My MPA Experience Archives

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Cait Osell! Ms. Osell comes to MPA as a Middle School English teacher, and we are happy to introduce her to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked for Hired, a non-profit organization.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University in 2014 with a degree in English and secondary education. During my time there, I was also able to spend six months in Ireland attending the University College Cork. My teaching career started in Shakopee Public Schools from 2015-2023, from which I moved to something a little different, doing adult education with a Minneapolis nonprofit, Hired. I love English Language Arts and getting others to love it, too!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA immediately stood out to me because of the agency and autonomy it gives to students. It’s important to me that students have a say in their education and environment, and that, paired with a supportive, fun, and welcoming staff, made me realize MPA was exactly where I wanted to be. I believe in doing good and dreaming big as well, and that’s exactly what I plan to do!
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Welcome To MPA, Ms. Katie LaFleur!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Katie LaFleur! Ms. LaFleur will be joining the Lower School as a third-grade teacher. We are thrilled to introduce her to the MPA community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
Liberty Ridge Elementary in District 833 is where I previously worked.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master of Arts in education from Saint Mary’s University. I have also taken several graduate-level classes beyond my master’s.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I loved the amount of educational opportunities students are given. Each student can learn at their own pace and style.
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Welcome to MPA, Mr. Ryan Dougherty!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Mr. Ryan Dougherty! Mr. Dougherty takes over as the facilities manager, and we are pleased to introduce him to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Saint Therese Senior Services.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have worked in various settings, most recently as a maintenance director on a senior living campus.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
My first maintenance position was at St. Paul Academy, and I miss the culture of a school.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
I look forward to being a valued member of the team.

What’s your big dream?
To “retire” as a fishing guide. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Sidney Fellows!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Sidney Fellows! Ms. Fellows will be joining as the school nurse, and we are so happy to introduce her to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Skyview Middle School in ISD 622.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in nursing. I maintain several licenses and certifications relevant to school nursing, including a school nurse license, a public health nursing license, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). I have previous healthcare experience working for District 622, Twin Cities Orthopedics, and Davita Kidney Care.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA stands out as a supportive community where students succeed and thrive. Each student is valued for their own unique talents, and it’s evident how supportive students are of their peers. MPA is a place where people truly care about one another.
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Welcome to MPA, Ms. Nan Wang!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Nan Wang! Ms. Wang is set to join as the Upper School Chinese teacher, and we are so excited to introduce her to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Cretin-Derham Hall.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I got my bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, majoring in math and economics, and received a Master’s Degree of Science in actuarial science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have been teaching beginning to advanced-level Chinese for more than ten years. I love teaching about my native language and culture.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
What I love the most about MPA is the inclusive culture. All students are happy here, and my daughter loves going to school. Also, all the faculty I met are very open and friendly. Read More

Welcome To MPA, Ms. Meg Wilkening ’18!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Meg Wilkening ‘18! With a well-established connection to Mounds Park Academy, also having been on the speech and debate coaching staff, Ms. Wilkening now joins the Lower School as a fourth-grade teacher.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I have been coaching debate at MPA for the last five years. This will be my first year as a full-time teacher!

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a degree in political science from the University of Minnesota. I attended law school for a year at St. Louis University, but realized I missed working with students at MPA. After completing my first year of law school, I switched to a master’s in education program at the University of St. Thomas. I am scheduled to graduate with a master’s in elementary education in 2026.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
How much time do you have to listen to what I love about MPA? Seriously—I graduated from MPA in 2018, have coached at MPA for the last five years, and am beyond excited to start teaching here. I have lifelong friends from my graduating class and use skills I learned as an MPA student every day. I have been blown away by the passion, talent, hard work, and intelligence of MPA’s students in my years as a coach (and have enjoyed winning several state debate championships!) MPA feels like home to me.
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Welcome To MPA, Mr. Aaron Hokanson!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Mr. Aaron Hokanson! Mr. Hokanson is joining the community as a fourth-grade teacher, and we are so excited to introduce him.

