Who’s Behind the Mask? Montgomery Knolls Students Solve a Reading Mystery

What do a squirrel, a poodle, a llama and a lizard have in common? At Montgomery Knolls Elementary School, they were the mystery readers behind The Montgomery Knolls Masked Reader, a reading challenge that gets the students ready for summer reading. 

Now in its third year, The Montgomery Knolls Masked Reader, inspired by The Masked Singer, has become an engaging way to energize the school's Summer Reading Kickoff. In each video, a masked staff member reads a children's book while dropping clues about their identity. Students watch the episodes, collect clues, interview staff members and submit their best guesses before the mystery is revealed.

The idea came to reading specialist Morgan Sapp after seeing another school create its own version of The Masked Singer. She envisioned putting a literacy twist on the concept, complete with costumes, clues and plenty of puns. When first grade teacher Sarah Krandle offered to enlist her husband, Bryan Krandle, who films professionally for the Baltimore Ravens, the project quickly grew into something much bigger.

"As students were walking out of the first Reveal Assembly, teachers and students were already asking if we could do it again the next year," Sapp said. "When students came back in August asking, 'Hi, Masked Reader Lady! When will we get a new episode?' I knew I couldn't let it end."

Each year, the excitement begins with a trailer shown during the school's Summer Reading Kickoff Assembly in May. New episodes are released throughout the final weeks of school. The school librarian selects books that reflect Montgomery Knolls' diverse student community while offering subtle clues about each mystery reader. Students submit their guesses at a voting station in the library, while the art teacher creates displays inspired by the featured stories and characters. Hallway conversations quickly turn into detective work as students compare notes and graphic organizers, question staff members and search for clues.

"It's really cool to see the skills that students use during Masked Reader season," Sapp said. "Some of our youngest students become little journalists, interviewing staff using the clues they learned. Others turn into detectives, noticing the smallest details, like a watch someone wore during an episode. Even quieter students branch out and talk to teachers or paraeducators they maybe haven't had a conversation with before."

The season concludes with a Reveal Assembly, where the mystery readers emerge one by one in full costume before dramatically removing their masks to the cheers of students and staff. The celebration has become one of the most anticipated events of the school year, complete with applause, high-fives and even memorable surprises, including one reader whose tossed mask landed perfectly in the gym's basketball hoop.

For Sapp, the event is about much more than guessing who's behind the mask. 

"It pushes me out of my comfort zone," Sapp said, "but it makes people happy and allows me to flex my creative muscles."

The program encourages students to practice close observation, make guesses, ask thoughtful questions and engage in conversations with classmates and staff, all while building excitement around reading.