The Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico (GAFNM) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 1994 with a mission for recognizing excellent teachers and improving the quality of teaching.

Each year the GAFNM recognizes a small number of teachers from around New Mexico with the Golden Apple Award.  The selection of these teachers is made through a rigorous, comprehensive process that includes teams of evaluators making site visits to the teachers’ classrooms and their schools.  Golden Apple Award recipients receive a stipend, a generous professional development award, a computer system, and ongoing professional development through their membership as a Golden Apple Fellow in the elite Golden Apple Academy.

Golden Apple Fellows give back to the profession through the many ways, both formal and informal, in which they mentor and help prepare other teachers.  One significant way they give back is through teaching and mentoring aspiring teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars Program.  The Scholars Program provides an annual summer institute to college students preparing to become teachers in New Mexico schools, beginning with their first summer past high school graduation and continuing through to the summer before they begin their teaching careers.  The Scholars Program also provides mentoring and continuing professional development once the Scholars begin their teaching careers.