Upper School Archives

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.
Read More

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. 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

The Summer Scoop With Alli Capasso

July 9, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the July 9, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

In this issue of Inside MPA, we’ve connected with Alli Capasso, assistant director of admission, to ask about how her summer is going so far and what the admission process currently looks like in July.

What are the advantages of starting the application process over the summer?

Summer is the perfect time to begin your school search with less stress and more space to reflect. Families who start the application process now have time to explore, ask thoughtful questions, and envision the best fit for their child—without the competing demands of a busy school year. At MPA, the admission team is here all summer to guide you every step of the way.

What do you hope every new family experiences in their first year at MPA?

I hope they find a community! Our students are known, seen, and accepted for exactly who they are. I hope our parents find “the village” that will help raise their children to be problem-solvers, risk-takers, and people who will stand for justice and kindness in the world. Read More

A Message From Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon!

July 1, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

Dear MPA community,

I hope this message finds you well, enjoying these long summer days. I love the many ways Minnesotans find joy and energy spending time outdoors, taking in the sun.

It is incredibly exciting to officially arrive at Mounds Park Academy! I would like to extend my gratitude to the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading MPA and their continued support as I begin my new role as the school’s fifth head of school.

Thank you also to the faculty, staff, students, families, and alumni for the warm welcome! I have appreciated connecting with many of you throughout this past year at school events. While I always want summer to last as long as possible, I very much look forward to deepening our connections this school year. Read More

A Guide To A Joy-Filled, Learning-Rich Summer

June 26, 2025

With the transition from school year to summer, families are presented with a unique chance to reimagine learning beyond the classroom. Summer has the potential for a joyful, enriching season where curiosity, creativity, and growth thrive together, whether it’s through imaginative play, new skills, outdoor exploration, or reflection. An intentional, balanced approach to summer can help children of all ages gain confidence, expand their skills and passions, and return to school feeling ready, refreshed, and inspired.

As parents navigate the summer season, many will ask: How do we make this summer count?

At Mounds Park Academy, we believe summer isn’t just a break, it’s a chance to grow in new ways. It’s still a season for joyful learning while adding outdoor exploration, and building key life skills that carry beyond the classroom. A well-balanced summer should focus on essential skills and goals for the child, blending movement, creativity, independent time, and meaningful experiences that bolster academic success during the school year.

Summer is the time that students can lean into their own interests, either by engaging in more choice reading, enrolling in a specialty sports camp, or taking out their sketchbook while lying under their favorite tree. The beauty of this time is that incorporating purposeful learning does not mean hours of worksheets and practice tests; it is experiential and a little bit more open-ended. Thoughtfully piecing together a summer that includes your child’s interests and needs while also pairing it with concrete goals is the first step to tailoring the perfect summer for your child and family. Read More

MPA Speech Shines at 2025 Nationals

June 22, 2025

Mounds Park Academy’s speech team delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament, showcasing the power of dedication, collaboration, and Panther pride on the national stage.

Leading the way was Kelvyn Boddipalli, who captured the title of National Champion in Storytelling, earning top honors in a highly competitive field. His outstanding achievement reflects not only his incredible talent but also the collective spirit of the entire MPA team. In fact, Kelvyn’s success was both an individual and a team victory. Each night and between rounds, his teammates worked alongside him to refine his piece, offering feedback and helping him adapt his performance for the final round. As Coach Sunderman shared, “There were bits and pieces of each student on that trip in the performance. It was truly a team effort.”

As a sophomore, this achievement is particularly noteworthy and after many years of strong teams, Kelvyn is MPA’s first national champion.

All of the MPA students at nationals distinguished themselves:

Paul Fertig finished tenth in the nation in United States Extemporaneous Speaking.
Amal Sastry advanced to the quarterfinals in International Extemporaneous Speaking.
Ash Klann reached the octafinals in Original Oratory.
Mari Minear made it to the double octafinals in Poetry.
Annika Binstadt did not advance, but she was next out of octafinals, finishing top 65.

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

I Will Always Be Cheering You On

May 29, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

When I walked through the doors of Mounds Park Academy for the first time as head of school, I was filled with a sense of awe for this extraordinary institution and immense gratitude for the opportunity to lead it. Today, as I write my final head’s message, I find myself feeling those same emotions once again.

MPA is not just a school. It is a place where dreams are nurtured, voices are heard, and people are known, deeply and truly. It is a place where belonging isn’t just a value on a poster, but a daily practice. It is a place where students grow not only in intellect and skill, but in empathy, courage, and character. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to walk alongside you—students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends—as together we lived out the mission to dream big and do right.

Over the past 12 years, we have celebrated many milestones: the construction of new learning spaces like the Martin Lenz Harrison Library and the Family Commons; the launch of transformative programs in competency-based learning, diversity and belonging, and global partnerships; the growth in enrollment, philanthropy, and student support; and perhaps most meaningfully, the everyday moments of discovery, laughter, resilience, and care that happen in classrooms, hallways, and on playgrounds.