. These applications will be judged anonymously so our committee will not know to whom they are awarding grants. We anticipate that this will be a very competitive process, that not all applicants will be awarded a grant, and that while some grants will be for the maximum amount of $1,000 other grants will be for lesser amounts. Each Otero County educator may apply for only one TeachOtero Grant each school year.
The educational materials requested in your grant application will be sent to your school during the first week of the 2025-2026 school year. They will be addressed to your school in care of you.
Please complete the Application. The Deadline for applying is Friday, May 16, 2025. When filling out the application we will ask for a link to an Amazon Wish List or for other specifics about the materials you are requesting. It will be handy to have that Wish List completed when applying.
Please contact the Sacramento Mountains Foundation at [email protected] or call (575) 479-7435
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