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

Christopher Fluetsch - CYRM Administrator

• 2024-Present: CYRM Administrator

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

• Email: cfluetsch@djusd.net

Dori Caldwell - CYRM ADMINISTRATOR

• 2024-Present: CYRM Administrator

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

• Current tutor

• Email: doricaldwell@gmail.com

Melanie Miller - Administrator Emeritus

• 2019-Present: CYRM Co-Administrator

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

Janet Wile - Administrator Emeritus

CALIFORNIA READING ASSOCIATION (CRA)

Katie Felstein

• 2024-Present: Retired classified librarian, Endeavor Elementary, Bakersfield

• Email: feldymom@yahoo.com

rene hohls

• 2025-Present

Paula Edwards

• 2026-Present

doree tschudy

• 2026-Present

• 2011-Present: Teacher Librarian at Duveneck Elementary, Palo Alto Unified School District

• Email: dtschudy@pausd.org

California Association of Teachers of English (CATE)

aimee korynta

• 2025-Present: District librarian, Folsom-Cordova Unified School District

• Email: akorynta@fcusd.org

Gabriela Gualano

• 2022-Present: Teacher Librarian at Paul Revere Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District

• Email: gabriela.gualano@lausd.net

Kimberly Athans (2026-Present)

• Former high school English teacher in San Marcos & Vista Unified School Districts

• Professor of Teacher Education & Children's Literature, Point Loma Nazarene University

• Email: kathans@pointloma.edu

California Library Association (CLA)

giovanna m. fleming

• 2025-Present: Teacher Librarian, Delta View Elementary, Mount Diablo Unified School District

• Email: flemingg@mdusd.org

stephanie mate

• 2025-Present: Branch manager, Orange County Public Libraries

Allison Bridgewater (2026-Present)

California School Library Association (CSLA)

debbie gibbons

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

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

paizley spencer

• 2025-Present: Teacher Librarian, Alameda Unified School District

richard winters (2026-Present)

• Coordinator of Library Services, Merced County Office of Education

• Email: rwinters@mcoe.org