October 24, 2019
What would you tell another family considering MPA?
In addition to the facts provided by the helpful admission team, I think that every prospective family needs to understand the implications of the faculty retention at MPA. Most of my favorite teachers spent the majority of or their entire careers at MPA, and some of them are still teaching today. I’ve observed that for so many faculty members, aligning their passion with MPA values continues to fulfill their vocation as educators, year after year. When I think of all of those students impacted by teachers who are as dedicated to the school as they are to their field, I feel more confident than ever about our decision to continue this tradition for our family.
In what ways has MPA prepared your child for life in the 21st century?
Years ago, my mother shared that a friend of hers, another MPA parent, told her that no matter what your child excels at, the teachers at MPA will find it. As an alum, I absolutely believe this is true, but I’ll add that they don’t stop when the skill is discovered. Proficiencies are recognized, but not praised in a way that prevents students from experimenting with new opportunities. In the 21st century, we are faced with the challenge of preparing our children with a skillset for an unknown future. For my son, I know that he will be continuously exposed to multiple disciplines throughout his entire duration at MPA, and encouraged to make balanced decisions about his interests when he has that freedom. This emphasis on exposure and balance over perfection will prepare him for an evolving future full of choices that don’t yet exist.
What do you hope for your child in 20 years?
I think that every parent hopes for their children to become successful adults. For my husband and I, success is as equally rooted in financial stability as it is in fulfillment and work/life balance. We are confident that our son will have the academic foundation necessary to excel in undergraduate school and graduate school (if he chooses), but we also pray that through self-discovery he will pursue a passion and feel fulfillment in that pursuit. Additionally, we hope that like his mother, he will look back on his childhood at MPA and remember that (above all) he was happy.
What do you love about MPA?
Although we were living in another state at the time, I knew back when my oldest was just an infant that I wanted my children to go to MPA. As an alum, this school holds a special place in my heart because when I think about my childhood here, I remember that I was happy. Pair that with what I consider to be superior adulthood preparation and MPA doesn’t feel like just a school, it’s a lifestyle tradition that I chose to continue for my family. With committed faculty, small class sizes, supported transitions, cutting-edge tools, college counseling, and most importantly, a whole-child approach to education, what’s not to love? I am grateful to have received my life’s foundation here and I am thrilled for my son (and eventually sons) to have their own experience.
How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
The campus and faculty here provide a safe environment (both physically and emotionally) for my son to learn skills, test out new ideas, and practice teamwork. I strongly believe that the nature of a PreK through 12 education allows children to feel more comfortable when transitioning between grades. Instead of worrying about changing schools or making new friends, MPA students are consistently supported throughout their entire education so that they feel safe and grounded when pushing the boundaries of their ideas. Students are regularly encouraged, challenged, and respected in their creative approaches to problems, without fear, judgement or social pressure.
Mounds Park Academy, a PreK-12 private school in Saint Paul, is currently accepting inquiries for the 2020-21 school year. For more information about admission and to schedule your tour, visit moundsparkacademy.org/admission. We look forward to getting to know your family!
