DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A new $1 million education fund is coming to the Gadsden Independent School District, aimed at giving teachers and school leaders more resources to help students across Doña Ana County learn.
On Monday, Oracle, the company behind Project Jupiter, an AI data center currently under construction in Santa Teresa, said it is establishing the fund to support Gadsden ISD educators as the district responds to evolving needs.
“Every school and every classroom has unique opportunities and challenges,” said Nubia Tarazona, superintendent of Gadsden Independent School District. “This fund gives our educators and school leaders the flexibility to invest in the ideas, programs, training, and resources that will have the greatest positive impact for our students. We look forward to partnering with Oracle and the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico in advancing education across our district.”
According to Gadsden ISD, through the fund, teachers, schools, and district leaders will be able to apply for grants supporting professional development, teacher fellowships and stipends, classroom initiatives, school- and districtwide programs, and other priorities identified by the district. Oracle said grants will be awarded throughout the year.
In a statement to KFOX14/CBS4 on Monday, Gadsden ISD said the fund helps create room for a variety of initiatives, including:
Classroom innovation — grants that help teachers bring new ideas, materials and instructional approaches into their classrooms.Professional growth — teacher-designed fellowships for professional development and learning.Advanced credentials — scholarships for educators pursuing advanced degrees and credentials.Special projects — stipends for educator-led projects, including potential collaboration with Oracle Academy.Recognition for educators who lead school and district initiatives beyond their standard duties.Flexible support for the district’s most pressing priorities.
“Every one of these areas reaches students through the teachers who lead their classrooms, the programs their schools offer, and the opportunities that follow,” Gadsden ISD said.
Additionally, the fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, which will convene a review committee that includes district representatives to evaluate applications submitted by educators, schools, and the district.
Terra V. Winter, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, said the foundation will serve as the steward of the fund and help connect the investment to local needs.
“Strong communities are built when local partners come together around a shared purpose,” Winter said. “As the steward of this fund, we’re proud to connect Oracle’s investment with the educators and schools that know their communities best. Together, we can ensure these resources help meet local needs and create lasting opportunities for students across Gadsden Independent School District.”
Oracle said the education fund is part of its ongoing investment in Doña Ana County and southern New Mexico, alongside initiatives that include Oracle Academy, workforce development and other community efforts.
“Education creates opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom,” said Colleen Cassity, global head of Social Impact at Oracle. “When we invest in educators and students, we’re investing in the future of a community and of humanity. We’re proud to partner with Gadsden Independent School District and the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico to create opportunities that will benefit students, families, and future generations.”
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