Head's Message Archives

Head’s Message: Creating the MPA Makerspace

January 12, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

When I was a child, I spent countless hours playing with LEGOs. Mind you, it wasn’t the LEGOs popular now that come with instructions and a pre-defined outcome. In the days before Minecraft, you would have found me building cities out of blocks, Lincoln Logs, and even leaves in the fall. I liked to take things apart, to understand how they worked. I didn’t take time to read the directions (I still don’t) but rather jumped right into putting a new toy together.

Looking back, I can clearly see that I was, in today’s language, a maker. In a time (way) before 3-D printers, CNC routers, and laser cutters, I learned how to create, solve problems, and learn from failure. I learned how to look at a challenge from various perspectives and with persistence—attributes of a growth mindset, a concept coined by educational researcher, Carol Dweck. I didn’t have anyone to teach me woodworking or metallurgy and didn’t pursue a career in design or engineering, but still rely upon that mindset. How I approach not only my career, but life itself, flows from those formative experiences. Creativity, problem-solving, confidence, and critical thinking are skills and competencies that emerge from making and that I draw upon each day in my work.

Head’s Message: With the Right Fit in Mind

December 1, 2016

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

With my son Mateo, it’s all about the right fit. There is nothing more challenging than taking him clothes shopping. Clothes cannot be too tight or too scratchy, and must feel good. I’ve given up trying to get him to wear anything other than Under Armour shirts and pants. You won’t find any nice family portraits in our home with color coordinated, matching outfits!

Selecting a college is similar to clothes shopping with Mateo. The approach of MPA’s college planning process is to find the right fit for each student, which reflects our commitment to provide a highly personalized approach and individualized attention. The right fit comes also as a result of research and self-reflection, the intellectual ambition of students with what the college or university offers.

We take pride in our approach to finding schools that align with the interests, priorities, passions, and aspirations of our students. Some MPA students choose Ivy League or comparably selective schools. But this is because of their own search process and initiative, not as a result of MPA pushing students so that the list “looks good” in marketing materials. It is not uncommon for some independent schools to measure their success by the number of students attending high-profile schools, but not MPA. Read More

Head’s Message: Gratitude and Joy

November 17, 2016

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Like many of you, I’ve spent a good amount of time lately thinking about gratitude. As Thanksgiving approaches, we naturally contemplate the goodness in our lives. Such reflection takes us outside of ourselves to acknowledge the experiences, events, and people in our lives that bring us joy.

There is a large, and rapidly growing, body of research demonstrating that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. In the “How of Happiness,” researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky defines happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.”

Head’s Message: Let’s Double Down on our Mission

November 10, 2016

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Regardless of one’s political affiliation, this has been a tumultuous campaign and the outcome of the election brings a measure of closure. However, it also leaves some with more questions than answers and there are individuals and groups of people feeling unsafe. In times like this, when we are being tested, we are called upon to double down on our values to guide our actions. As a school community, we must double down on our mission: “We teach students to think independently, communicate effectively, and act with respect and integrity in a diverse community that models intellectual ambition, global responsibility, and the joy of learning.”

I have been exceptionally proud of the Mounds Park Academy community in the months leading up to Tuesday’s election. Honest and respectful conversations took place across divisions, in and out of the classrooms. Ideas were debated, issues were deliberated, and positions analyzed. These discussions were undergirded by principles of respectful discourse that cut across party affiliation. Though naturally strained at times, they became teachable moments.

From Dr. Hudson: Equity and Multiculturalism

November 3, 2016

I was very impressed with the turnout at our recent cultural celebration of Diwali last week. It was great visiting with so many of you and seeing the joy in the eyes of our students as they sampled the food, traditions, and activities of the Indian culture. More heartwarming was the pride our Indian-American students took in sharing their culture with others. It is a testimony to the diversity and multiculturalism of the MPA community. I am grateful for the work of our Parents Association and volunteers to make the celebration so meaningful.

