Head's Message Archives

April 13, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

One of the reasons I love education is that it is unpredictable. Unpredictability is a given when working with children, especially 480 of them! The unexpected hugs from kindergarteners, a sense of accomplishment radiating on the face of a student after a performance, or helping solve a printing problem for an Upper School student who is running late for class, make work enjoyable and rewarding. On the other hand, surprises can be a challenge, perhaps even threatening, and sometimes require a great deal of acumen and attention to successfully address. Yesterday’s discovery of a case of whooping cough in the Upper School was certainly a surprise (see notice here), but I was proud of our school’s immediate response, relying on the experience of administrators and staff members coupled with an excellent crisis communication plan. Read More

Head’s Message: I’d Like to Give You an Assignment

April 6, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Whether your family traveled or stayed local, I hope you had an enjoyable spring break. It’s been wonderful to see the school come alive again after two weeks of a near-empty building. While breaks are a great time for me to delve into projects that require focused attention, I miss the hustle and bustle of a busy school day. In between work days, I did take some time off to spend with my daughter Ari. Upon the recommendation of friends, we spent one afternoon touring the Mill City Museum on the river in downtown Minneapolis. It has been on my list of things to do in the Twin Cities for some time, but without the urging of friends, we probably wouldn’t have made the visit.

Family and friends can not only play a role in choosing a place to visit or a new restaurant, but they can also be instrumental when choosing a school. While new families come to MPA through a wide variety of channels including online research, community events, direct mail, advertisements, etc. the most important way they come to us is through their personal relationships with you, our current community members. Your friends, neighbors, family members, and colleagues are the people who are most likely to find MPA to be the right fit for their family. This is only natural since you are likely to share similar values related to your children and their education.

Head’s Message: Permission to Create and Explore

March 15, 2017

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Although winter is not yet ready to let go, as evidenced by Sunday’s snowfall, spring is beginning to make itself known at Mounds Park Academy. It has been a rather busy week with several rites of spring making their appearance. The Upper School is in the throes of final exams, Middle School is in i-Term, and Lower School students are embarking on a series of project-based learning experiences. The energy level is building as Friday approaches.

I was away from school for several days in early March attending the annual conference of the National Association of Independent Schools. A central theme of the conference was innovation. It is also a buzzword in educational circles as well as in business and industry. People in all sectors tend to confuse technology and innovation. They are not synonymous and technology is only one piece of the innovation puzzle.

Head’s Message: Makerspace Construction Begins

March 9, 2017

Several years ago, we did a major renovation of, and addition to, our house. For three months, we were without a kitchen and without running water on the main floor. Our living room became both a kitchen and dining room. It wasn’t easy but when the construction was complete, it was well worth the inconvenience.

Demolition and construction of our new Makerspace will begin next week. After careful consideration, we decided to locate it across from the cafeteria where the current Middle School office, Mr. Witt’s Spanish classroom, and Panther Den are now. When completed, we will have 2,300 square feet dedicated to “making.” The new Makerspace will open in August and be ready for students to use when school begins.

Head’s Message: PreK–12 Under One Roof

March 2, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

One of my favorite things to do is ask students, especially seniors, about their favorite “MPA moment.” What is your best memory that expresses what is uniquely MPA? Over lunch with a group of seniors, one replied, without hesitation, “Serving as a buddy to a Lower School student.” He went on to recount that ever since he was in kindergarten, he looked forward to making a difference in the life of a kindergartener in the same way that a senior touched his life so many years before.

Having grades PreK through 12 under one roof at MPA is not an accident—it is deliberate. Furthermore, role-modeling and mentoring are intentionally nurtured as a means to foster a safe, nurturing school culture. In a time that large public schools lead often to anonymity, MPA offers a warm, personal school culture wherein students truly know, respect, and value one another.

The events of a recent Friday drove home the very natural and organic way that relationships are nurtured across grade levels. My day began by attending the annual third grade event, Poetry and Pastries. As part of the third grade language arts curriculum, students study various forms of poetry and then recite a poem of their choosing in front of their peers and parents. As I scanned the faces of those assembled, I noted an older sibling of one of the third graders in attendance. That is not uncommon at such presentations. Having PreK–12 under one roof makes that possible.

Later in the day, I stopped by the classroom of Upper School physics teacher Marc Shapiro for the annual testing of bridges. This problem-based learning project challenges students to construct models of bridges using principles of physics and then tests each one’s strength by suspending weight. Throughout the day, PreK, kindergarten, fourth grade, and Upper School students attended to witness the successes and failures of each iteration. In fact, kindergarten and fourth grade students paired earlier that morning to build their own bridges in a growth mindset activity so they were able to compare and contrast the work. The look of awe, curiosity, and wonder on the faces of the younger students was priceless—especially when they witnessed Ben and Andrew George ’17 set a new school record (see video and photos here on Facebook). Read More

Head’s Message: Our Community has Momentum

February 9, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am incredibly fortunate to be a member of the Mounds Park Academy community, both as a leader and as a parent. Each day, I have the privilege of working with an exceptional group of teachers and staff who care deeply about MPA’s students. Each day, I interact with hundreds of incredible young people who give me so much hope for the future of our country and world. I am fueled by that hope, even in the midst of uncertainty, and sometimes, despair.

