PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County Public Schools is pleased to announce that Dr. Melaney Sanchez, a teacher librarian at Mount Harmony Elementary, has been selected as a delegate to the We the Teachers: Preparing the Next Generation Through History & Civics national fellowship program at William & Mary.
Led by W&M’s Strategic Cultural Partnerships division and undertaken in partnership with the National Council for History Education (NCHE), the program is funded by a $2.89 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education — the largest such award to a Virginia institution of higher learning under the American History and Civics Education National Activities program.
Timed to the nation’s 250th anniversary, We the Teachers reinforces the university’s national reputation for developing civic leadership and will equip teachers with evidence-based pedagogy to create stronger learning outcomes for students across the country.
“Welcoming 100 teachers from across the nation to the Historic Triangle is a remarkable opportunity,” said Mark Hofer, executive director of Strategic Cultural Partnerships and professor in the W&M School of Education. “These teacher-leaders will explore America’s founding where it happened — walking the same ground as the founders, grappling with the same questions — and prepare them to lead this work back in their home states.”
Sanchez is among 100 teacher delegates selected from all fifty states to attend the Congress of Educators, a four-day residential institute taking place in July 2026 across the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown.
“This intensive professional development experience will change teachers,” Hofer said, “and through them, how their students understand who we are as a nation — and who we will become.”
“The National Council for History Education’s mission is to champion history education and uplift history education professionals,” said Jessica Ellison, executive director of NCHE. “This We the Teachers program does exactly that! We can’t wait to convene these educators from across the country to learn with and from one another.”
Hosted at W&M and partner cultural institutions, the Congress will immerse delegates in primary source analysis, historical inquiry, civil dialogue and evidence-based argumentation — connecting America’s founding principles to classroom-ready practice.
Fellows will return to their schools equipped with professional video recordings, facilitator guides and classroom resources to launch local professional learning communities. The initiative aims to establish at least 100 such communities nationwide, each engaging 15 or more educators.
Delegates also receive early access to free, on-demand microcourses and digital credentials through the “Educating for the 250th” microcredential pathway, built on lilyPD, an innovative teacher professional development platform designed by Strategic Cultural Partnerships and launched for public beta in Spring 2026.
“lilyPD is how We the Teachers reaches the teacher who couldn’t come to Williamsburg,” said Hofer. “It’s the infrastructure that turns a fellowship into a movement.”
Dr. Sanchez explained, “My approach to teaching civics and American history is intentional, purposeful, and rooted in the belief that students must see themselves as active participants in our democracy. At Mount Harmony, students proudly and enthusiastically recite the phrase, ‘History shapes us—how will we shape history’ because American history is not confined to a unit of study; it is woven into lessons, conversations, and the very fabric of our school culture. This fellowship will provide a strong network of educators from across the nation who will enable me to polish my skills, strategies, and goals. This opportunity is not simply an honor. It is an investment in the future for our children.”
Dr. Marcus Newsome, CCPS Superintendent of Schools, shared, “Dr. Sanchez exemplifies the caliber of educator we strive to develop and support in Calvert County Public Schools. Her selection to the We the Teachers fellowship highlights the importance of investing in educators who lead thoughtful, evidence-based civic learning.”
About We the Teachers
We the Teachers: Preparing the Next Generation Through History & Civics is administered through the W&M’s Strategic Cultural Partnerships division in partnership with the National Council for History Education and supported by a three-year $2.89 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The program equips K–12 educators with deep content knowledge, evidence-based pedagogy and classroom-ready tools that connect America’s founding principles to civic life. Over three years, the program will convene 300 teacher delegates from all 50 states and reach thousands more through free online professional development. Learn more at wm.edu/scp.
About William & Mary
Founded by Royal Charter in 1693, William & Mary is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the country. The Alma Mater of the Nation is a preeminent university, combining the depth and breadth of a liberal arts and sciences education with the disciplined exploration and innovation of a leading, global research university. A vibrant and inclusive community, William & Mary cultivates creative thinkers, principled leaders and compassionate global citizens equipped for lives of meaning and distinction. As a “Public Ivy,” the university convenes great minds and hearts to meet the most pressing needs of our time.
About Strategic Cultural Partnerships
Strategic Cultural Partnerships catalyzes W&M’s cultural and historic resources to generate new knowledge and advance understanding. Through partnership we bridge divides and create common ground. SCP transcends the boundaries between past and present, scholarship and practice, and campus and community to illuminate our diverse stories and imagine our collective future.
About the National Council for History Education
The National Council for History Education (NCHE) promotes historical literacy by encouraging and creating opportunities for teachers and students to benefit from more history, better taught.
About CCPS:
Calvert County Public Schools is a top-performing school district in Maryland and serves approximately 15,000 students throughout Calvert County. The school district is composed of 12 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 4 high schools, the Career & Technology Academy, and the Calvert Country School. All CCPS schools are certified Maryland Green Schools. For more information, visit the district’s website at calvertnet.k12.md.us.