Middle School Archives

July 24, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Mindy Ruane! Later this fall, Mindy will join us as a Middle School English teacher. We can’t wait to introduce her to our community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I’m returning to the classroom after a break raising my own kids! Most recently, I have been taking short and long-term substitute teaching positions at MPA, as well as teaching online graduate students.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
Students, their families, and teachers have been at the center of all of my working experiences. I started my career teaching in a third-grade classroom in Arizona and have held additional teaching and social work roles in Chicago and Minneapolis. Additionally, I have worked to support other teachers at Teach For America and as an online instructor at Johns Hopkins University Graduate School of Education. After several years of substitute teaching across divisions here at Mounds Park Academy, I am thrilled to be joining the team in a full-time capacity.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Two of the things I find most appealing about MPA are the joyful learning environment and the outstanding sense of community. From Makerspace collaborations to engaging classroom activities, lessons and labs to social outings, field trips, I-term, and more; MPA is intentionally working to keep the joy in students’ school experience. All students are well known by the MPA community. Parents go out of their way to support the school in every way, teachers are accessible, and the students are curious, thoughtful, and capable.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
The teachers I remember most fondly were the ones who opened my mind to new perspectives and challenged me to push myself to my full capacity. I hope to have the same impact on students here at MPA—to create a safe and joyful classroom that pushes every student to explore new ideas and be challenged in engaging ways. I hope that every student who leaves my classroom does so with a more confident voice and the ability to communicate more clearly across a variety of mediums.

What’s your big dream?
Travel! Our family loves to discover new places, both near and far.

What are you and your family passionate about?
You can always find me with a book, reading a book, or talking about a book! I’m an avid reader and am often working my way through two or three at a time. I love getting book suggestions, so if you have one for me (or want me to suggest one for you) pop by for a chat!

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I spent nine months in Australia while in college and loved every minute of it! If you ever have a chance to go, I’d say – do it!

Reflections From Parents Of The MPA Class Of 2024 Lifers

July 12, 2024

Parents of Lifers are those who chose MPA for their children every year for all 13 years of their education. Right before they graduated from MPA, we interviewed the Class of 2024 Lifers in a group reflection on their MPA journeys. After hearing their touching reflections, filled with gratitude for MPA, advice, and optimism for the future, led us to further expand on the conversation to their parents.

How has MPA’s community supported and shaped your child?

Lisa (Nora ’24): For my kids, I think the opportunity to do a substantial amount of fine arts. They both played in instrumental groups as well as choirs. Athletics has been just a great opportunity–one child did three sports and the other did two.

Katie (Ben ’24): It’s being able to do everything. I felt a fair amount of pressure in high school–which happened to be public high school–and I thought I got a really fabulous education, but I had to do more picking. It was kind of like, “Well, you’re either devoted to this program or you’re going to be devoted to this program.” And I feel like Ben has gotten an opportunity to do a lot of different things. There’s flexibility and a willingness, too. That’s helped make him more well-rounded. In other places, he would’ve dropped off some of these things and really lost out on what is going to end up being life-changing, and now things that I would’ve never imagined him continuing to do in college, he’s going to try to continue to do in college.

Mike (Molly ’24): Being a younger sibling and the kid of an employee, Molly doesn’t remember ever not coming here. She was carried here certainly before she was walking. In her particular case, the community shaped her even in all the time she wasn’t yet a student here. It’s the place where she was always known and looked out for. We’ll take a lot of what happened outside the classroom as much as anything would happen inside.

Mark (Hunter ’24): I think the size. Hunter had the opportunity to do pretty much whatever he wanted and it was good to know that people are always looking out and saying, “Keep moving forward,” because I know kids can get lost in the shuffle.

Jeremy (Jay ’24): Jay’s been able to do so many things. A lead in a play, choir, jazz band, and multiple sports. I always tell him being able to be a big fish in a little pond sometimes is a good thing, because you get to be able to try everything. That has been very special here, those opportunities.

