Alumni Archives

An Update From Former Teacher Karen Franke

November 10, 2025

Being a teacher has many rewards. None is as great as bumping into one of your students years later and feeling humbled that they recognized you, even though 25 years have passed.

This is what happened to my husband, Tim Franke, this past summer, when he was on the same flight as one of our former students from Mounds Park Academy (MPA).

My name is Karen Franke, and Tim and I had the pleasure of teaching at MPA from 1993 to 1999. It was a unique experience for us as we not only could work in the same school but also within the same grade level, sharing the same students (I taught fifth-grade social studies and language arts, and Tim taught fifth and seventh-grade science). Although this part of our life was a long time ago, we had very fond memories of our time at MPA. So much so that we have reconnected with many of our students on social media over the years. And what we have discovered about those fun, intelligent, well-read, and inquisitive students did not surprise us in the least. Their bright futures were evident to us way back then, given the dedication of the MPA community to ensure that every student reached their full potential. We both smile, thinking, “We knew them when!”

Then & Now: Speech And Debate

November 10, 2025

From Ryan Ghose ’21

Since its founding, MPA has taught students to think critically and communicate effectively—and it seems to be working! Nowhere is this excellence more evident than in MPA’s enduring speech and debate programs, where ambitious students join dedicated coaches every day of the week for practices and competitions. I got the chance to catch up with speech coaches Kari Kunze and Tanner Sunderman, and debate coach Katie Murr, to chart how the activities have evolved over the years and what their hopes are for the future of the programs.

Speech

Some quick facts about the speech team:

Team Size

2000: 7 students
2003-2008: 100 students (peak)
2025: 40 students, but most students compete in two categories (“double entering”).

Format

Most categories have stayed the same since the 90s, with the exception of:

Duo Interpretation: Introduced in 1996, two people perform an interpretive piece of any genre.
Program Oral Interpretation: The newest category, students can compile multiple pieces of writing from different mediums to tell a connected story.
Extemporaneous Speaking and Discussion: The advent of Wi-Fi has given way to online databases and the option to search the web for evidence mid-tournament.

Coaches

Many alumni have come back as assistant coaches, but the biggest shift has been a new head coach, Tanner Sunderman, who took over in 2015!

MPA continues to push boundaries in speech, competing in more national tournaments and earning its first national speech and debate association title in 2025. Additionally, Tanner Sunderman shared with me that students last year successfully presented in front of the MSHSL to change the format of Great Speeches to allow for analysis of any type of communication. Check out a tournament next year to see the impacts of MPA students’ advocacy! Read More

A Message from Isaac Marshall ’11

November 10, 2025

When I started at Mounds Park Academy in eighth grade, I was uncertain about how I’d fit into a community that had already been together for years. Rather than making me feel like an outsider, the small class sizes and welcoming peers helped me settle in and find my place. I quickly came to know everyone, and everyone knew me.

MPA gave me more than just a sense of belonging. From analyzing diverse perspectives to tackling problems across disciplines, MPA’s curriculum taught me to approach challenges creatively and think critically. Ms. Conway’s constitutional law class ignited my interest in conducting legal research and structuring arguments years before I knew I wanted to attend law school.

Even today, I’m continuing to discover the value of the foundation MPA helped me build. Read More

Where Every Gift Shapes Tomorrow

November 6, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

When interviewing for the head of school role at MPA, I remember meeting with various members of the community who shared with me their “MPA moment.” Some were tied to a specific experience, while others were connected to a feeling or overarching theme. Now, as a member of the community, it’s a beautiful feeling to be able to share my own MPA moment, or moments, as it seems I experience a new and memorable one each day!

One of my favorites thus far has been hearing from our seniors their own MPA moments. Much like when I interviewed, they share the significance of experiences such as an overnight school trip, a class or club that ignited a new interest, or the friendships made from playing in the band, on a team, or being part of the musical. What I love most is that their memories span from Lower School through senior year.

These MPA moments, and those to come, would not be possible without the incredible support of our community. From November 16-22, we will honor MPA’s mission by coming together to support the 2025 Fall Campaign: MPA, Where Every Gift Shapes Tomorrow.

Your gift toward the fall campaign makes it possible for each member of our community—current and future—to experience their own MPA moment. From curricular and extracurricular experiences to supporting our incredible faculty, staff, and facilities, your generosity ensures the continuity of our impressive program, as well as the school’s ability to turn new dreams into reality. Read More

Deep And Meaningful Connections

October 23, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

As I reflect on the past two weeks, the theme that stands out most to me is connection. The foundation of Mounds Park Academy’s community rests on the deep and meaningful connections developed among our students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Last Monday, before taking a deep dive into our ISACS work for MPA’s upcoming re-accreditation, most of our faculty and staff spent several hours in the Manitou Forest. This time was dedicated to appreciating the opportunity to be outdoors, where we could connect with nature and each other. The results of our time together were seen in the smiles, heard in the songs faculty and staff sang as they walked the leaf-covered paths, and felt in the warm sunshine and crisp air. The experience filled everyone with cheer and levity.

The week continued with an incredible Grandparents and Special Friends Day, where classrooms and hallways were filled with students beaming with pride as they shared MPA with their loved ones, further deepening the connection between their school and home lives. Read More

Alumni Update: Kristen Bourne ’13

October 18, 2025

After graduating from MPA, I went on to get a bachelor’s degree in sports science from Northern Michigan University and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from The College of Saint Scholastica.

