Committee Members

The CYRM program is sponsored by four statewide organizations committed to books and reading. A committee of representatives from each organization coordinates CYRM activities at the state level. The committee develops a promotional packet about the program and provides all the materials needed for participation. These materials include the ballots, nomination forms, and nominee lists. 

Committee members are responsible for locating and borrowing books from the reading list; publishers do not send books to Committee members.

Thinking of becoming a member? Download the application here.

California YOUNG READER MEDAL COMMITTEE

Melanie Miller - CYRM Co-Administrator

• 2019-Present: CYRM Co-Administrator

• 2013-2020: CRA Secretary/Area Director/CYRM committee; retired literacy coach in the San Ysidro School District

• Email: meljeanmiller@gmail.com

Christopher Fluetsch - CYRM Co-Administrator

• 2024-Present: CYRM Co-Administrator

• 2021-2024: Teacher and librarian at Willett Elementary of Davis Joint Unified School District

• Email: cfluetsch@djusd.net

Janet Wile - Administrator Emeritus

• Email: jwile@centralunified.org

CALIFORNIA READING ASSOCIATION (CRA)

Dori Caldwell

• 2021-Present: Retired 3rd/4th grade teacher at Sunnyside School in the Chula Vista Elementary School District

• Current tutor

• Email: doricaldwell@gmail.com

Carly Humphrey

• 2023-Present: Reading Specialist 3-5 in the South San Francisco Unified School District

• Email: carlylynne.humphrey@gmail.com

Valaree Kinkaid

• 2021-Present: Retired elementary teacher

• Bakersfield Unified School District

• Email: valareekincaid@gmail.com

Katie Felstein

• 2024-Present: Retired classified librarian

• Endeavor Elementary, Bakersfield

• Email: feldymom@yahoo.com

California Association of Teachers of English (CATE)

Mary Beth Barber

• 2023-Present: Manager of COMPASS, the California K-12 Online Resources program at California State Library

• Email: Marybeth.barber@library.ca.gov

Shraddha kapadia

• Teacher librarian in the Los Angeles Unified School District

• Email: Shraddha.Kapadia@lausd.net

Christopher Fluetsch

• 2021-Present: Teacher library, Willett Elementary, Davis Unified School District

• Email: cfluetsch@djusd.net

California Library Association (CLA)

Rachel Hughes

• 2023-Present: Librarian at Northside Library Branch in Santa Clara

• Email: rahughes888@gmail.com

amy mockowski

• 2022-Present: Librarian at Contra Costa County Library

• Email: Amy.mockoski@library.cccounty.us

elayne pedley

• 2022-Present: Community Library Manager at Dougherty Station Library (San Ramon)

• Email: Elayne.pedley@library.cccounty.us

California School Library Association (CSLA)

Tamara Celi

• 2023-Present: Teacher Librarian at Sutter Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District

• Email: tjhfrog@yahoo.com

Gabriela Gualano

• 2022-Present: Middle school Teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District

• Email: Gabriela.gualano@gmail.com

debbie gibbons

• 2024-Present: District Teacher Librarian in the Oakland Unified School District

• Email: mrsg@gibbonscentral.com, deborah.gibbons@ousd.org