All School Archives

August 17, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Third Grade Long-Term Substitute

From what school/organization are you coming?
Breakthrough Twin Cities

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I attended Cretin-Derham Hall for high school, and then George Washington University in Washington, DC, where I studied human services and social justice. I worked with Jumpstart, an early literacy program for students in underserved preschools, my entire time at GW. Each summer, I came back home to the Twin Cities to work with Breakthrough, an educational equity nonprofit that operates out of MPA and helps prepare middle and high school students for college. I also spent a year working with N Street Village, a nonprofit that works with women experiencing homelessness in DC.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The strong sense of community was really clear to see even as an outsider. Everyone seems to know and care about one another. MPA seems very thoughtful and intentional about the overall experience they provide for students, and is always trying to make it even better. I also really appreciate the emphasis on students’ whole selves through academics, the arts, and athletics. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Dinah MacPhail!

August 17, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Fifth and eighth grade social studies teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Saint Paul Academy

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I fell into teaching as a summer job in 2008, and then kept coming back to it until I realized how much I loved it. I started at the Carroll School in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and have since taught in Massachusetts and Minnesota, and in almost every grade (except pre-k). Before I became a licensed teacher, I also taught wine tasting classes as a wine sales rep and cheese monger.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The incredible positivity, the honest and vulnerable reflective practices, and the authentic emphasis on community.

What’s your big dream?
To love what I do, and to do what I love, both without reservation. Read More

Welcome To MPA, Samantha Sanchez!

August 17, 2022

Samantha Sanchez

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked at a very small community college in New Jersey and am completing my Master’s degree at NYU.

Tell us a little bit about your education and past experience.
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Black Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and led efforts in higher education reform to increase access and the holistic achievement of minoritized students, which began my professional career in both DEIB and education. After working in K-12 with neurodiverse students and for a private corporation leading community empowerment and equity efforts in urban planning, I decided to pursue my Master’s degree in Sociology of Education at NYU–both so I could fulfill a lifelong dream of living in New York City and to further my research pursuits.

What did you find appealing about MPA during the interview process?
My education philosophy and research foci are centered in the holistic development of students, so it was beautiful to see so many people dedicated to developing the whole student and practicing education models that center student needs. I also found myself in a (virtual) space with people I felt incredibly comfortable with and could sense how fundamental community formation is at MPA.

What’s your big dream?
I have dreams of buying a farm, own lots of animals (we have five dogs now!), and growing a majority of the fruits and vegetables we consume.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
My family is incredibly passionate about just that–family! We seize every opportunity to be together and spend quality time with one another. These days, that often looks like a group FaceTime where all you can see is all of our foreheads (I have no idea why we all FaceTime that way) and gatherings at our family home. The last big family outing we had was some months ago at Disneyland for my nephew’s first birthday!

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I am originally from California! The rest of my family currently lives in Southern California and my fiancée is originally from the Bay (Northern California), but she and her family moved to Minneapolis some time ago…which is what initially brought me here!

Welcome to MPA, Jane O’Halloren!

August 16, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Part-time Upper School English Teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Rosemount High School

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I taught in Chicago for six years before relocating to Minnesota for my partner’s job, and I taught for five years in District 196 at Rosemount High School. My undergraduate degrees are in English and French from St. Olaf College, and my M.A. is in Rhetoric and Composition from DePaul University.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The pairing of intellectual ambition and global responsibility appeals to my sense of idealism. What is our responsibility to ourselves and others as we become better readers, writers, and thinkers? I’m excited to see what this looks like in the classroom.

What’s your big dream?
Chasing curiosity–staying thirsty for knowledge and connection.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
I’m passionate about going on adventures. This might look like family adventures (road trips, camping trips, day trips) or intellectual adventures (reading a challenging book, taking a new job) or physical adventures (running challenging races, joining a new workout class).

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I make my kids’ birthday cakes every year from scratch.

Welcome to MPA, Scott Klasen!

August 15, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Upper School Science Teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Lakeview Christian Academy

Tell us about your education and past experience.
After graduating with a master’s degree in Chemistry in 2015 I have been teaching as a high school teacher providing instruction for a variety of courses including Geometry, Algebra, Economics, 3D printing, Circuits and Programming, and College Level Chemistry.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I am excited for the opportunity to be part of a faculty that is passionate about promoting students to be freethinkers, doers, and dreamers.

What’s your big dream?
My dream as a teacher is to teach science in an interactive way that any student can relate with and use to think about the world around them.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate exploring how things work and really enjoy a new project that allows me to learn something new. As a teacher, I try to demonstrate what it looks like to be a lifelong learner and enjoy providing opportunities for students to find the joy of learning.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I am a big Green Bay Packer fan.

Welcome To MPA, Jay Dean!

July 13, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Interim assistant Upper School director starting August 1, 2022.

From what school/organization are you coming?
The Blake School

Tell us a little bit about your education and past experience.
I earned my B.S. in Producing for Electronic Media from Syracuse University and earned my M.A. in School Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. My teaching and administrative experience includes time at The Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, CA (2002-11) and The Blake School (2011-2022). At Blake, I served as Middle School director for five years.

