My MPA Experience Archives

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.
Read More

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

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Maria Smith!

June 9, 2025

Welcome to the MPA faculty, Ms. Maria Smith! Ms. Smith will be joining us in July as a PreK teacher, and we are thrilled to introduce her to our community. As the parent of two alums, she may be a familiar face to many!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Holy Spirit School in St. Paul.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Catherine. For over 20 years, I have taught in private schools in both primary and early childhood classrooms. For the last nine years, I have been the preschool director at Holy Spirit School in St. Paul. I am passionate about what I do as it is a formative and magical stage in a child’s development. I take pride in honoring each student’s individuality and am dedicated to meeting them where they are by nurturing their growth with empathy and respect while inspiring a love of learning.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Since joining the MPA community seven years ago as a parent, I have been consistently inspired by its warm, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere. There is an energy and magic specific only to MPA that I feel each time I’m on campus. With my son graduating from MPA in 2022 and my daughter graduating this spring, our family’s journey at MPA has been deeply meaningful, and this community holds a special place in my heart. After witnessing firsthand the care, attention, and dedication shown to MPA students, I am eager to join the teaching staff and contribute to the growth, joy, and development of our youngest learners. Read More

Then & Now: Tradition Of The Senior Walk

May 19, 2025

from Tim Koerner ’03

If you are reading this, you have your own, distinct memories of what it was like to graduate from MPA and your senior year. The auditorium, the proud friends and family, receiving your diploma, and taking pictures on the campus lawn in your cap and gown…

While the classic elements of an MPA graduation have remained the same for more than four decades, a new, poignant element was introduced to the graduation season in 2017—the Senior Walk.

MPA’s director of college counseling, Lisa Pederson, describes the event:

“The Senior Walk debuted in 2017, bringing the whole school community together to honor the graduating class. Seniors process through campus in their graduation gowns, stopping for quick hugs and high-fives from cheering teachers, parents, and friends from other grades. Led by Dr. Hudson, the parade emerges from the Lower School entrance—where some seniors started their MPA education—and follows the sidewalk west to finish at Door 4, near the Black Box. It’s become a fun and beloved tradition for the MPA community, while as a teacher and parent of recent MPA alums, I’ve found it to be a poignant moment as well.”

This year’s Senior Walk will take place on Friday, May 23, at 1 PM, and you can catch last year’s Senior Walk for the Class of 2024 here.

Watching the Senior Walk is often a culmination of sorts for younger Panther classes, who interact with and are exposed to the Seniors and their college selection process throughout the year. Read More

Why I Coach At MPA From Wade Peterson ’87

May 19, 2025

from Wade Peterson ’87

When I relocated back to the Twin Cities in 2007, I was looking to get involved in coaching quiz bowls, as I had done at the school where I was teaching in Eugene, Oregon. That summer, I contacted the Upper School director, Roberta Seum, and asked her if I could get involved. She told me the previous coach had just left the school and asked me to come in for an interview.

Over the last 18 years, I have coached a lot of things at Mounds Park Academy. I have coached Middle and Upper School quiz bowl, Middle School soccer, Middle School baseball, and even a few years of the Future Problem Solvers (FPS) team. I am still coaching soccer, baseball, and Middle School quiz bowl. In fact, I coached a tournament for Middle School quiz bowl recently, and I enjoyed it as much as I did when I first started in 2007.

I love working with MPA students and love the passion they bring to activities. It is a truly wonderful part of my life. It is amazing that I have been associated with Mounds Park Academy as a student, coach, and in various other roles since 1983. When I first visited as a potential student in the spring of my eighth-grade year, I never realized that I would be associated with the school in such an enduring way. MPA is an amazing place, and I am grateful to be a part of it!

Five Things To Know About MPA From Aili R.

May 14, 2025

A lot of things make MPA special, but for eighth grader Aili, these are the top five things that stand out the most!

1. MPA allows students to express themselves.

There is a large variety of after-school activities and electives available for us to choose from. There are instrumental groups, theatre productions, sport teams, and so much more. Everyone is welcome to join, and all are very welcoming and friendly.

2. We have fun assemblies and social events.

MPA has many assemblies, such as Give To The Max Day and pairing assemblies, and events throughout the school year, such as concerts and shows, that allow us to interact with peers and students from other grades. During these events and assemblies, we get the opportunity to participate and support our friends.

3. I love that MPA is PreK-12.

As a PreK-12 school, I am able to have friends of all ages and grades. This allows me to be able to have friends from Upper School through extracurriculars instead of only students in my grade. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Mr. James Ewer!

May 2, 2025

Mr. James Ewer will be joining us as Lower School director beginning July 1, 2025. Mr. Ewer brings with him a powerful blend of experience, conviction, and vision that will serve the Lower School—and the entire MPA community—exceptionally well. We are thrilled to introduce him to our community!

Tell us about your education and past experience.
For the past 14 years, I’ve dedicated my life to education—working across classrooms, leadership teams, and communities to create spaces where every child feels seen, challenged, and inspired. My journey has taken me from the front lines of teaching to the strategic work of school leadership, professional development, and instructional coaching. Along the way, I’ve led teams, reimagined systems, and built programs grounded in equity, joy, and high expectations.

I hold a master’s degree in school leadership from Harvard University, where I deepened my commitment to transformative, culturally responsive education. My work is rooted in the belief that education should be liberatory, and that the way we lead matters just as much as what we teach.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
This community feels truly special. From the moment I stepped in, there was a sense of warmth and honesty that stood out. People didn’t just share logistics or expectations—they shared their hopes and dreams. That openness, that willingness to be vulnerable and visionary at the same time, is what I felt most connected to. It reminded me that the heart of any thriving community isn’t just in its plans, but in the people who dare to imagine what’s possible together.
Read More

Why I Coach At MPA

April 14, 2025

from Takele Thompson-Nelson ’18

One reason I decided to return to MPA as a coach was that I was asked by fellow teammates who were also leaders and captains, Brendan Connolly ’17 and Cooper Olson ’16. I was eager to join the team, knowing that I would have those two by my side. I returned in hopes of passing on the knowledge and values that were given to me through my time at MPA. I also love basketball!

It means a lot to be able to mentor the next generation. However, those feelings are also partnered with fear. To have people, especially kids, relying on you is a powerful thing. But I know I wouldn’t be put in this position if I wasn’t ready. When coaching, I want to make sure that I’m not just hitting the Xs and Os because life is more complicated than that. In my time here at MPA, my coach is someone I could look up to and who helped guide me through other aspects of life beyond sports. I believe that it is my responsibility to also take that role for my athletes if needed.

My past experience as an MPA athlete has filled me with immense pride for everything related to being a Panther. Every win, loss, or game has an emotional connection for me because that was something I used to be a part of. I believe that being an alum and now a coach has created a strong bond between my passion for the team and the school. I am not just a coach but a previous athlete. This connection has given me my “why,” which is the fuel that has guided me to come to MPA every day with the same passion and love I had when I was a student here.