This morning, hope came in the form of seven of our students. As they delivered their senior speeches, I was moved to tears on more than one occasion. Their reflections on their growth as individuals and the impact that MPA has had on their lives was inspiring. One student spoke of her love for science that resulted in her being teased and isolated at another school. At MPA, she discovered she could embrace her passion and find respect from her peers. I am confident the world will be a better place by what she will do with her life.

Head’s Message: Look to the Future

February 2, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

As I stand at the front door in the morning, I often think to myself how happy I will be to see each student graduate. When I see the joy in a kindergartener’s eyes, or the eagerness of a second grader, the excitement of a seventh grader, or the accomplishments of a tenth grader, I often wonder what they will be like as graduating seniors. Perhaps I will be the one who hands them their diplomas. Maybe not. None of us knows what life will bring. However, one thing I know for certain is that my support and investment in MPA will continue long into the future.

In addition to our annual gift to the MPA Fund, Ross and I have named MPA as a beneficiary in our estate planning. Our annual gift benefits today’s students and our planned gift will benefit students in years yet to come. Quite simply, planned gifts ensure the financial health and longevity of the school. MPA is a relatively young school. Older schools tend to have large endowments, built by the planned gifts of countless alumni, parents, and grandparents that came before them.

Head’s Message: MPA’s Strengths Reconfirmed by Data

February 2, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I asked a certain fifth grader what she liked best about MPA. Without missing a beat, she said, “The Head of School.” (I think she’s angling for an iPhone.) When I asked my daughter Ari again, she had a hard time deciding between her “caring teachers, the interesting classes she is taking, and her kind and curious classmates.”

With the exception of the Head of School comment, her responses are very similar to what I hear from parents, other students, and alumni every day. What I have come to know about MPA anecdotally, data has now reconfirmed. You may remember taking a survey before Winter Break administered by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), our accreditation association. We received the results this month and they are outstanding. I’d like to share some of the data and a few of my observations. Know that you will hear more over the next 12 months as the data shapes and informs the self-study report we will write for re-accreditation. Read More

Equity and Inclusion at MPA

January 31, 2017

A statement from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Mounds Park Academy is enriched every single day by students and their families from around the world, some of them fleeing from violence and war. The recent executive order temporarily preventing citizens from certain countries to enter the United States represents a dramatic change in the way our nation interacts with many groups of people, both here and abroad, and has caused stress and feelings of uncertainty for these students, their families, the larger MPA community, and our world.

If you or a student you know is affected directly or indirectly by these changes, please let a division director or me know immediately so that we may extend additional support. We have implemented additional age-appropriate support already.

I would like to reiterate that our school’s mission and values place the utmost importance on equity and inclusion—it is central to who we are as a community. MPA stands together with other schools as we reaffirm the right to a physically and emotionally safe learning environment for all students, regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion. This is not a matter of politics. It is a fundamental issue of equity and inclusion.

As we have since 1982, MPA faculty and staff will continue to work exceptionally hard to ensure that every child here knows he or she is loved, valued, and respected and that this environment is free from fear, violence, and intimidation.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Head’s Message: Dream Big. Do Right. The Value and Essence of an MPA Education

January 26, 2017

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

The days prior to Winter Break are marked by recent graduates returning to MPA to reconnect with teachers and friends. While I certainly enjoy their stories, I also have an ulterior motive—I want to know how well they believe MPA has prepared them. Over the years, I frequently hear that they feel well prepared to take on the challenges of higher education. In particular, their writing skills far exceed their peers. Another very common observation is that they feel comfortable approaching their professors after class. An alum attending Harvard University reported that his classmates were in awe of his courage to show up during office hours. I’ve also heard from alums that they notice the advantage they have over their peers in their ability to think critically and present their ideas effectively and thoughtfully.

These anecdotal stories are now supported by research. Every year, the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA conducts a national longitudinal study of all college freshmen in the United States that covers a wide range of student characteristics. The National Association of Independent Schools asked HERI to create a special report.

Compared with all college freshmen, independent school graduates reported entering postsecondary studies with more skills and experiences that help them succeed in their new educational setting. For instance, when all students were asked about activities they performed frequently in their last year of high school, a higher percentage of independent school graduates noted:

Being asked to support their opinions with logical arguments;
Asking questions in class;
Integrating skills and knowledge from different sources and experiences;
Seeking solutions to problems and explaining them to others; and
Seeking alternative solutions to a problem.