My MPA Experience Archives

Five Things To Know About MPA From Ford B.

March 13, 2025

Middle School student Ford B. shares five key things about his MPA experience, including discovering passions, finding his place here, and skills he’s built upon.

1. Everyone is super welcoming.

I joined MPA last year for my seventh-grade year. On the first day, I was afraid to make new friends, until my first class, and someone asked me to sit next to them. It instantly made me feel more at ease.

2. You can try new clubs and sports.

I had heard the Nordic team was fun, but I had never done it before. I still gave it a shot, and it’s now one of my favorite things I do. And now I’m in the school play, which I haven’t done before, but I’m giving it a shot.

3. Homework builds strong skills.

Homework here may be different from other schools, but over time, it became easier once I learned to plan out my homework load and do my best not to procrastinate. Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Elizabeth Jacobson Faye

March 12, 2025

Leadership opportunities, getting to explore her passions in the arts, and bonding as a class–these are the five things Elizabeth ’27 wants you to know about MPA.

1. Tenth grade takes an annual trip to Deep Portage.

Every year the sophomore class gets to go to Deep Portage together. It was so fun riding the bus and doing activities while getting to know my grade a bit better.

2. Creativity is encouraged.

In concert choir, we do a competition between sections where our section leaders take a popular song, change the lyrics to make them choir-related, and then we perform for a panel of faculty judges. This year my section (the altos) won, which was exciting.

3. MPA has a variety of offerings.

MPA offers lots of different art classes. Personally, as someone who loves art, it is really cool to try things I’ve never done before like ceramics. Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Emily Baker

March 4, 2025

What five things do you need to know about MPA? MPA tenth grader Emily Baker is here to tell you. We’re so happy to see the campus pond and native gardens made her list!

1. Athletic teams are no-cut.

Don’t be afraid to join a team; MPA welcomes all skill levels! Whether you’ve been playing for years or just starting out, there’s a place for you. I’ve made so many amazing friends on the soccer team and have grown so much as a player.

2. Student ambassadors are here to help.

As the Middle School representative on our student ambassador leadership team, I get to help welcome new students and make their transition to MPA as smooth and fun as possible. It’s such a great way to connect with others and make everyone feel at home!

3. We have a lot of school spirit.

MPA is all about lifting each other up. This photo captures the amazing turnout at our last Homecoming soccer game, an early morning match where the community’s energy helped push us to a dub! Read More

A Message From Alumni Board Member George Mills ’04

March 3, 2025

I hope this message finds you well and continuing to make a meaningful impact in the world! As you may know, each spring, MPA hosts its signature fundraising event—the annual Spring Auction. However, this year’s celebration will be unlike any other.

This year, we come together for a truly special occasion: the 2025 Spring Auction: Gala of Gratitude, an evening dedicated not only to supporting MPA but also to honoring the incredible legacy of Dr. Bill Hudson as he bids farewell as head of school. This will be his final auction, marking the culmination of his years of leadership, his dedication to education, and the profound impact he has made on our community.

In recognition of Dr. Hudson’s commitment to MPA and its students, we are proud to introduce The Hudson Fund for Resilient Students. This newly established endowment will provide crucial support to students facing unforeseen challenges, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive no matter what obstacles arise. This year’s Fund A Need portion of the auction will be dedicated to growing this vital fund—an opportunity for all of us to contribute to Dr. Hudson’s enduring legacy.

Welcome To MPA, Dr. Robert Perez!

February 20, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Dr. Robert Perez! Dr. Perez will hold the position of chief finance and operations officer, and we are thrilled to introduce him to the community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
Serving student needs and advancing education have been my primary goals throughout my educational and professional career. I attended California State University, Dominguez Hills, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business/Public Administration and a Master’s of Public Administration concentrating in Non-Profit Management. I obtained my doctoral degree in Education from Saint Cloud State University, focusing on Administration. I consider my professional experience as being hands-on, gaining experience in various roles in auxiliary services, business affairs and fiscal services. Most recently, I served as vice president and chief financial officer at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
From the moment I set foot on campus at MPA, I felt at home. As I toured the campus and met with administrators, the passion for developing students as dreamers and doers was evident. MPA’s commitment to academic rigor, experiential learning, mutual respect, meaningful service, technology, and emphasis on arts and athletics played a key role in my decision to join MPA. Lastly, MPA’s exceptional faculty and staff and their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion align with my values.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
My lasting impact would be to play a key role in building upon MPA’s strengths. In my role in particular, I would like to enhance the customer service experience while building an even stronger financial foundation that promotes enduring stability and growth where and when the MPA community feels appropriate. An enduring “reinvestment in our students and the campus” would be my ultimate goal.
Read More

Welcome To MPA, Ms. Emily Kang!

