YPAR@EMS
A University of Vermont and Edmunds Middle School Collaborative Effort
Youth Participatory Action Research or YPAR is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development in which young people are trained to conduct systematic research to improve their lives, their communities, and the institutions intended to serve them. The YPAR team is collaborative effort of the University of Vermont and Edmunds Middle school students and teachers. YPAR is a process of learning and action – research is done not just for the sake of it but to inform solutions to problems that young people themselves care about. At Edmunds Middle School YPAR is used by students that want make a difference for our school community. We are committed to redress the marginalization experienced by students in our school community due to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, and other forms of oppression.
Liberation Work
School Board Proposal
Gender Liberation Event
Dress Code Change
Queer Liberation Education
2021 Impact Award from the American Educational Research Association
Black Live Matter Flag Raising
Anti-Racist Teaching Tool: Teacher Self-reflection on the Interpersonal, Cultural, and Curricular aspects of their teaching
2023-2024 8th Grade Team
Sheena Chifamba
Mae Dery
Britta Fitzgerald
Zola Wager
Habiba Siidi
Ace Rossi
Dona Bishula
Baylee Lefebvre
Alcina Maludi
Sofia Mendez
Leandro Rodriguez
Belise Umutoniwase
Aven Smith
Jeremy DeMink
Jeremy is a 7th/8th grade humanities teacher at Edmunds Middle School and a co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Jordan Funke
Jordan is a librarian and a co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Lindsay McQueen
Lindsey is a Health teacher at Edmunds Middle School and a co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Lizzy Clements
Lizzy is a Restorative Practices Specialist in Burlington Public Schools and the co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Dr. Jessica DeMink-Carthew
Jessica is professor at the University of Vermont and one of the founding members of the YPAR collective at Edmunds middle school.
2023-2024 7th Grade Team
Zackary Arnold
Maryan Awayle
Savi Baker
Orson Bush
Margaret Deforge
Sa Ja Ham
Batula Kassim
Kanchan Khadka
Esther Mickenberg
Isla Pearson
Cora Smith
Noah Spater
Jeremy DeMink
Jeremy is a 7th/8th grade humanities teacher at Edmunds Middle School and a co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Virginia Litchfield
Virgina is Restorative Practices Specialist in Burlington Public Schools and the co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Lindsay McQueen
Lindsey is a Health teacher at Edmunds Middle School and a co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Lizzy Clements
Lizzy is a Restorative Practices Specialist in Burlington Public Schools and the co-facilitator of the YPAR Collective.
Dr. Jessica DeMink-Carthew
Jessica is professor at the University of Vermont and one of the founding members of the YPAR collective at Edmunds middle school.
Dr. Lance Smith
Lance is a professor at the University of Vermont and one of the founding members of the YPAR collective at Edmunds middle school.
Team: School Wide Foundational Work