Kristi (Jay ’24): The opportunities he’s had across the board. I don’t think he would’ve been in a school play if he was at a different school. And selfishly, I already knew that there were outstanding teachers here–some of them that I had!–so I knew from the get-go what he was getting into and how it was going to help him flourish in school, because I feel like that’s a huge piece too–knowing how supportive and invested all these outstanding teachers are. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Nelle Tokheim!

July 9, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Nelle Tokheim! Nelle will be joining us as the library assistant later this fall. We can’t wait to introduce her to our community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked for St. Paul Public Schools.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in physical education and health from Luther College. I wound up working in the fitness industry for ten years before staying home for a while with my two kids. When I decided to return to work, I realized that I still enjoyed working in schools with students and that I truly enjoyed connecting with them through books! I have worked at St. Paul Public Schools for the past three years. I have been running the library at one of their elementary schools, and it was a blast!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA has been part of me for 42 years. I was an MPA Lifer back in the day, and when my family moved back to Minnesota from Colorado, we chose this school because we wanted our kids to feel safe, supported, and part of a community. I love the connection that students have with staff. I also love how the school has grown into its own identity over the years!

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I want to help kids love books! I don’t want reading to feel like a chore every time. My belief is that reading is reading, whether your child reads chapter books, biographies or graphic novels. Hopefully, I can help students discover what a joy reading a book can be!

What’s your big dream?
To earn my Master of Library Science.

What are you and your family passionate about?
I am passionate about soccer (ask Mr. Scinto)! I played through college and well into my adult years until an injury stopped me in recent years. I attend as many MNUFC games as I can and try to support the MN Aurora as well.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I met my husband rappelling from the ceiling of a building.

Welcome To MPA, Dana Distad!

June 6, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Dana Distad! This fall, Dana will join us as a Lower and Middle School counselor. We are so excited to introduce her to our community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I previously worked for the Academy of Holy Angels High School.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a master’s degree in school counseling and in clinical counseling. As a school counselor, I provide group services aimed at proactive social-emotional learning (SEL) skills. I also engage in 1:1 sessions aimed at targeted goals and small peer groups.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Dream Big. Do Right. The idea that the school is based on the whole individual.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
The greatest joy for me is seeing a child apply the skills we have worked on to real-world situations.

What’s your big dream?
I am living it! My big dream has always been to help youth become their best selves.

What are you and your family passionate about?
I am so passionate about the little moments. We live in such a fast-paced world that it’s easy to always be thinking about the future. I love being in the moment and allowing time to slow down. Enjoying time with my family is the best way I am able to practice this every day.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I am an eternal optimist and even joined the International Optimist Club!

End of the Year Milestones at MPA

May 30, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

You may have heard that I turned 60 last Friday. To my surprise, I was serenaded by the fourth grade in the morning and again in the afternoon by all those gathered for the Senior Awards Ceremony. It was a memorable day, to be sure. I am still coming to terms with turning 60, mostly because I think of myself in my late 40s. As a milestone, however, it reminds me to approach this phase of my life in gratitude for a life well lived and for the many more opportunities ahead of me.

In Roman times, every mile was marked by a stone along roadways with a number that signified the number of miles coming or going from Rome. Today, a milestone signifies a momentous life event or accomplishment, such as a birthday, marriage, graduation, or retirement. Like the days of old, these events mark our journey through life and are a way to measure growth, literally or figuratively. Milestones serve as reminders to pause and reflect and celebrate what matters most in our lives.

There are many milestones at MPA this time of year. In just over a week, we will celebrate the high school graduation of 61 remarkable young adults. We will hold a Moving Up Ceremony to mark the matriculation of the fourth grade to Middle School and the eighth grade to Upper School. Tonight, we will celebrate the careers of dedicated educators Scott Wilson and Kristy Petrich. Read More

Future Collegiate Athletes Share Emotions

May 30, 2024

Congratulations to the six MPA students who were celebrated on College Athlete Recognition Day! Izzy Espinosa, Jay Green, Else Kunze-Hoeg, Ben Murr, Nora Pederson, and David Steinberger will all continue on to the collegiate level to compete in their respective athletics. Aiming to capture some of the emotions shown through on the day of celebration, the six shared sentiments from the day.