From what school/organization are you coming?
For the past several years, I’ve been a stay-at-home father, focused on raising my three children and supporting my wife’s career as a writer, educator, and public speaker.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I hold a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s of Teaching from the University of Melbourne, and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. My experience spans elementary teaching, college instruction, teacher education, and writing support. I previously taught first grade in Australia and have worked with both pre-service and practicing teachers in Minnesota. I’ve also worked with community organizations in the Twin Cities, supporting adult English learners and participating in cross-cultural initiatives as an educator, researcher, and community member. I’m excited to return to the classroom full-time.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
My first experience with MPA came through my wife’s younger brother, who attended from first through eighth grade. He lived with us from fourth grade, and I saw how MPA nurtured both his curiosity and his confidence. Even as a quieter student, he was seen, heard, and supported by the teachers, staff, and administration. MPA created space for him to grow into himself. That experience left a positive impression on me. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Emma Stacy ’15!

July 21, 2025

Welcome back to MPA, Ms. Emma Stacy ‘15! Ms. Stacy—an MPA Lifer—returns to MPA as an Upper School chemistry teacher, and we are thrilled to welcome her again to the community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked previously for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I got my undergraduate degree in chemistry at Scripps College, where I tutored students in science courses, and my master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Edinburgh. I’ve worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Duluth for the past four years as an analytical chemist working on ecological toxicology studies with fish and frogs.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I attended MPA K-12, so it feels like home to me. It’s such a special community where every student is provided the opportunity to explore their passions to the fullest, and where teachers build meaningful relationships with students that foster both academic and personal growth. The students at MPA are uniquely passionate and invested in learning, and I can’t wait to return to share my excitement for science with them.
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Then & Now: MPA Summer Programming

June 16, 2025

from Rudy Ford, director of extended day and summer programs

Pursuing the origin story and history of MPA’s summer program has been a bit like unraveling a mystery. There are distant memories of a small group of students gathering in the morning before dispersing to various locations on campus.

“What year was it that we gathered in the Gallery?”
“There were art classes, basketball and soccer, and a theater class. My small part was rocketry, which got expanded after a few years to include paper gliders.”
“When Panther used the current Family Commons, it was called the Kreisher Gym. There was this massive red curtain in there and Panther had this tiny space behind the red curtain…”

In spite of the fascinating details, MPA’s summer story is a common one. As a matter of need, the “extended day” program was first developed in the mid-90s. Starting out in the original lunchroom, the program has run in various locations—including a pair of Upper School classrooms, the Gallery, and behind the red curtain mentioned above! Its growth was driven by family demand, eventually to include summer programming and adopting the “Panther” brand.

As someone who grew up in his town’s “summer playground,” I have a deep understanding of the importance of these programs. In addition to the care and supervision families need, the opportunity is in providing kids the chance to develop new skills, discover new passions, and receive academic and emotional support. The path to my career in education started at the summer playground program, where I had my first job—teaching swimming lessons. Read More

Moments That Matter

June 16, 2025

As I close my five-year chapter serving on the alumni association board, the past two as its president, I find myself reflecting on the moments that have shaped this experience.

MPA taught me to ask questions, speak with conviction, and approach each challenge with determination and curiosity.

Those lessons were instilled in me as a student, and they have never felt more relevant than they do today. In a time when resilience and integrity matter more than ever, I find myself leaning on these lessons time and again, both in life and in my service to this community.

Serving on the alumni board has been an extension of that education. It has been a place where collaboration, curiosity, and care come together to support something greater than ourselves. What began as a simple desire to give back in 2020 evolved into one of the most meaningful leadership experiences of my life. Thanks to the passion and initiatives of this board, our alumni have never been more connected to one another and to the school we all call home.

Over the years, it is not the meetings or agendas that stand out most clearly in my mind. It is the moments—conversations with fellow alumni who found lifelong friends here, the shared pride of seeing new graduates join our community, and the energy and ideas exchanged among this year’s board members, who brought such positivity and drive to our work together. These moments matter. They remind us why this community is worth nurturing.

I am deeply grateful to the MPA Development Office, Angie, Ashley, and Michelle, for your unwavering support, partnership, and belief in the importance of alumni engagement. Your dedication behind the scenes makes so much of this work possible.

To this year’s alumni association board, thank you for bringing such spirit and momentum to this chapter of our work. It has been a privilege to serve alongside you.

I would be remiss not to remind you one more time: if MPA has made a difference in your life, I encourage you to create your own moments that matter. Stay connected. Get involved. Every small contribution helps keep this community vibrant for those who come next.

I will always be proud to be an MPA alum.

With heartfelt thanks,

Amanda Magistad ’12

Alumni Association President