Head’s Message

February 20, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Delivering a senior performance is a graduation requirement at MPA that I treasure. Each one is unique, thoughtful, and deeply personal. While this tradition is a valuable exercise in public speaking, it is, more importantly, a pivotal opportunity for self-reflection. Throughout their preparations, students confront their own growth, challenges, and transformations, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and often realizing how much they have changed along the way.

Senior performances don’t just impact the students delivering them—they resonate throughout the entire community. They strengthen school culture by reinforcing values, traditions, and a sense of belonging. They inspire younger students by putting growth, confidence, and resilience on full display. They foster empathy and compassion as teachers, peers, leaders, and families gain a deeper understanding of each student’s unique experiences and perspectives. They also serve as reminders that growth is often uncomfortable and that meaningful change happens when students are held to high standards in a supportive environment. I try to attend every senior performance, and one delivered recently by Wyatt Srsen ’25 profoundly illustrates the journey of self-discovery and transformation that can happen in a positive school community.

With his permission, I am sharing his performance, in its entirety, below. Spoiler alert: grab a tissue!

Growing up, I was a persistent student who found school simple and straightforward. Elementary school came and went without a challenge, and then came middle school, which was more of the same. Despite a few hiccups here and there, middle school passed me by quickly and without any real problems. I had an abundance of friends and good grades, and I never struggled in school. This was all true until COVID-19 hit. I lost connections with friends; my grades struggled more than ever as I struggled to find motivation while being stuck at home with no real human interaction. Seeing this, my parents decided it was time for a change. The public school system wasn’t supportive or challenging, so they thought that private school was the best route for me to become a better student. Despite my efforts to stay with my friends and continue on the same education path, my family ended up deciding that Mounds Park Academy was the place for me. Read More

February 13, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Over my 30+ years in education, I’ve been called many things, some of which I can’t repeat here. Most often, I’ve been called naïve or an optimist, most of the time meant as a criticism. Truth be told, I’d rather be naïve than a cynic, believing people are generally selfish and untrustworthy. I’d rather be an optimist rather than have a negative outlook on life and expect the worst from people and from life.

After reading “Hope for Cynics” by Jamil Zaki, Stanford University professor and director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, I can now proudly say I am a hopeful skeptic. A hopeful skeptic is someone who balances optimism with critical thinking. They are open to possibilities and potential but also approach claims, ideas, and situations with a questioning mindset. This person is not cynical or dismissive but instead seeks evidence, logic, and reason while maintaining a belief in positive outcomes.

Zaki writes about a test by psychologists Walter Cook and Donald Medley devised to identify good teachers. They asked hundreds of teachers whether they agreed with these three questions (and 47 others):

1. No one cares much what happens to you.
2. Most people dislike helping others.
3. Most people are honest chiefly through fear of getting caught.

According to Cook and Medley’s research, the more a teacher agreed with these statements, the worse their rapport with students. Out of curiosity, but knowing the probable outcome, I did a snap poll of MPA teachers. The vast majority disagreed with all three statements with a small handful agreeing with only one. It didn’t surprise me that 97% of our teachers are low or low-medium in cynicism. Read More

February 6, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Our values endure. Our resolve is unshakable.

Transitions, whether personal, institutional, or societal, bring both challenge and opportunity. They disrupt routines and ask us to think critically, act courageously, and reaffirm what truly matters. In moments of change—whether in our school, our communities, or on a global scale—we are called to return to our values and remain steadfast. At Mounds Park Academy, we want to be clear: our commitment to our mission and values is unwavering.

MPA is, and will always be, a place where students, families, and educators feel seen, valued, and supported. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive, just, and equitable environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive. Our mission calls us to nurture critical thinkers, compassionate leaders, and engaged citizens who have the courage to shape a better world. That mission remains steadfast.

In the recent community survey, MPA students consistently highlighted the welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment. They report strong bonds between the students, teachers, and staff, noting that the result is a close-knit, respectful culture. One student wrote, “I think the school is really good at making sure that every student feels valued and important and in accepting each person’s different situations and how that can affect their learning or experience. People here are very understanding and friendly and create an environment where you don’t feel scared to speak up.” Read More

January 9, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we approach the midpoint of this academic year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for entrusting us with your child’s education. Returning to school after a long break can be tough for anyone, especially our students, but it was wonderful to see the excitement and joy on the faces of our students on Monday. The privilege of partnering with you to nurture, challenge, and inspire your children is one that I cherish deeply. Today, I invite you to reflect on the extraordinary value of a Mounds Park Academy education and the enduring impact it has on our students, families, and community.

