A teacher’s influence has a long-lasting impact on our youth in New Mexico; each educator they encounter shapes their students from cradle to career.
The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) is elevating the education profession, decreasing barriers to entry to the education profession, and working to fill teacher vacancies with highly qualified, well prepared educators through our multiple “on-ramps” to career support systems and the New Mexico Educator Ecosystem.
The NMPED is committed to lowering barriers to entry into the teacher workforce through free tuition, strong mentorships, higher salaries, and high-quality professional development. We need talented educators like you in our classrooms. Educators are invaluable assets. New Mexico’s students need highly-qualified educators who they can see themselves in –
NM STUDENTS NEED YOU.
On-Ramp 1: High School
Provides Early career opportunities to become interested and gain experience in the education sector.
- Near Peer Tutoring
- After School Tutoring and Clubs
- Community Partners: Educators Rising, Golden Apple Scholars, Future Focused Ed., Youth Apprenticeship
- Dual Credit Pathways to College and Teaching
On-Ramp 2: Undergraduate Degrees
Is focused on traditional track Associates and Bachelors degree candidates – Currently, through Educator Fellows, our primary grow-your-own recruitment program – candidates can get tuition free degrees, mentorship and coaching while also receiving salary and benefits. There are also opportunities that exist as just heard for candidates to get support from Golden Apple Scholars.
- Tuition free degree in Education
- Ed. Fellows: EA salary and benefits while working toward degree
- Golden Apple Scholars
- Student Teaching / Paid Residency Apprenticeship
On-Ramp 3: Graduate Degrees
Focuses on graduate students and provides the same opportunities that exist for our Associate and Bachelor degree seekers.
- Tuition support
- Ed. Fellows: EA salary and benefits while working toward degree
- Golden Apple Scholars
- Student Teaching / Paid Residency Apprenticeship
On-Ramp 4: Career Changers & Alternative Candidates
Focuses on providing high quality preparation entry points to ALT candidates- ALT candidates currently make up over 60% of our completers and we are working hard with our program providers to ensure these candidates have the same opportunity for high-quality preparation as our traditional route candidates. Some ALT programs have already modified their program models to support Residency experiences for their candidates.
- Tuition support
- Ed. Fellows: EA salary and benefits while working toward degree
- Golden Apple Scholars
- Student Teaching / Paid Residency Apprenticeship
New Mexico is a great place to teach, and we need great teachers!
Discover a fulfilling teaching career in New Mexico with higher salaries, smaller class sizes, and a strong commitment to educational equity. Benefit from financial incentives like loan forgiveness and tuition-free education, while experiencing a vibrant, diverse community and innovative educational approaches. Enjoy an affordable lifestyle in a state known for its great climate and abundant outdoor opportunities.
Free Higher Education
Tuition-free college for New Mexicans
With the New Mexico Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, there are options for New Mexicans to pursue college and career training without worrying about the cost of tuition and fees.
Loan Repayment Programs
Embark on your journey to financial freedom with New Mexico’s tailored loan repayment programs for professionals like you. Whether you’re in healthcare, public service, education, youth work, or pursuing a doctoral degree as a minority candidate, our programs are designed to lighten your financial load, allowing you to focus on making a lasting impact in your field.
These unique opportunities help you pursue your career goals without the weight of student loan debt, all while contributing to a brighter future for New Mexico and securing your own financial well-being.
Increased Salary
Exciting news for educators in New Mexico! Starting in 2022, we’ve elevated our commitment to our teachers by significantly boosting starting salaries. Now, public school teachers begin their journey with a competitive salary of $50,000, Tier 2 minimum salaries have surged to $60,000, and Tier 3 teachers now enjoy a remarkable $70,000 starting salary.
But that’s not all – we’ve also increased employer contributions to the Educator Retirement Board fund, ensuring that your take-home pay is even higher. Learn more about these incredible opportunities at https://www.nmerb.org and explore the current salary tiers below:
Tier 1: $50,000 Tier 2: $60,000 Tier 3: $70,000
Professional Development
New Mexico believes in supporting teachers at all levels of their careers by providing high-quality professional development.
Explore an array of supports for educators at all levels and objectives—from culturally and linguistically responsive education to multi-layered systems of support and more.