February 20, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Emily Kang! Ms. Kang will take over as the part-time school nurse, pairing with Ms. Deb Stone, and we are thrilled to introduce her to the community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
For the past 10 years, I’ve been at home with our kids.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I worked as a (primarily) pediatric CRNA at M Health Fairview and as a NICU nurse.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I graduated from MPA in 1996 and attended K-12 here. Now, two of our four children are enrolled—one in fourth grade and another in first grade. MPA was like a second home to me, so when the opportunity arose, I volunteered to fill a need. Now, I’m proud to be on staff as an RN in the health office, helping serve the community. We are deeply grateful for the incredible educators here who spend so much time with our children and work alongside us daily to help shape them into kind, strong humans.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
I hope to support the students and staff so that educators can focus on teaching and students can engage in joyful learning.
Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Robin H.

February 19, 2025

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Middle School student at MPA? Let Robin walk you through the top five things he thinks everyone should know about MPA, from his perspective as a seventh-grader!

1. MPA has an amazing theatre program.

Every year, there are many wonderful drama performances and I have participated in them. These performances are not only fun but also a great learning experience. During the last performance, I worked as a lighting technician and the teacher taught us a lot of useful skills. The whole process of performing was really enjoyable!

2. MPA’S robotics team is excellent.

Middle School students participate in the FTC robotics competition, while Upper School students compete in the FRC robotics competition. Our teams have achieved great results in these competitions. I love exploring, designing, and building robots with my teammates. It’s a fantastic experience of collaboration and innovation!

3. We have all-school assemblies.

My favorite MPA school-wide event is SnoDaze! One of the most fun activities during the assembly is when students got to slap whipped cream on teachers’ faces. It’s always hilarious and so much fun! This is one of the events I look forward to the most every year! Read More

Welcome To MPA, Ms. Deb Stone!

February 19, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Deb Stone! Nurse Deb will be the part-time school nurse, pairing with Ms. Emily Kang, and we are thrilled to introduce her to the community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I was the school nurse at Perpich Arts High School in Golden Valley for the last three years.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a BA in Nursing from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA appealed to me because of the student population, PreK-12. I really enjoy working with students of all ages, and I missed working at my last school, which was only 11-12.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
As a school nurse, I see my role as a support person to support all students and staff so the students can be as successful as they can be on their education journey here at MPA. In addition to supporting students with their health needs, I also strive to create a peaceful environment in the health office where everyone feels welcome and safe.
Read More

Coaching Q&A With Nate Bander ’09

February 12, 2025

Why did you decide to return to MPA as a coach?

I returned to MPA as a coach in the fall of 2015 during a time of transition in my life. I was considering looking for a new job and sought direction in reconnecting with folks at MPA, a familiar community full of people who had positively impacted my life. I reached out to former head cross-country coach Dan Ethier to see if the team needed an assistant coach.

Thankfully, they did. I ended up coaching three sports—cross country, basketball, and track and field—and working in admissions and marketing for six years. Deep down, I decided to return to coach at MPA to continue to be part of a community that I knew and loved.

What does it mean to you to have mentored the next generation of students?

Coaching and mentoring the next generation of student-athletes at MPA was the honor of a lifetime. It meant everything to me. I am incredibly proud of creating connections with those students that continue today, more than three years after I coached my last game for the Panthers.

It meant so much to me to mentor/coach the student-athletes on my teams in many different aspects of life, from shooting free throws and practicing handoffs to being a good teammate and developing into a leader. I loved hearing them talk about their classes and seeing how incredibly smart and sophisticated they were. Mentoring these student-athletes meant connecting with them not just through athletics but through academics, leadership, and joy. Read More

A Message From Cooper Olson ’16 On Why He Joined The Alumni Board

February 12, 2025

Whenever I’m asked about MPA, the first word that comes to mind is “community.” There aren’t many places with a more unique blend of different ages and experiences under one roof. On one walk through the hallways, you’ll have a chance to experience the curiosity of preschoolers, the angst of middle schoolers, and the optimism of high schoolers, not to mention the enthusiasm of staff you’re bound to bump into along the way.

While all those groups may be unlikely to interact with each other outside of MPA’s walls, inside MPA they mingle to create the welcoming community so many of us have been grateful to call a home.

If you can’t tell from that relatively sappy introduction, I have a deep-seated appreciation for MPA. My appreciation had always been there, but as I left for college and then started my professional career, I realized the impact MPA had on my development. Not only did the lessons I learned at MPA prepare me for the academic and professional challenges that came next, but perhaps even more importantly, the relationships that began at MPA have helped me find and establish new communities that have become some of the most important in my life today. Read More