Although we are in the depth of winter, we are already hard at work planning for the 2025-2026 school year. Our outstanding admission team is hard at work fielding inquiries from prospective families and guiding them toward enrollment. In just a few weeks, we will begin the re-enrollment process for returning families. At their January 27 meeting, the MPA Board of Trustees will approve a preliminary budget for the upcoming school year by setting tuition and determining compensation for faculty and staff. This is a challenging task because the decision is made on an enrollment forecast of both new and returning students. However, it is important for parents and guardians to know tuition before re-enrolling, which allows the school to offer work agreements to teachers before spring break. Read More

December 19, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As I was greeting parents last Thursday before our Middle School band, orchestra, and vocal concert, Middle School science teacher Courtney Nagle excitedly invited me to see the lights her students had strung in the science garden. It was magical. As darkness descends earlier and earlier and the weather turns increasingly dreary and colder, light, in all its beauty and forms, is both a comfort and a promise.

As we embark on our two-week winter break, we are reminded of the power and symbolism of light during this season. Across many traditions—Christian, Jewish, Kwanzaa, Hindu, Wiccan, and Muslim—light serves as a unifying symbol of hope, renewal, and joy. Whether through the glowing candles of Advent, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, the luminous diyas of Diwali, or the guiding light of understanding and reflection in other spiritual practices, light brings warmth and connection to our shared humanity.

At Mounds Park Academy, light takes on a unique meaning. It reflects our mission as educators and our commitment to lighting a fire within each student. This metaphor captures the very heart of education—not as the passive transfer of information, but as a force that ignites curiosity, inspires passion, and nurtures a love of learning that endures for a lifetime. Read More

December 12, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Many well-meaning people have asked me if I am looking forward to retirement or what it’s like to celebrate the last Founders’ Day. In all honesty, I don’t think about retiring all that much or my remaining days as MPA’s head of school. Many years ago, early in my career at another school, I worked with a long-serving teacher who had a clock that worked backwards, telling him how many days, hours, and minutes he had until he could walk out the door. I remember feeling sad for him and I made a promise to myself, then and there, that I would never put myself in that position. I feel as engaged today as I did when I walked into the school for the first time 12 years ago.

It is natural to feel some uncertainty and anxiety during a change in leadership, but I want to assure you that the process of welcoming our next head of school is unfolding with great care and intention. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon over the past six months. MPA is fortunate that Dr. Brogdon is close by this year, serving as interim head of school at Groves Academy. We’ve been meeting regularly since the summer, building trust and thoughtfully planning this transition.

I’ve shared many times with colleagues that the more time I spend with Dr. Brogdon, the more I like her, personally and professionally. We share a common set of beliefs and values about education and leadership. I’ve come to appreciate her deep respect for MPA’s mission, her thoughtful approach to leadership, and the wealth of experience she brings to MPA. Her commitment to listening, learning, and working collaboratively with our students, parents, faculty, and staff ensures a bright future for MPA. Without a doubt, I believe that Dr. Brogdon is the right person to lead MPA in its next chapter, and I am committed to ensuring her success.

While Dr. Brogdon continues her work as interim head of school at Groves Academy this year, we are balancing her current responsibilities with opportunities to integrate her into our community. Over the coming months, you will see more of her at MPA events, concerts, and meetings, as she begins to deepen her connections with students, employees, and families. In fact, if you attended the Middle School concert tonight, perhaps you had an opportunity to say hello and extend a warm welcome to her.

I approach each day at MPA as a gift. I am excited each day as I drive to school, and I feel a profound sense of purpose and gratitude as I drive home, no matter how long my day has been. To work with amazing colleagues who care deeply about their students and their vocation inspires and energizes me regardless of how tired I may be. I enjoy getting to know our parents, grandparents, and volunteers who give me strength and resolve through a shared belief in the value of the transformative power of education to change lives and the world. And finally, to encounter joyful, curious, caring students and know I am playing, even a very small way, a role in their growth and development brings joy even on the coldest, cloudiest Minnesota day.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your commitment to this extraordinary school. I have no doubt that the best days of MPA lie ahead.

December 5, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

It was wonderful to see so many families at the annual Founders’ Day Pancake Breakfast! The joyfulness and communal spirit are living testimony to the founding vision of Mounds Park Academy (MPA). Decades ago, Bob Kreischer and Sandy Kreischer Smith, alongside founding board members, established MPA with the belief that education could be both joyful and academically challenging and they purposely grounded the school’s pedagogy in a progressive, whole-child, liberal arts curriculum.

Next week, MPA will join thousands of schools worldwide in celebrating the Hour of Code, a movement introducing millions of students to computer science through one-hour coding activities. Rather than limiting our students to just one hour, MPA will host a week-long celebration of coding and STEM-related activities, demonstrating our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning. The following are just a few of the activities planned for next week:

• Lower School students will engage in programming activities during Tech and Library time throughout the week, including time with Upper School computer science class students and Upper School Makerspace class students.
• Middle School students will be experimenting with fun STEM and coding-related technology such as the Spero Bolt, Makey Makey, Scratch Labs, and Micro:Bit during B-day advisory classes.
• In Upper School, ninth-grade students will learn coding by using Sphero Robotics during seminar time. They will also have access to the arcade games created by computer science students.

