June 9, 2025
Welcome to the MPA faculty, Ms. Maria Smith! Ms. Smith will be joining us in July as a PreK teacher, and we are thrilled to introduce her to our community. As the parent of two alums, she may be a familiar face to many!
From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Holy Spirit School in St. Paul.
Tell us about your education and past experience.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Catherine. For over 20 years, I have taught in private schools in both primary and early childhood classrooms. For the last nine years, I have been the preschool director at Holy Spirit School in St. Paul. I am passionate about what I do as it is a formative and magical stage in a child’s development. I take pride in honoring each student’s individuality and am dedicated to meeting them where they are by nurturing their growth with empathy and respect while inspiring a love of learning.
What did you find appealing about MPA?
Since joining the MPA community seven years ago as a parent, I have been consistently inspired by its warm, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere. There is an energy and magic specific only to MPA that I feel each time I’m on campus. With my son graduating from MPA in 2022 and my daughter graduating this spring, our family’s journey at MPA has been deeply meaningful, and this community holds a special place in my heart. After witnessing firsthand the care, attention, and dedication shown to MPA students, I am eager to join the teaching staff and contribute to the growth, joy, and development of our youngest learners.
What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
The lasting impact I hope to leave with my students as they take their first steps on their academic journey is a sense of confidence and curiosity as they explore the world around them. I hope to create a classroom where my students feel safe, valued, and respected for the wonderful little humans they are. It is important to me that they know learning is about trying new things, asking questions, being curious, and learning from our mistakes.
What’s your big dream?
I would love to have a cabin on Lake Superior some day!
What are you and your family passionate about?
Outside of school, you can find me either reading, gardening, or spending time with my family. We enjoy vacationing on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais. Cabin life is a great way to take a break from our busy schedules, so we can spend time together and reset. I am also passionate about animal rescue and adore our sweet rescue dog Emma we adopted just over a year ago.
What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
For the first time in my career, I’ll be teaching at the same school as my sister, Anne Scalia. I am so excited to begin this next chapter and be part of such an inspiring community!