What did you find appealing about MPA during the interview process?
I am drawn to MPA’s focus on the whole child, its progressive approach to teaching and learning, and the recognition of the importance of social-emotional learning and DEIJ work. I know that MPA is a “transformative” partner for students and families and I am excited to be a part of that. Read More

What’s Happening To MPA’s Pond?

July 13, 2022

If you’ve been on campus lately, you’ve probably noticed something different about MPA’s pond–and not just the seasonal algae. This summer, the pond is adorned with trucks, cranes, bulldozers, gravel, and boulders. We have an exciting update about all of this action and commotion around our beloved outdoor learning lab.

MPA has a long-standing partnership with the Ramsey-Washington Watershed District. Several times per year, they visit our Upper School biology and environmental science classes for lessons regarding the health, importance, and sustainability of water. Many of these lessons use our campus pond as the source of their research and data collection. This summer, we are ecstatic to be continuing our work with them to embark on improvement project for our campus pond, supported by the Watershed District themselves. One of our amazing alumni, Andrea Wedul ’95, is the architect who designed this renovation for us. With the help of Andrea, the Watershed District, and the vibrant ecosystem of the pond, this initiative will enhance a signature space at MPA to become a more advanced and accessible outdoor classroom.

Currently, the renovation crew is removing a row of parking spaces from the west lot to install filters and extend the growth of native plants in that area. This will help protect our pond from harmful runoff throughout every season. We are still in the early stages, but are loving the progress taking shape right before our eyes! See the action for yourself here!

Summer At MPA Artists

July 5, 2022

What do you get when you throw spin art, bracelets, fidget spinners, slime, and other crafting activities into a camp and mix it all with a big helping of art history? Snapology’s awesome new Craft Design Maker Camp! Throughout last week, Lower School students learned about some of art’s greatest minds, as well as created some fun STEM-focused take-home projects and activities. One of the most favored activities of the week was building magma-filled volcanoes. The camp has a perfect balance of creativity and STEM-based assignments that prompt young artists to expand their creative comfort zones while developing essential hands-on and problem-based skills.

Calling All Host Families

June 24, 2022

Dear MPA Community,

Do you have a desire to expand your family’s perspective of the world? A room to spare? Space in your heart for another family member? MPA is seeking host families for three international students for the fall of 2022.

MPA and schools like MPA that have international student programs have struggled to find families willing to host since the beginning of the pandemic. We have three outstanding Upper School students (one male, two female) without homes yet and we are in great need of your help.

All have studied in the United States previously, for a year or more. Among them you will find a student who is an award-winning mathematician and pianist who plays in subway stations and nursing homes, a student who is passionate about oil painting and chemistry, and another who enjoys ceramics and track and field. All three are disappointed in the education systems they have been in and are looking for MPA’s approach to rigor with purpose and joy. All three are fluent in English, strong students, and have a desire to be part of a family here.

How Can You Help?

Volunteer to host. Find many more details below. Note that a $9,000 stipend is provided for room and board.
Share this opportunity on social media. Find a Facebook post here and a LinkedIn post here. Share widely and often!
Email your network, neighborhood, and/or colleagues. Reach out to communications@moundsparkacademy.org and we will send you an email that is ready to forward.
Put a lawn sign in your yard. Do you live on a well-traveled street in the Twin Cities? If so, email communications@moundsparkacademy.org and we will deliver a host family recruitment lawn sign to your home.

As you and your family consider hosting, please review the MPA Host Family Recruitment Flyer and Host Family Application.

STIPEND

A 10-month stipend of $9,000 will be directly deposited in equal installments of $900/month on the first of each month for the previous month, September through June.
An early installment of $500 will be deposited on August 1 in preparation for your student’s arrival; the remaining $400 will be deposited on September 1.

TRANSPORTATION

Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from school and school-related activities.
Host families will work with their student in scheduling rides for social events.

MEALS

All international students will receive the MPA school lunch. Host families and students do not need to pack lunches.
Host families are responsible for providing two meals on all weekdays and three meals on all weekend days.

We hope you’ll consider opening your hearts and homes to one of our international students! Give it some thought, and if interested, please reach out to me for additional information and/or to begin the process of becoming a host family. I would love to have a conversation with you!

Thank you so much for considering,

Cory Becker-Kim
International Student Program Coordinator
Advanced Language and Culture Teacher
cbeckerkim@moundsparkacademy.org

Welcome To MPA, Hannah Smith!

June 22, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Assistant Director of Admission, Lower School

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked at Como Friends prior to being a full-time stay at home parent.

Tell us a little bit about your education and past experience.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. After graduating I worked in various fields from management to patient care at children’s hospitals. I was able to find my true passion for non-profit work while working at Como Friends, the fundraising arm for Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul. It was at Como Friends that I realized my desire to work with the good intentions of the human spirit while developing meaningful relationships.

What did you find appealing about MPA during the interview process?
MPA emits a sense of hope for the future of our world while expecting respect and true communication in ways that are difficult to come upon, let alone practice in our current world. These feelings and expectations were present during every aspect of the interview experience, with every panel member, and each thought-out question and conversation. The entire process was thoughtful which is a genuine reflection of MPA and their approach to learning. Read More