PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Dr. Melaney Sanchez, a teacher librarian at Mount Harmony Elementary School in Calvert County Public Schools, has been selected as one of 100 educators nationwide to participate in the inaugural “We the Teachers: Preparing the Next Generation Through History & Civics” national fellowship program at William & Mary.
The program, led by William & Mary’s Strategic Cultural Partnerships division in partnership with the National Council for History Education, is funded by a $2.89 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. It is the largest such award to a Virginia institution under the American History and Civics Education National Activities program. The initiative aligns with the nation’s 250th anniversary and aims to strengthen K-12 history and civics education through evidence-based pedagogy and classroom resources.
Sanchez will attend the Congress of Educators, a four-day residential institute scheduled for July 2026 in the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. The immersive experience includes primary source analysis, historical inquiry, civil dialogue and evidence-based argumentation at sites tied to America’s founding.
Mark Hofer, executive director of Strategic Cultural Partnerships and professor in the William & Mary School of Education, said, “Welcoming 100 teachers from across the nation to the Historic Triangle is a remarkable opportunity. 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.”
Hofer added, “This intensive professional development experience will change teachers, and through them, how their students understand who we are as a nation — and who we will become.”
Jessica Ellison, executive director of the National Council for History Education, stated, “The National Council for History Education’s mission is to champion history education and uplift history education professionals. 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.”
Fellows will receive professional video recordings, facilitator guides and classroom resources to establish local professional learning communities. The program targets at least 100 such communities nationwide, each involving 15 or more educators. Participants also gain early access to free on-demand microcourses and digital credentials through the “Educating for the 250th” microcredential pathway on the lilyPD platform.
Hofer noted, “lilyPD is how We the Teachers reaches the teacher who couldn’t come to Williamsburg. It’s the infrastructure that turns a fellowship into a movement.”
Dr. Sanchez has more than 28 years of experience in Calvert County Public Schools. At Mount Harmony Elementary, she integrates civics and American history across the curriculum. Students there recite the phrase, “History shapes us—how will we shape history,” reflecting her emphasis on active participation in democracy.
Sanchez said, “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, superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools, said, “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.”
The fellowship builds on Sanchez’s prior work, including organizing large-scale history events at Mount Harmony Elementary that engaged students with National Park Service rangers and brought American history to life through hands-on projects.
Calvert County Public Schools serves students in Southern Maryland, where educators like Sanchez help connect local learners to national civic traditions. The selection of a Calvert County teacher among only 100 delegates from all 50 states underscores the district’s commitment to high-quality professional development in history and civics education.
The program will equip participants to return to their schools and share resources that strengthen student understanding of founding principles and civic responsibility.
