Virtual Conference 2025
On May 29, 2025, we gathered virtually with educators from across Ohio to celebrate and showcase the powerful work of the SchYPAR Action Team at our virtual conference, Igniting Student Inquiry. The event brought together teachers, researchers, and advocates who are passionate about youth participatory action research (YPAR) and the transformative role student voice can play in classrooms, schools, and communities.
Throughout the school year, SchYPAR Action Team teachers have been integrating YPAR into their classrooms—creating spaces where students investigate issues that matter to them, analyze data, and take action for change. This conference was a space to learn from those efforts, be inspired by the stories of student inquiry, and connect with others committed to centering student voice.
We kicked off the evening with welcoming remarks from Drs. Molly Buckley-Marudas, Keith Bell, and Adam Voight, who framed the importance of YPAR within public education. From there, participants chose from two rounds of concurrent sessions, each spotlighting the work of educators across a wide range of subjects—from social studies to science, English to art, Spanish to career readiness.
Concurrent Session 1 (4:15 - 4:50 p.m.)
Room 1: Empowering Voice through Media and SEL (Chair: Molly Buckley-Marudas)
Linda Key and Courtney Johnson, Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High, Columbus City Schools, “The Art of Belonging: Fostering Community in Our School”
Susie Mazur, Marion Franklin High, Columbus City Schools, “Stories that Connect Us: Building SEL Skills through Personal Narratives”
Kim Garee, Northridge High, Northridge Local Schools, “Moving Toward Even Less ‘Teacher’ in a SchYPAR Unit”
Room 2: Expanding Expression in Inclusive English Spaces (Chair: Brittany Collier-Gibson)
Michelle Ferguson and Melissa Lash, Berea-Midpark High, Berea City Schools, “Leave a Legacy: Be the Change You Wish to See”
Pat Meyer, Berea-Midpark High, Berea City Schools, “Reducing Student Stress and Increasing Motivation by Implementing Changes to the Grading Policy”
Derek Alvarado, Mound Street Academy, Dayton Public Schools, “The ‘Yet’: The Challenge of Growth Mindset”
Room 3: Civic Inquiry through YPAR (Chair: Diane Stultz)
Drew Retherford, Lincoln West School of Sciene and Health, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, “Turning Personal Adversity into Public Good: Using YPAR in the Social Studies”
Austin Stamatis, Garfield Heights High, Garfield Heights City Schools, “Encouraging Student Involvement and Supporting Student-Led Projects in a Community Service Course”
Concurrent Session 2 (4:55 - 5:30 p.m.)
Room 1: Collaborating Across Content through Literacy and Voice (Chair: Rosalinda Godinez)
Emily Mangan, John Marshall School of Engineering, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, “Centering Student Experience and Identity Through YPAR: Intersectional Inquiry in 11th Grade English”
Maggie Rahill, John Marshall School of Engineering, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, “Exploring Identity Through Art: Arts-Based Inquiry in a 9th Grade English Classroom”
Lynn Monaco, Normandy High, Parma City Schools, “Student Engagement and Motivation: YPAR in a Spanish Course”
Room 2: Lifting EL Voices Through Inquiry (Chair: Brittany Collier-Gibson)
Sally Coons, Dublin Jerome High, Dublin City Schools, “Empowering EL Students to Find Belonging in School”
Teresa Troyer, Dublin Jerome High, Dublin City Schools, “Cutivamos Connections: Co-Teaching with Multilingual Learners of English”
Byron Allgood, Hamilton Township High, Hamilton Local Schools, “Identifying Challenges Faced by ELL Students”
Room 3: Rethinking Math and Science through YPAR (Chair: Molly Buckley-Marudas)
Paula Kijowski, Garfield Heights High, Garfield Heights City Schools, “You Need to Crack a Few Eggs to Make an Omelet”
Doug Sommers, Garfield Heights High, Garfield Heights City Schools, “Have a Say in Your Future”
Karmel Abutaleb, Navidad Pagan International Newcomers Academy, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, “Achievement Gap in High School OST Math Scores: YPAR in an Algebra I Course”
Room 4: Centering Student Voice in College and Career Preparation (Chair: Diane Stultz)
Chad Hemmelgarn, Bexley High, Bexley City Schools, “Quiet Students Expressing Their Voice: Piloting a Career Resource Program”
Taylor Zepp, Lincoln-West School of Science and Health, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, “Do No Harm: Using YPAR to Explore Healthcare Issues”
Katie Williams, Eastern High, Eastern Local Schools, “Root Cause Analysis and Problem Analysis with ELL students”
Looking Ahead
This year’s conference affirmed what we already know: when we trust students to lead inquiry, research their worlds, and take action, the results are powerful. We are grateful to all the educators who shared their work and to the participants who joined us to learn, reflect, and reimagine the possibilities of student-driven research.
Stay connected with us at SchYPAR as we continue supporting educators, expanding our community, and growing the movement for student voice and action in schools. If you're interested in bringing YPAR to your classroom or learning from our teacher collaborators, explore our resources here or reach out to join the conversation.
Let’s keep igniting inquiry—together.