Scholarship Opportunities
Preschool Teachers
I Am An Educational Assistant or Substitute Teacher
Educator Fellows
Educator Fellows is a two-year program for individuals with a high school diploma who are pursuing a degree in education. Fellows receive professional mentorship and coaching, full benefits, and a tuition-related stipend.
Grow Your Own Teacher Scholarship
The Grow Your Own Teacher Scholarship is a state-funded scholarship opportunity that supports Educational Assistants as they complete a teacher preparation program that results in a NM teaching license. The UNM College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) is a proud partner of this new scholarship opportunity.
I am a High School or College Student
Golden Apple Scholars
The Golden Apple Scholars Program in New Mexico is a teacher preparation program for high school seniors through sophomores in college. After applying and being selected, students receive mentoring from award-winning teaching faculty, academic and social-emotional support, job placement assistance, and experience teaching and leading in their own communities.
Educators Rising NM
Educators Rising guides young people on a path from middle/high school through college and into their teaching careers by working with aspiring educators who reflect the demographics of their communities. New Mexican Students are New Mexico’s next teachers – Pathways and Supports for Bilingual and Native Youth
Educator Fellows
Educator Fellows
is a two-year program for individuals with a high school diploma who are pursuing a degree in education. Fellows receive professional mentorship and coaching, full benefits, and a tuition-related stipend.
NMPED promotes and supports innovative teacher preparation programs that ensure the diversity of the teaching profession in New Mexico while filling high-need teaching positions in the state in approved teacher preparation programs at New Mexico public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges.
Scan QR Code for video to learn about
New Mexico Teacher Residency
Incentives for Special Education Teachers
Special Education Teacher Training (SETT) is a 15-month program that enables new teachers to co-teach with experienced teachers during their first semester of teaching while completing coursework for PreK-12 Specialty licensure.
- Earn Level-1 APS salary with full benefits
- Assistance in applying for grants/scholarships to pay for special education licensure and TESOL endorsement coursework
- Layered levels of support and mentorship for two years
- Guaranteed employment with successful completion of the program
I Am An Educational Assistant or Substitute Teacher
Alternative Licensure Candidates
If you have a degree, but not in education, here’s how to become a teacher:
The Alternative Licensure pathway is a great choice for those who completed a bachelor’s degree in a non-traditional teaching field and wish to fast-track into education. Use your experience and passion from other fields in the classroom, without having to return to college for a four-year teaching degree.
Pathways to alternative licensure:
Educator Prep Programs
- Earn your teaching license on a two-year fast track. Various Educator Prep Programs allow you to simultaneously earn your degree while teaching in the classroom. Find out more here.
- Find a Full List of Approved Educator Prep Programs Here
Join one of New Mexico's teacher residency programs!
Find the program that’s right for you and get prepared to make a difference.
I feel confident that I am going to walk in my first day [of teaching] and I look back to what I did in the residency program.
What Is a Teacher Residency?
Spend an intensive year in a classroom learning how to teach.
Receive a $35K stipend during your residency program.
Work alongside a mentor teacher dedicated to you.
Secure a teaching job in the district upon relocation.
A Day in the Life of a Teacher Resident
Partner with the Best
As a resident, you’re building meaningful relationships with your co-teacher, school leaders, and your students.
Learn from the Experts
As a student, you’ll get exposure to the most inclusive and impactful teaching methods at a local college or university.
Classroom Teaching
You’re paired with a mentor teacher and spend 405 days per week working alongside them in a local community school.
It's time to Love where you live
In New Mexico you’ll find not only a fulfilling profession but also a tapestry of cultural richness that will ignite your senses. Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions, savor the diverse cuisine, and celebrate the local festivals that make New Mexico a captivating place to live.
Are you ready to call New Mexico home?
Beyond the classroom, you’ll be surrounded by awe-inspiring landscapes, from the desert’s mystique to the mountain’s majesty. Ski in the winter, hike in the summer, and explore national parks year-round. The icing on the cake is the affordable cost of living, making it all possible.
Join us in New Mexico, where teaching meets adventure and culture for a truly enriching life experience.
Becoming a Teacher in New Mexico
Educators are some of the most important members of our society and thankfully, their work is finally beginning to be recognized for its significance.
Preschool Teachers: Learn More at NM ECECD
Embark on your journey to fulfill your calling as a teacher in New Mexico!
Take your first step towards this exciting career by filling out the form to get started today!