Originally posted in the Sustainable Libraries Initiative Newsletter on August 4, 2025. 

Name: Melissa A. King 

Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland 

Membership: SLCP School Librarian 

School librarian Melissa King fosters a love of learning about the environment in her students and helps them build environmental literacy skills through partnerships, immersive programming, and experiential learning. 

Originally joining the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP) to support the school's status as a Maryland Green School Melissa sponsors the Flower Hill Elementary School Green Team and introduces sustainability topics in fun and innovative ways. 

As part of the Green Team's work, her students conduct campus-cleanups; manage a pollinator garden; build and monitor bluebird boxes; monitor water samples from a neighborhood pond; harvest lettuce grown in their garden as part of the Nature Forward's Salad Science Program, combining the fresh greens with a rainbow of fruits and veggies, and having a Salad Party; among other learning activities. 

Hands-on, experiential learning opportunities create an atmosphere for her students to develop lifelong skills and love for the natural world. One notable program was the Emma and the Bees bilingual book walk from Syncretic Press in which Melissa set up in the school's courtyard. The book walk was donated to Montgomery County Public Schools Outdoor Education Department by Conservation Nation. To enhance the experience, Melissa also reached out to a local beekeeper that provided honey for tasting and some equipment to demonstrate beekeeping. 

Also important are the partnerships Melissa has formed with local organizations to bring additional resources to her students of all ages on the topics of nature, agriculture, wildlife, mindfulness, sustainability and energy conservation.