I’m currently a World Cup Coach for the US Cross Country Ski Team. I work with the top athletes on the national team as we prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano/Cortina in February. My job takes me all over the world, from New Zealand to Scandinavia and anywhere in Europe that has snow. I coach many athletes on the national team, including Julia Kern, a two-time World Championship medalist and individual World Cup podium athlete.

Much of my love for coaching and high performance came from the wonderful coaches I had throughout my time at MPA. My passion for elevating women in sport came from having head coach, Bev Docherty, as a role model and example of the power of women in leadership roles. Much of my coaching philosophy comes from the coach-athlete experience with her.

I currently live in Truckee, California. When I’m not traveling, I’m running in the mountains with my corgi, Pico.

Why I Coach At MPA From Nick Gardner ’14

October 17, 2025

Why did I choose to return to MPA to coach?

I chose to return to MPA as a coach for so many reasons. First, the coaches I had in high school left a huge impact on me. Dan Ethier and Bev Docherty. It makes a huge difference to have coaches who believe in you, who value you as a student, an athlete, and as a multi-dimensional person outside of MPA, but still push you to be your very best when you compete.

This is what I was blessed to have in them, and I wanted to pay that forward and be a cheerleader and supporter in other people’s lives. Second, I love working with young people. At the time, I had a job without a lot of social interaction, AND there was a pandemic which really restricted the new relationships we formed—I found the team SO energizing to work with. I think for all of us, the ski team (both the camaraderie and the training regimen) became a real source of uplift every day. Relatedly, I love a challenge! Learning to ski is hard, and so is teaching it.

What does it mean to me to mentor the next generation of student athletes?

To mentor the next generation of athletes feels like the least I could do—my own experience as a Panther athlete left such a significant impact on me. I felt honored to endeavor to bring about personal growth, facilitate friendship, and help students hone their abilities. Read More

Then & Now: MPA’s Multigenerational Educators

October 17, 2025

“I worked at MPA for five years before Emma was born,” Deedee recalls. “When she joined our family, it was obvious only a parent could tend to her. She was ‘full blast,’ as one of her five-year-old friends put it.”

Deedee stepped away from her classroom to embrace life at home, nurturing Emma’s energy and individuality.

“When she reached school age, I was worried about how she would navigate the large class sizes and stricter rules in a public-school setting,” Deedee said. “Emma started kindergarten at MPA because we realized she needed a place where she could be feisty and still survive the adults she would encounter.”

Growing up surrounded by MPA’s mission and community left a lasting imprint.

“Being raised at MPA, Emma knew she was charged with making the world a better place,” Deedee said.

A Message from Phillipe Thao ’14

October 17, 2025

In March 2018, I visited Richard Meacock at his home above Squire House Gardens. To no one’s surprise, his walls were adorned with eclectic paintings, and the tea was already brewing by the time I walked up the steps. In a way, it felt like being back in his classroom at Mounds Park Academy. For the next few hours, we caught up with one another—discussing everything from queer literature to making the best peach cobbler.

Before leaving, I made sure to thank him for helping me find my voice and love for writing. “Please send me your stories as you write,” he said to me. I still wonder what snarky comments Richard would leave as I write to this day.

When I think about dreaming big, it’s not just about changing the world. Dreaming big is also about making a difference within your community, whether that’s on your block or at your school. From Richard Meacock’s English classroom to Barbara Bradley’s Black Box Theatre to KaTrina Wentzel’s yearbook room, each of these educators taught me how to dream fearlessly. It was in these classrooms where I had many firsts that would lead me to my current career in film and writing: my first time using Adobe InDesign, my first time writing a one-act script, my first time producing a show.

Maureen Conway always taught us that history repeats itself. I can vividly hear her cheers soaring through the halls when Governor Mark Dayton signed the same-sex marriage bill in 2013. As a closeted teenager, I was afraid to openly celebrate who I was, but I drove to the State Capitol with my friends after school to rejoice with thousands of other Minnesotans. Twelve years later, LGBTQIA+ rights are still under attack, with our trans community being dehumanized through harmful legislation. Our black and brown neighbors are being targeted and kidnapped from their families. These are the very same atrocities that we learned about in Conway’s lectures and textbooks. Read More

School Spirit Is Everywhere

September 25, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

On Monday morning, I made my usual right turn from Beebe Road onto the school grounds. Seeing “We. Are. MPA.,” not only brought a smile to my face but also evoked an incredible sense of school pride. I must admit, I was caught by surprise. As a new member of the MPA community, it’s a magical experience to feel school spirit. In so many ways it felt like I was arriving home.

I do not take school spirit for granted. It doesn’t magically appear. Rather, school spirit is the energy that grows from the pride, traditions, and shared experiences left in the form of memories and artifacts from years past, and the voices and actions of those who currently move throughout the campus.

I frequently turn to my Responsive Classroom training and seek to define experiences and goals by asking: What does it look like, sound like, and feel like?

This week, school spirit looks like our students wearing themed clothing and hallways decorated with streamers and colorful posters throughout the building. School spirit sounds like our teams clapping and cheering for our Lower and Middle School students during arrival and standing in the hallway, eagerly planning for an upcoming debate tournament. School spirit feels like the surge of warmth that fills my cheeks with joy when I see students across divisions learning a school chant or reading books—together. And it’s not exclusively created by our students. I see it in the ways our faculty and staff create spaces that foster curiosity. I hear it when a family member says “I love you” to their student at the classroom door. I feel it when someone takes a minute to share with me a special moment they had learning from their colleague. Read More