Frequently Asked Questions

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 is up to a $1,000.00 grant from the Sacramento Mountains Foundation to an individual teacher for use in the teacher’s classroom. While we also support school- and district-wide projects, each TeachOtero Grant is for use by a single teacher in his or her classroom. The grant can be used for equipment, supplies or enrichment activities. The Sacramento Mountains Foundation recognizes that teachers often support these projects from their own pockets and we wish assist in this regard. Depending on the circumstances, the Sacramento Mountains Foundation may either provide the materials requested directly to the teacher or may provide the teach with a direct payment conditioned on the teacher’s providing receipts.

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 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. 

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.

Please complete the Application. The Deadline for applying is Friday, May 31, 2024.

Please contact the Sacramento Mountains Foundation at [email protected] or call (575) 479-7435