Each year, the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) names one school librarian as its School Librarian of the Year for exemplary service and achievements in the field. Nominees and finalists for the award are divided and categorized by each county in Maryland. This year, two Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) media specialists were honored — Karen Ferruzza of Arthur Middleton Elementary School and Jacob Gerding of Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School. Gerding was named one of the 15 finalists for the award.
Jacob Gerding
“When I was little, I wanted to be the president of the United States of America,” Gerding said. “I did not think about pursuing a career in education at all.” He has been a media specialist at Higdon for four years, starting his career as a media specialist in Prince George’s County in 2014. After graduating from McDaniel College, Gerding taught social studies for 10 years in Texas, New York and then Suitland. He eventually made his way to Charles County in 2015 as a media specialist, first at Berry Elementary School, then in his current role at Higdon.
Gerding said that being a media specialist fuses his main interests together, reading and technology. “This role gives me a lot of opportunities to be creative,” he said.
Gerding is the VEX Robotics coach at the school and has led his team in victory twice to the VEX World Championship in Dallas. “I like to bring big school opportunities to smaller schools where the opportunities may not be readily available,” he said.
When he was named a nominee for the MASL School Librarian of the Year Award, the first thing he did was post on Facebook. Gerding said that the post read something to the nature of “I don’t know who nominated me, but I needed it. So, thank you.”
Gerding was told that he would hear back in two weeks time to see if he was named a finalist for the award. After the estimated time had passed, he made up in his mind that he was not a finalist so he “let it go.” In week three he learned that he was named a finalist for the award. “I was not the ultimate winner, but it was a fantastic librarian who deserved it all the way from Montgomery County,” he said.
He received a plaque in honor of his success in being named a MASL Maryland School Librarian of the Year finalist.
Karen Ferruzza
Ferruzza has been the media specialist at Middleton for nearly 20 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Salisbury University and a master’s in technology for educators from Johns Hopkins University. She received a library certificate from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Before her career as a media specialist, Ferruzza was a teacher at Malcolm Elementary School in 1997, worked for an education software company and then became a teacher at Middleton teaching fifth grade. When the media specialist position opened at the school, “everyone said that I should fill the role,” Ferruzza said.
“I liked how technology was integrated with reading,” she said. “I enjoy watching the students at the school grow as a person and in their reading abilities.” When a student struggles with reading, Ferruzza is the one to give them hope to continue. She said to these students “You just haven’t found the right book yet.” She said that students need to find what interests them to help improve their reading abilities and desire to read.
When Ferruzza learned that she was named a nominee for the award she said she was “taken aback and surprised.” The reason why she is so passionate about her job is because of the students. “I would not be here every day if it wasn’t for them,” she said.
Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the United States, CCPS celebrates National School Library Week, April 23-29, 2023. The week encourages the importance of reading in schools and recognizes the unique contribution that media specialists have on students.
Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), National Library Week is April 23-29, 2023. Libraries across the United States and Charles County celebrate the week to recognize the opportunities that are provided to help others to read. CCPS school librarians are also recognized for their motivation and dedication to bring reading to students.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).