Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Antiracism Archives

April 10, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we step into the vibrant season of spring, I find myself drawn to the quiet beauty and symbolism this time of year brings. The longer days, the budding trees, the chirping of birds, the honking of geese, and the first signs of green pushing through the soil remind us of the steady, hopeful rhythm of renewal. For those of us in education—and perhaps especially in the Upper Midwest where winter holds on tightly—spring is more than just a season. It is a metaphor for the growth, energy, and transformation that we see unfolding daily within our school community.

At MPA, spring invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far we’ve come this year. We see this in the confidence of a kindergartner who now walks into school independently, in the curiosity of a fourth grader asking big questions, and in the thoughtful determination of a senior finalizing their post-secondary decision. These moments—large and small—mark the progress of a school year that, like spring itself, began in stillness and has blossomed into joyful, dynamic growth.

Spring also gives us the gift of perspective. Just as trees begin to leaf out again after a long winter, our students begin to show us the fruits of their learning. They take risks, solve problems, express ideas, and test out who they are becoming. These moments of discovery and stretch are not always linear—they often arrive with a mix of messiness and magic—but they are the very heart of a transformational education. And they mirror what we as adults know to be true: real growth takes time, intention, and courage. Read More

Join Us For Family Allyship For LGBTQ+ School Community Members

April 9, 2025

Mark your calendars for an interactive workshop on Wednesday, May 14, from 6-8 PM in the Family Commons that will provide MPA parents and staff with the tools and language they need to be supportive allies to transgender and nonbinary community members at MPA! This event is being hosted by MPA’s Rainbow Club and Gender Inclusive Schools. Please RSVP here!

Together, we will practice responses to challenging questions on LGBTQ+ topics and explore ways to communicate affirmation and celebration of LGBTQ+ community members visibly. Basic definitions for LGBTQ+ terms will be provided along with age-appropriate resources to facilitate positive and accurate discussions with your family about gender identity and sexual orientation at home. Read More

Meet An International Host Family: The Beerninks

April 7, 2025

MPA parent Erika Beernink shares her family’s experience hosting MPA international student Baiquan (Michael) Mao ’27.

Why did you decide to host an international student?

We wanted to learn more about different cultures and experiences, including having our own children learn to appreciate these differences.

How has hosting an international student impacted or changed your family?

Positively! We have learned and experienced so much that we would not have otherwise had access to.

Share a special or memorable moment you’ve experienced while hosting your student.

The “firsts” are the best—ice skating, carving pumpkins, watching the US Pond Hockey Championships outside when it is -10 degrees, building a snowman, and trying new foods.

What would you tell another family considering hosting an MPA international student?

It is a wonderful experience, you really are adding another child to your family, and it comes with all the experiences you would expect from parenting someone else’s teenager.

Tell us about your family including your professions and education.

Hans (dad) has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and is a business unit leader at Bio-Techne. Erika (mom) has a J.D. and previously practiced law in California; currently, she is volunteering at MPA. Hayden (oldest child) has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oregon and is currently job hunting. Pim (youngest child) is currently in eighth grade at MPA. Michael (our international student) is currently in tenth grade at MPA.

Become A Host Family

International Student Experience

A Leadership Transition Update

April 3, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to share an update on the leadership transition and the exciting road ahead for Mounds Park Academy. As many of you know, this will be my final year serving as head of school at MPA. It is a bittersweet season—filled with reflection, gratitude, and anticipation for what’s to come. Serving this community has been the greatest privilege of my professional life, and I remain deeply invested in ensuring a smooth, thoughtful, and mission-aligned transition.

Over the past several months, I have been working closely with Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, who was appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as the next head of school, effective July 1, 2025. Having the opportunity to partner with her during this full year of transition has been a true gift. It is rare in independent schools to have this kind of intentional, overlapping leadership—and we are using it fully to MPA’s advantage.

It was good to see so many of you at the Coffee & Conversation events with Dr. Brogdon and me. For those of you who were able to attend, I hope that you saw the synergy and warmth between the two of us. You may have also viewed a video of the two of us discussing leadership and the transition. If you haven’t, please click here. Know that an additional two videos will be released very soon. My hope is to alleviate whatever anxiety the community might feel about the transition. Read More

Eid Mubarak, Honoring Eid al-Fitr, And Celebrating Inclusion At MPA

March 27, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we approach the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, I’d like to reflect on the significance of this holiday and the shared values it uplifts—especially within our Mounds Park Academy community. Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and compassion. It is a time for gratitude, generosity, and joyful connection—values that resonate deeply with our mission and culture at MPA.

Here at MPA, we strive to cultivate a school where every student, family, and faculty member feels respected and celebrated. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths—it creates a vibrant environment for learning, growth, and deeper understanding. Celebrating cultural and religious traditions, such as Eid al-Fitr, is essential to fostering an inclusive community and honoring the unique identities of all who make up MPA.

On Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of joining over 100 members of our community—students, families, and faculty—for Iftar, the meal to break the fast at sunset. This beautiful evening was organized by our Upper School Muslim Student Association and MPA art teacher, Samah Fahmy. Students shared their beliefs, sang the call to prayer, and led the Maghrib prayer before we all enjoyed a delicious potluck meal together. I was truly honored to be part of such a meaningful celebration of faith, culture, and togetherness. Read More

Ten Things To Consider When Choosing A Private School

March 6, 2025

The arrival of spring brings a new season to all private schools all around the country: admission season! Here at MPA, decisions are released on March 28 and the enrollment deadline quickly follows on April 11. This means families are currently facing a decision—and sometimes, that decision can be difficult. So with the help of our community, we collected a list of ten things families should consider when deciding on a private school.

1. Your Community
When choosing a school, you’re not looking for a community just for your children, but for yourself and your entire family.

The MPA community is robust, and each and every child is known and valued. We are built upon shared values and firmly committed to freethinking, collaboration, diversity, and connection. “We love the connectedness, the openness of the community, and the personal attention for our children,” says MPA Middle School parent Isaac McBroom. “It seems the school really knows them as individuals.”

He also noted how the strength of the MPA community is rooted in character development, one of the fundamental aspects in our educational philosophy and in the curriculum, PreK-12. “The world does not run on math and science alone. Understanding world issues, and how to connect to others with empathy and understanding will hopefully lead to a more fulfilling life,” he added. Read More

The Joy Of Being A PreK-12 Family

March 5, 2025

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

To close out the month of February, we gathered together in the Family Commons for “Remember the Time: A Black History Month Showcase.” The event was a wonderful reflection of connections forged between students of all ages–a distinctly PreK-12 experience.

Ahead of the event, students were immersed in research, combining prior knowledge with new findings and growing their appreciation and understanding. Older students mentored younger ones, guiding them through these discoveries, while they brought fresh perspectives that reminded us all of the joy in curiosity.

Then, the evening opened with a gallery-style viewing of student work displayed throughout campus. In Lower School, a model of the historic Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans and Basquiat-inspired artwork. In Middle School, educational videos describing biographies of influential inventors, scholars, activists, and artists. In Upper School, the halls were lined with a timeline of Black History in America. And so much more. Read More

Welcome Home, International Students!

February 18, 2025

Last week, we hosted a live event with FindingSchools to give international students and families an inside look at MPA, including a virtual tour, international student college matriculation, and more. View the event recording here! Please note that this event is recorded in English and Chinese, but our FindingSchools profile can also be viewed in Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese.

MPA’s International Student Program is comprehensive and student-centered, allowing our International Student Program director and our faculty and staff to best support our international students in all aspects of their academic and personal lives. Our international students are able to fully experience American culture and live with their host families while having a nurturing and supportive academic experience. Read More

Join Us For Remember the Time: A Black History Month Showcase

February 13, 2025

Join us for Remember the Time: A Black History Month Showcase as we come together as a community to celebrate Black history, culture, and contributions in a powerful and engaging way on Thursday, February 27, from 4:30-6:30 PM in the Family Commons! Throughout February, students across all divisions will explore themes of fun facts (Lower School), innovations (Middle School), and legacy (Upper School), leading up to an incredible school-wide presentation.

On February 27, the school will open at 3:15 PM for visitors to tour the building and experience the incredible projects and displays created by our students. Then, at 4:30 PM, we’ll transition into a New Orleans jazz club experience for our showcase, featuring live music from Monique Blakey & The Experience and hosted by Pierre Douglas, a Twin Cities comedy staple known for his appearance on Comedy Central’s Hart of the City.

Guests will also enjoy authentic New Orleans cuisine prepared by Chef Ronnie. The celebration will conclude at 6:30 PM.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! You won’t want to miss this unforgettable event! Please contact Eddie Grant, assistant director of equity and belonging, at egrant@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.

What New Families Are Saying About MPA

October 24, 2024

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the October 26 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Fall is full of events at MPA, both for students and their families. Through opportunities ranging from volunteering and conferences to discussions on screentime and the election, we love to be in touch with MPA parents and value open, transparent communication to support one another.

Another important step we take in the fall is surveying families who are new to MPA. With a deep commitment to continuous improvement, we want to better understand their experiences with the admission and onboarding processes. Our goal is always to offer the best experience possible, and receiving feedback is essential to doing just that.

With that in mind, we wanted to share some of the noteworthy comments we recently received from surveying our new families:

“We were seeking out a space the was more inclusive than the average private school. Mounds Park Academy has absolutely checked all boxes when it comes to quality education, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging.”
“Our child has had a great transition and we can see a huge difference in her at home when it comes to wanting to attend school and feeling a sense of belonging.
“MPA has been AMAZING at facilitating his transition. We continue to be so impressed with MPAs communication, and found the ‘buddy’ connection particularly helpful.”
“While dissatisfaction with our previous school definitely played a part in our decision-making process, it was the overall reputation of MPA that made it an obvious choice for us. We toured all of the top tier private schools, looked at charter schools with excellent ratings, and also considered moving into a better public school district. When we first toured MPA, we absolutely fell in love. It is such a warm and welcoming environment. When it came time for us to get applications out, we had planned to apply to several schools, but in the end put all of our eggs into the MPA basket. We decided if we didn’t get in this year, we would try again and again. We feel so blessed to be a part of the community!”