Jay Green
School: Macalester College
Sport: Football, track and field
Why did you choose Macalester College? “I chose Macalester because, right away, I think I’m going to be able to play, and the academics are really good.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “I’m feeling really excited and good about it.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I want to thank my parents, family, and all my coaches. They always pushed me and got me to where I wanted to be.”

Ben Murr
School: Luther College
Sport: Cross country, track and field
Why did you choose Luther College? “It felt like a really good fit for me. The opportunities to have a flexible cross country program where I could still pursue academics and my other interests pretty heavily is something that really interested me and made me want to choose the school I did.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “It’s pretty exciting. This is something I wasn’t expecting going into my college search, and it’s pretty incredible that I get to do it.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I’d like to thank my parents for always encouraging me to do running and track and my coaches, coach (Adam) Pettipiece, Declan (Dahlberg ’18), and Ms. (Bev) Docherty, especially, for really pushing me through these past couple years of cross country despite the pandemic messing with things.” Read More

Welcome To MPA, Andria Mattlin!

May 28, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Andria Mattlin! Andria joined us as the admission and communication assistant and began on May 28. We are so excited to introduce her to our community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from St. Paul Public Schools.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
After graduating from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in public relations, I worked as a communications coordinator for a school district. Realizing I wanted to return to the classroom, I completed Hamline University’s teacher licensing program and taught elementary school for 12 years in St. Paul. I am thrilled to combine my passions for education and communications here at MPA.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I first visited MPA as a prospective parent and was so impressed by the confidence displayed by students and the warm and welcoming nature of the staff. I love the connection across the school community and how individuality is celebrated.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I hope to bring laughter to MPA each day and celebrate the school community’s achievements, both big and small.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to positively impact those around me and see orcas in the wild.

What are you and your family passionate about?
My husband Andrew and I have one son, Dawson, a rising kindergartener at MPA. We enjoy reading, spending time with our extended family, and visiting the Children’s Theatre Company.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I can make balloon animals, a not-so-useful skill I learned from a book my grandma gave me as a child.

All Students Benefit

May 23, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I recently went through some boxes in my mother’s house and came across a collection of my elementary school report cards. Year after year, very similar comments went something like this: “Bill would do much better if he learned to raise his hand and not blurt out answers during class discussions.” “Bill needs to be better about handing in his assignments.” “Bill scored highly on tests, but his lower grades reflect the absence of homework.” And “If Bill would only try harder, his grades would be higher.” I talked too much, didn’t raise my hand, and didn’t turn in my homework, but I scored very high on tests. Nonetheless, I felt like a failure, which only compounded the problem.

Many years later, I ran into my fifth-grade teacher, who was delighted to know I had earned a doctorate and was experiencing success in my career. “I always knew you’d do well. You had the highest IQ in the class.” I was stunned and wondered what my academic career would be like if we knew then what we know now about ADHD.

While ADHD affects how we learn, there is no correlation with intelligence. It is similar for learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Neurodiversity is used more frequently to promote the idea that conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental conditions are natural variations of the human brain rather than disorders to be cured. People with learning differences may have difficulty acquiring or demonstrating knowledge in traditional ways, but that doesn’t mean they cannot succeed in rigorous coursework or at schools like MPA.

The percentage of students with learning differences has consistently been on the rise in schools across the country. In a recent survey of independent heads of schools from across the United States, 85% said that supporting the learning needs of neurodiverse students is a priority for them. This reflects a 52% increase in just one year, from 2023 to 2024.

