Head's Message Archives

June 1, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

My grandmother used to say that everything comes full circle, that in one way or another, we end up where we began. As we mark the end of the school year, we celebrate the ways in which the academic careers of our graduating seniors have come full circle.

This past week was the seniors’ last at MPA. They celebrated in a number of ways, including a fun senior “prank.” (I must share with you that MPA is the only school I know of where the seniors work with the administration in advance to plan their prank.) Upper School teachers served them waffles for breakfast and I treated them to Chipotle for lunch. For me, the lunch comes full circle from last fall when I met with them in groups of 10 over lunch and asked them to share with me their college dreams. Having come full circle, they received offers of admission from 113 different colleges and universities in 31 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. Next fall they plan to matriculate to 33 different schools in 14 states.

Honoring MPA’s Luminares

May 25, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am notorious for having eyeglasses covered with fingerprints and smudges. I don’t always take the time to slow down and clean them on a regular basis. My mother would often exclaim, with equal parts resignation and frustration, “It’s a wonder you can see anything with those glasses!” She tells me the same thing about the windows in our house, admonishing me for letting them get so dingy. Mothers are always right, of course, and when I do clean them, I really do see and appreciate the difference, seeing the world anew, with a degree of clarity.

Let’s Talk About Digital Citizenship

May 18, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

In the battle with my children over the internet, the Circle has become my favorite tool and their nemesis. If you haven’t heard of it, it is a device that connects to the home Wi-Fi and enables parents to set limits on what children are accessing online, when they can access it, and for how long. It allows us to monitor and filter what and how Mateo and Ari are using the internet. It drives the kids crazy, but gives us parents a modicum of relief in the never-ending, always contentious, struggle over screen time and technology.

The advancement of technology has made navigating childhood and adolescence increasingly complex, not only for students but for their parents as well. In particular, social media and online safety have been of particular concern. Although the research on the effects of internet use on adolescent social development is inconclusive, educators are working to better understand social interactions through technology in the larger context of adolescent development so they can help students grow into healthy and happy adults.

Head’s Message: Differentiated and Personalized Learning at MPA

May 11, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Several years ago, a battle was waging between parents in the form of bumper stickers. For every “My Child is on the Honor Roll at Lakeside Elementary,” there was one that read, “All Children are Honored at Creekside Elementary.” The bumper stickers were symptomatic of an overall conversation about how to meet the needs of all learners. The problem, in my opinion, was that the conversation focused on only one dimension of education, the intellect. There is more to education than ability.

While I don’t see as many of those bumper stickers as I once did, educators have yet to find the appropriate way to frame the conversation that is inclusive of all learners, on both ends of the spectrum. Special education programs have been mainstream for many years. In recent years, many school districts have created discreet gifted and talented programs. Together with comprehensive programs, these offerings segment learners in order to meet their needs.

Head’s Message: Coming Together

May 4, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending our school’s production of Pippin. I am impressed on so many levels with the accomplishments of our students. The singing was phenomenal, the music was beautiful, and the acting and staging was excellent. I was also struck by the diversity of the cast and crew. Students from across all three grade levels, peer groups, and interests were represented. It was an “MPA Moment” that captured the mission of our school.

Head’s Message: “13 Reasons Why” Discussion Resources

April 27, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

The death of a child, under any circumstance, is tragic. As a parent and educator, my greatest fear has always been suicide. I’d like to make you aware of a recently released Netflix series called 13 Reasons Why. The series has prompted significant controversy and concern among parents, educators, and mental health professionals.

The show depicts a central character who dies by suicide, leaving behind 13 tapes for different people in her life whose actions (or lack of actions) affected her negatively. Mental health professionals have expressed concerns that the show, which has been dubbed the “latest teenage Netflix binge craze,” fails to make any mention of the underlying mental illness that is present for the vast majority of young people struggling with suicidal ideation and instead may lead young people to believe that other people’s actions are mainly to blame for a suicide. Read More

Head’s Message: A Day in The Life

April 20, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting Anthony T. as head of school for the day. It was a great experience for both of us. We began by greeting students and parents at the south entrance of the school, which I shared was my favorite part of my day. He sat in on several meetings with senior administrators, toured the campus, and reviewed architectural drawings of the new Makerspace. He even chose the carpeting for the space! We also inspected the new roof and the solar panels. At one point, he asked me directly, “What exactly does a head of school do?” Good question, Anthony!

It is often difficult to describe my role to others. I sometimes equate it to being a superintendent of a public school district. As chief academic officer, it is my responsibility to stay abreast of emerging research on learning and developing curriculum to meet the needs of students. But being the head of school is different than leading a public school district. For example, it can be a unique challenge to lead a school with three divisions under one roof. The academic, social, emotional needs of students, teachers, and parents are very distinct.

Head’s Message: Be Prepared

April 13, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

One of the reasons I love education is that it is unpredictable. Unpredictability is a given when working with children, especially 480 of them! The unexpected hugs from kindergarteners, a sense of accomplishment radiating on the face of a student after a performance, or helping solve a printing problem for an Upper School student who is running late for class, make work enjoyable and rewarding. On the other hand, surprises can be a challenge, perhaps even threatening, and sometimes require a great deal of acumen and attention to successfully address. Yesterday’s discovery of a case of whooping cough in the Upper School was certainly a surprise (see notice here), but I was proud of our school’s immediate response, relying on the experience of administrators and staff members coupled with an excellent crisis communication plan. Read More

Head’s Message: I’d Like to Give You an Assignment

April 6, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Whether your family traveled or stayed local, I hope you had an enjoyable spring break. It’s been wonderful to see the school come alive again after two weeks of a near-empty building. While breaks are a great time for me to delve into projects that require focused attention, I miss the hustle and bustle of a busy school day. In between work days, I did take some time off to spend with my daughter Ari. Upon the recommendation of friends, we spent one afternoon touring the Mill City Museum on the river in downtown Minneapolis. It has been on my list of things to do in the Twin Cities for some time, but without the urging of friends, we probably wouldn’t have made the visit.

Family and friends can not only play a role in choosing a place to visit or a new restaurant, but they can also be instrumental when choosing a school. While new families come to MPA through a wide variety of channels including online research, community events, direct mail, advertisements, etc. the most important way they come to us is through their personal relationships with you, our current community members. Your friends, neighbors, family members, and colleagues are the people who are most likely to find MPA to be the right fit for their family. This is only natural since you are likely to share similar values related to your children and their education.

Head’s Message: Permission to Create and Explore

March 15, 2017

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Although winter is not yet ready to let go, as evidenced by Sunday’s snowfall, spring is beginning to make itself known at Mounds Park Academy. It has been a rather busy week with several rites of spring making their appearance. The Upper School is in the throes of final exams, Middle School is in i-Term, and Lower School students are embarking on a series of project-based learning experiences. The energy level is building as Friday approaches.

I was away from school for several days in early March attending the annual conference of the National Association of Independent Schools. A central theme of the conference was innovation. It is also a buzzword in educational circles as well as in business and industry. People in all sectors tend to confuse technology and innovation. They are not synonymous and technology is only one piece of the innovation puzzle.