OCEAN PINES, Md. — Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) is pleased to announce the top three finalists for the 2025-2026 Maryland School Librarian of the Year award, which honors a school librarian for exemplary service and outstanding achievements in the field of school library media. The final award announcement will coincide with the biannual MASL Conference, which will be held in Berlin, Maryland, on Oct. 16, 2026.
The 10 candidates were evaluated by a selection committee comprised of representatives from MASL, University of Maryland College Park, current and retired library media specialists based on the extent to which they show leadership and add value in their role and in the community, and how they would use the role of being School Librarian of the Year to advance libraries.
Candidates completed a one-minute video, submitted artifacts, and created conference proposals for the October 2026 MASL Conference. From these 10 finalists, the top three finalists below were chosen (this list is in alphabetical order by last name).
- Theresa Bruce, KIPP Harmony Academy, Baltimore City
- Heather Green, Elkridge Elementary School, Howard County
- Melaney Sanchez, Mt. Harmony Elementary School, Calvert County
Theresa Bruce is a champion of student voice and educational equity. A native West Baltimorean, she is a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (2005) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2009). After earning a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago (2011), she knew there would be no better place to advocate for youth than her hometown. Her City Schools career began teaching eighth-grade Social Studies. Currently, she is the inaugural Library Media Specialist within her school community where she infuses student voice, cultural relevancy and advocacy into her lessons.
Some of her more recent accomplishments include serving as a Baltimore City Public Schools Teacher of the Year Finalist (2020), MASL session facilitator (2024), and poster presenter at ALA (2025). She also serves as a member of the Baltimore City Mayoral Trauma Informed Care Task Force, supporting local government agencies in operating through a trauma informed lens.
Heather Green is a dedicated Library Media Specialist within the Howard County Public School System, also bringing experience from her previous tenure in Baltimore. She earned her Master’s degree in School Library Media from McDaniel College and holds an Admin I certification.
Demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence, she is currently pursuing National Board certification in Library Media.
Beyond the library, Heather is a key contributor to curriculum development, designing robust and engaging units aligned with American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards. She is driven by a profound passion for student literacy and specializes in connecting young readers with books they truly enjoy. Through her collaborative spirit and instructional expertise, Heather continues to shape vibrant library programs that empower students and foster a lifelong love of reading.
Dr. Melaney Michael Sánchez is a civic-minded school librarian at Mt. Harmony Elementary who champions inquiry-driven learning and designs experiences that blend literacy, history, STEAM, and student voice. Guided by her belief that “teaching is heart work,” she works to ensure equitable access to information while empowering students to become curious researchers, critical thinkers, and engaged citizens.
Her work has earned national recognition, including the Jack Miller Center Teaching America250 Award, SMECO STEM Teacher, AASL National School Library Program of the Year, The Washington Post Teacher of the Year, and Calvert County Teacher of the Year. She has shared her practice with NCSS, the National Park Service at the National Mall, the National Mall Trust, Common Ground on the Hill, MASL, and the Future Ready “Leading from the Library” podcast. She is currently a We the Teachers Fellow and a National Geographic Grosvenor Fellow.