At MPA, STEM encompasses science, technology, engineering, math, computer science, coding, robotics, engineering and design, digital literacy, and the Makerspace. Our approach is comprehensive and empowers students across grade levels to explore, create, and apply knowledge in practical, meaningful ways. By integrating STEM into our liberal arts curriculum, we ensure that students are equipped with technical expertise, critical thinking skills, and ethical reasoning, preparing them for both the challenges of today and the unknown opportunities of tomorrow.

STEM within a liberal arts framework aligns perfectly with MPA’s mission of fostering a whole-child education. Technology has become an integral part of modern life, influencing communication, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and the arts. Understanding STEM principles allows students to navigate and shape this dynamic world. At the same time, MPA’s liberal arts curriculum broadens students’ perspectives, cultivating critical thinking, creativity, and ethical awareness. Together, these disciplines prepare students to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

One of the most compelling reasons for incorporating STEM into a liberal arts curriculum is its ability to enhance problem-solving skills. At its core, STEM at MPA is about addressing challenges through logic, creativity, and innovation. Students learn to break complex problems into manageable parts, design algorithms, and test solutions. These problem-solving skills transcend the classroom, equipping students to apply them to real-world scenarios across disciplines.

STEM at MPA also complements the goals of a liberal arts education by fostering critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning. Coding, for example, challenges students to think analytically and refine their approaches. Simultaneously, STEM at MPA is deeply creative, enabling students to design digital art, create games, or build apps that bring their ideas to life. Importantly, a liberal arts framework encourages students to consider the ethical implications of their work. Topics such as data privacy, artificial intelligence, and digital equity are interwoven into the curriculum, ensuring students not only excel technically but also think deeply about the societal impact of their innovations.

STEM at MPA also empowers students as innovators. By learning to code, design, and build—and spending time in the AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace—students transform from passive consumers of technology into active creators. This empowerment fosters entrepreneurship, enabling students to launch their own projects, businesses, or social initiatives. Whether designing a user-friendly app, developing a new product, or solving a real-world problem, students learn to take their ideas from concept to reality. This process cultivates resilience, creativity, and a sense of agency—qualities essential for success in any field.

STEM at MPA is not treated as an isolated discipline but as an integral part of the broader liberal arts curriculum. For instance, eighth-grade students participate in the Future Cities Competition, where they design and build a model of a sustainable city. This project involves engineering principles, research, essay writing, and presenting their work to judges, exemplifying the interdisciplinary connections STEM fosters. Such projects demonstrate the relevance of STEM across areas of study and deepen students’ appreciation for its role in addressing complex challenges.

The benefits of STEM at MPA extend far beyond technical proficiency. By engaging in STEM, students develop essential skills in collaboration and communication. Many projects require teamwork, teaching students how to work effectively with others and leverage diverse perspectives. STEM also emphasizes the importance of explaining technical concepts clearly, ensuring students can communicate ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences. These skills are invaluable in a world where collaboration and communication are key to success.

Finally, STEM at MPA fosters digital literacy, a critical skill in the 21st century. Students learn how technology works and gain insights into its societal implications. They navigate the digital world responsibly, protect themselves from cyber threats, and critically evaluate the role of technology in their lives. This digital literacy not only prepares students for college and careers but also empowers them to be informed, engaged citizens.

Integrating STEM into Mounds Park Academy’s liberal arts curriculum is about more than preparing students for jobs in a technology-driven world—it’s about preparing them for life. By combining technical expertise with creativity, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning, MPA ensures students are equipped to lead, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to society. As technology continues to evolve, MPA graduates are prepared to be thoughtful, compassionate, and visionary leaders.

November 14, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

When I was in middle school, I had a paper route. One advantage to having a paper route was that I had a lot of time to think, and I often dreamed of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had it down to two options, and as I tossed a paper on each home’s front porch, I alternated between the two: “President, or Pope, President, or Pope…” Like pulling the petals off a daisy, I hoped my future would become clearer with each paper. While my dream was not ultimately realized, I was fortunate to have a number of teachers who encouraged me along the way, igniting other dreams for the future.

As we move through this vibrant season of learning, growth, and discovery, I am asking for your partnership in something truly meaningful: our annual fall giving campaign, taking place from November 17 to November 23. This year, our theme, “Igniting Dreams, One Gift at a Time,” captures our vision and commitment to fostering the potential within each MPA student.

Our theme this year also captures the powerful impact of each individual contribution. Every donation, no matter the size, plays a role in fueling students’ aspirations and helping them achieve their dreams. Each gift acts as a spark, collectively building a foundation of support that enables students to explore their passions, grow academically, and develop into compassionate, engaged individuals.

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