Reflections From The MPA Class Of 2024 Lifers

May 20, 2024

Near the end of their final year at MPA, we had the honor of interviewing many of the MPA Class of 2024 Lifers about their time at MPA, the only school they’ve been at for their entire academic career. A group of dedicated athletes, talented musical artists, Peer Leaders, and proud self-proclaimed robotics “nerds,” each of them shared memories and reflections of MPA past and present, looking toward the future well prepared by MPA. Devneet Biring, Jay Green, Greta Hanson, Sylvia Hawley, Micah Hudock, Khushi Jain, Else Kunze-Hoeg, Logan Miller, Ben Murr, Nora Pederson, Hunter Scheible, David Steinberger, and Molly Vergin will graduate on June 8 and join MPA’s Joanne Olson Club, reserved for students whose entire K-12 or PreK-12 journey has taken place here at MPA.

Choosing a school for 13 years means you’re growing up within a strong community that ensures every child here is known. So we asked: How has MPA’s community supported and shaped you over the years?

Jay: Everything I do pretty much revolves around sports, so what’s been really helpful for me is the community. If I’m in the hallway and I see a parent or a teacher, they always ask me how my game was, and that’s something that I really have enjoyed in my time here because it makes me feel seen. That was very consistent from even when I was in kindergarten, just playing in gym class versus now, when I play three sports at a time. That’s something that’s shaped me into a better person. I think now my focus is trying to give that same opportunity to the younger kids that I see and am coaching. I think the community does a very good job of supporting everyone in it. From my perspective, I feel like I’ve been very well-supported by pretty much everyone around me.

Khushi: I agree with that. Being both a tennis athlete and a nerd in robotics has pushed me to do more of what I love. Through tennis, I’ve learned more about myself, about mental health, and other things. Through robotics, I’ve learned how to be a leader, how to speak up, and how to get the team together. Through all these different clubs and activities that MPA has, I’ve learned different skills from each.

Micah: There are a lot of people who have a lot of different interests in a lot of areas. Everyone’s kind of encouraged to do their own thing and have their own interests, and no one is trying to fit into a category. Everyone’s cool to do whatever they want.

Ben: Elaborating on that, I’ve really enjoyed being able to know my class. To actually know people—having a small, very close-knit group—has really helped us understand each other on a deeper level than just, “There’s a person from my class in the hallway.” I find that nice.

Nora: I like how integrated everybody is, whether in sports or other things. For example, in basketball, we did this kid’s camp with the boys’ and girls’ teams where we got to work with Lower and Middle School students, so now when I see them in the hallway I can say hi. And with different classes like choir and orchestra, you get to know people in all grades. With track, since it’s a co-ed sport, I get to talk and know people that I wouldn’t normally. It’s just interesting knowing more than one grade.

Sylvia: The relationships we’re able to build are pretty unique to this school because of the small class sizes. Throughout all my years here, I think all the teachers really make an effort to build a relationship outside of the classroom, to know you on a more personal level. That has allowed me to feel comfortable sharing non-class material with them and getting to know them as people. I think that has shaped my love for learning but also made me want to do more. Read More

Celebrating This Year’s Retirees

May 16, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

In 2017, when Edutopia, a well-respected educational foundation, asked its readers to describe the traits of a life-changing teacher, very few of the responses were about test scores or academics. People overwhelmingly said that great teachers make their students feel safe and loved, believe in their students, model patience, and help their students reach their full potential—all qualities that remain largely unmeasured. I can’t think of a better way to describe the impact of fourth-grade teacher Scott Wilson and library assistant Kristy Petrich, who are retiring from MPA this year.

Many people will be surprised to learn that teaching is Scott’s second career. From 1987-1998, Scott owned and operated a successful restaurant in Winter Park, Colorado. He went back to school and earned a master’s degree in elementary education at the University of St. Thomas. Scott began substitute teaching at MPA in 1999 before becoming a permanent teacher in the 2000-01 school year. Since then, Scott has taught kindergarten, first, second, and fourth grades at MPA.

Colleagues and students describe Scott as kind, gentle, patient, and wise. Scott has always been flexible and supportive of his colleagues. “I once heard someone refer to him as the ‘Lower School Handyman’ because if there’s a flat tire, someone stuck in a ditch, or in need of a help hanging lights or fixing a faucet, he is there,” shared fellow fourth-grade teacher DeeDee Stacy.