The Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (CCSC), through funding from a Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships Seed Grant, has established an interdisciplinary internship program. The CCSC Internship Program acts as a central, coordinating hub for UVM students (undergraduate through doctoral) from various programs and departments to gain access to partnership opportunities with Vermont Community Schools.

As partnering Community Schools identify student/family needs, community engagement projects, or initiatives to be implemented, the CCSC faculty work to identify high-caliber UVM students in programs or disciplines across the UVM campus whose experiences and interests align with those school-identified needs. Those students are then placed (for a semester or academic year) with the partnering Community School to work collaboratively with Community School Coordinators and Administrators to work directly with students, families, or community members; to implement new programs or initiatives; or to conduct community-based, participatory research in support of school, district, or supervisory union goals.

To date, over 15 UVM student internship placements have been completed or are currently underway. More information on the UVM CCSC Student Interns, their school placements, and content/expertise areas can be found below:

Undergraduate

Ada Gardner

Critical Place-Based Education Major /
Food Systems + Community Development minors

Internship with White River Valley Middle School (Bethel, Vermont)

[Spring 2025 – present]

Nadiya Becoats

Food Systems Major / Childhood Studies Minor

Internship with Newport Town School (Newport Town, VT)

[Spring 2025 – present]

Maya Caplan

Psychological Sciences Major / Law & Society Minor

Internship with Burlington School District (Burlington, VT)

[Fall 2025 – present]

Madeline Rose

Food Systems Major / Community International Development Concentration

Internship with Newport Town School (Newport Town, VT)

[Spring 2026]

Cora Benardot

Biology Major / Cell and Developmental Biology Concentration / Double Minor in Health and Society & Nutrition and Food Science

Internship with Essex North Supervisory Union (Canaan, Vermont)

[Spring 2026]

Master’s

Kat Gainer

Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate student

CCSC Structural Support

[Fall 2025, Spring 2026]

Doctoral

Barbara Collette

Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education (SHIE) doctoral student

Graduate Assistantship with the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (Burlington, VT)

[Fall 2024- present]

Cynthia Herbert

Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education (SHIE) doctoral student

Graduate Assistantship with the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (Burlington, VT)

[Fall 2024 – present]

Parker Goss

Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education (SHIE) doctoral student

Graduate Assistantship with the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (Burlington, VT)

[Spring 2026]


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