From Dr. Hudson: Show Me Your Budget and I’ll Tell You About Your Mission

October 27, 2016

Growing up, we had next door neighbors with two boys who were the same age as my brother and me. As you might imagine, there was a lot of back and forth between the two houses and our families were very close. During our middle school years, our neighbors finished their basement, installing a TV room, a game room with a pool table, and a workout room. I remember asking my parents, “When are we going to finish our basement?!” “We have no plans to do so,” replied my father. When I pressed him further, he simply said that we have different priorities. We never did renovate the basement and we didn’t always have the newest cars or the latest gadgets. We did, however, receive a gift that has paid dividends for a lifetime—an independent school education.

From Dr. Hudson: My Time Away

October 13, 2016

You may have noticed my absence from my post at the South Entrance during drop-off this week. As I’ve often shared before, this time is probably the best part of my day and I love connecting with students and parents each morning. I work hard to reserve that time in my calendar and there isn’t much that keeps me away. This week, however, I had to miss my morning visits with the MPA community in order to spend four days serving on a visiting team for accreditation at the Marshall School in Duluth.

Like Marshall, Mounds Park Academy is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Central States (ISACS). The purpose of ISACS is to promote the development of strong learning communities characterized by high achievements, social responsibility, and independence of governance, programs and policies. This goal is achieved through a rigorous accreditation process, targeted professional development programs, and focused support services.

From Dr. Hudson: What Problem Do You Want To Solve?

October 5, 2016

“Instead of asking children what they want to be when they grow up, we should instead ask them what problem do they want to solve,” said Jaime Casap, chief educational evangelist at Google. According to Casap, most jobs of the future haven’t been defined yet. Instead of preparing students to enter today’s workforce, we should foster a mindset that empowers students for success in a rapidly dynamic, global society.

Author Ken Bain, in his book, “What the Best College Students Do” draws a distinction between “strategic” learners and “deep” learners. Strategic learners are driven by external rewards, such as grades and honors. They often have superficial understanding of their disciplines and are rarely able to transfer that learning. Conversely, according to Bain, deep learners are driven by their own curiosity and sense of wonder. They conceive of their own education as a great adventure. They are reflective, self-directed, and autonomous. They are resilient and embrace failure. They see themselves as part of a broader learning community, and they find perspective, support, and inspiration from that community. In the long term, they are more successful—and happier.

From Dr. Hudson: Conferences for All

September 28, 2016

It has been great to see so many parents on campus for parent-teacher conferences. Ross and I were among you as well, sitting outside Mrs. Nagle’s classroom, anxiously awaiting our turn. I have been a teacher and administrator for more than 25 years and have taken part in hundreds of parent-teacher conferences. However, this was my first time as a parent in a conference about my child in the school I lead. As nervous as I was, I’m sure Mrs. Nagle was as well!

At MPA, both parents/guardians and teachers are united in a shared commitment that is focused on student growth, learning, and achievement. Families and teachers are parts of complimentary learning systems that place families as core partners in the learning process. Significant research exists that demonstrates that family involvement in education can lead to positive benefits for children and youth, such as increased school attendance, higher academic performance, enhanced social skills, and improved attitudes about school.

From Dr. Hudson: Makerspace Coming to MPA

September 22, 2016

I am incredibly thrilled to announce that Mounds Park Academy has received an anonymous donation of $500,000 to build a makerspace. A makerspace is a hands-on, creative center for students to design, experiment, build, and invent as they deeply engage in art, science, engineering, and tinkering. This very generous gift is a key element in making our MPA vision of 21st century learning a reality! It’s also a reminder that all philanthropic gifts, both big and small allow MPA to continue to grow, to transform, and above all, they truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

An advisory committee comprised of teachers, administrators, parents, and outside experts is currently being formed to work closely with the architects and builders. You are invited to be a part of the process by participating in a listening session on Thursday, October 6 from 3:30-5:00 PM in the Porter Conference Room. If you are unable to attend the session and you have ideas you’d like to share, please feel free to email them to me directly.