It's the end of an era for Sesame Street: Sonia Manzano—Maria for more than four decades—is retiring from the beloved children's program.

News of Manzano's departure arrived in the form of a tweet by the American Libararies Association, after she appeared at their annual conference earlier this week.

"After 45 years on Sesame Street, @SoniaMManzano will no longer appear on the next season," the tweet reads.

"Sonia Manzano has announced her retirement from Sesame Street, but she will always be a part of the fabric of our neighborhood," Sesame Workshop said in a statement. "During her 44-year career as the iconic 'Maria,' and the first leading Latina woman on television, she was a role model for young girls and women for generations. Sonia's talents on Sesame Street extend beyond her groundbreaking role on camera; she also earned 15 Emmy awards as a member of Sesame Street's writing team. We'll always be grateful for her many years on Sesame Street as a champion of diversity and helping millions of kids grow up smarter, stronger and kinder."