My MPA Experience Archives

June 9, 2025

Welcome to the MPA faculty, Ms. Maria Smith! Ms. Smith will be joining us in July as a PreK teacher, and we are thrilled to introduce her to our community. As the parent of two alums, she may be a familiar face to many!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Holy Spirit School in St. Paul.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Catherine. For over 20 years, I have taught in private schools in both primary and early childhood classrooms. For the last nine years, I have been the preschool director at Holy Spirit School in St. Paul. I am passionate about what I do as it is a formative and magical stage in a child’s development. I take pride in honoring each student’s individuality and am dedicated to meeting them where they are by nurturing their growth with empathy and respect while inspiring a love of learning.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Since joining the MPA community seven years ago as a parent, I have been consistently inspired by its warm, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere. There is an energy and magic specific only to MPA that I feel each time I’m on campus. With my son graduating from MPA in 2022 and my daughter graduating this spring, our family’s journey at MPA has been deeply meaningful, and this community holds a special place in my heart. After witnessing firsthand the care, attention, and dedication shown to MPA students, I am eager to join the teaching staff and contribute to the growth, joy, and development of our youngest learners. Read More

Then & Now: Tradition Of The Senior Walk

May 19, 2025

from Tim Koerner ’03

If you are reading this, you have your own, distinct memories of what it was like to graduate from MPA and your senior year. The auditorium, the proud friends and family, receiving your diploma, and taking pictures on the campus lawn in your cap and gown…

While the classic elements of an MPA graduation have remained the same for more than four decades, a new, poignant element was introduced to the graduation season in 2017—the Senior Walk.

MPA’s director of college counseling, Lisa Pederson, describes the event:

“The Senior Walk debuted in 2017, bringing the whole school community together to honor the graduating class. Seniors process through campus in their graduation gowns, stopping for quick hugs and high-fives from cheering teachers, parents, and friends from other grades. Led by Dr. Hudson, the parade emerges from the Lower School entrance—where some seniors started their MPA education—and follows the sidewalk west to finish at Door 4, near the Black Box. It’s become a fun and beloved tradition for the MPA community, while as a teacher and parent of recent MPA alums, I’ve found it to be a poignant moment as well.”

This year’s Senior Walk will take place on Friday, May 23, at 1 PM, and you can catch last year’s Senior Walk for the Class of 2024 here.

Watching the Senior Walk is often a culmination of sorts for younger Panther classes, who interact with and are exposed to the Seniors and their college selection process throughout the year. Read More

Why I Coach At MPA From Wade Peterson ’87

May 19, 2025

from Wade Peterson ’87

When I relocated back to the Twin Cities in 2007, I was looking to get involved in coaching quiz bowls, as I had done at the school where I was teaching in Eugene, Oregon. That summer, I contacted the Upper School director, Roberta Seum, and asked her if I could get involved. She told me the previous coach had just left the school and asked me to come in for an interview.

Over the last 18 years, I have coached a lot of things at Mounds Park Academy. I have coached Middle and Upper School quiz bowl, Middle School soccer, Middle School baseball, and even a few years of the Future Problem Solvers (FPS) team. I am still coaching soccer, baseball, and Middle School quiz bowl. In fact, I coached a tournament for Middle School quiz bowl recently, and I enjoyed it as much as I did when I first started in 2007.

I love working with MPA students and love the passion they bring to activities. It is a truly wonderful part of my life. It is amazing that I have been associated with Mounds Park Academy as a student, coach, and in various other roles since 1983. When I first visited as a potential student in the spring of my eighth-grade year, I never realized that I would be associated with the school in such an enduring way. MPA is an amazing place, and I am grateful to be a part of it!

Five Things To Know About MPA From Aili R.

May 14, 2025

A lot of things make MPA special, but for eighth grader Aili, these are the top five things that stand out the most!

1. MPA allows students to express themselves.

There is a large variety of after-school activities and electives available for us to choose from. There are instrumental groups, theatre productions, sport teams, and so much more. Everyone is welcome to join, and all are very welcoming and friendly.

2. We have fun assemblies and social events.

MPA has many assemblies, such as Give To The Max Day and pairing assemblies, and events throughout the school year, such as concerts and shows, that allow us to interact with peers and students from other grades. During these events and assemblies, we get the opportunity to participate and support our friends.

3. I love that MPA is PreK-12.

As a PreK-12 school, I am able to have friends of all ages and grades. This allows me to be able to have friends from Upper School through extracurriculars instead of only students in my grade. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Mr. James Ewer!

May 2, 2025

Mr. James Ewer will be joining us as Lower School director beginning July 1, 2025. Mr. Ewer brings with him a powerful blend of experience, conviction, and vision that will serve the Lower School—and the entire MPA community—exceptionally well. We are thrilled to introduce him to our community!

Tell us about your education and past experience.
For the past 14 years, I’ve dedicated my life to education—working across classrooms, leadership teams, and communities to create spaces where every child feels seen, challenged, and inspired. My journey has taken me from the front lines of teaching to the strategic work of school leadership, professional development, and instructional coaching. Along the way, I’ve led teams, reimagined systems, and built programs grounded in equity, joy, and high expectations.

I hold a master’s degree in school leadership from Harvard University, where I deepened my commitment to transformative, culturally responsive education. My work is rooted in the belief that education should be liberatory, and that the way we lead matters just as much as what we teach.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
This community feels truly special. From the moment I stepped in, there was a sense of warmth and honesty that stood out. People didn’t just share logistics or expectations—they shared their hopes and dreams. That openness, that willingness to be vulnerable and visionary at the same time, is what I felt most connected to. It reminded me that the heart of any thriving community isn’t just in its plans, but in the people who dare to imagine what’s possible together.
Read More

Why I Coach At MPA

April 14, 2025

from Takele Thompson-Nelson ’18

One reason I decided to return to MPA as a coach was that I was asked by fellow teammates who were also leaders and captains, Brendan Connolly ’17 and Cooper Olson ’16. I was eager to join the team, knowing that I would have those two by my side. I returned in hopes of passing on the knowledge and values that were given to me through my time at MPA. I also love basketball!

It means a lot to be able to mentor the next generation. However, those feelings are also partnered with fear. To have people, especially kids, relying on you is a powerful thing. But I know I wouldn’t be put in this position if I wasn’t ready. When coaching, I want to make sure that I’m not just hitting the Xs and Os because life is more complicated than that. In my time here at MPA, my coach is someone I could look up to and who helped guide me through other aspects of life beyond sports. I believe that it is my responsibility to also take that role for my athletes if needed.

My past experience as an MPA athlete has filled me with immense pride for everything related to being a Panther. Every win, loss, or game has an emotional connection for me because that was something I used to be a part of. I believe that being an alum and now a coach has created a strong bond between my passion for the team and the school. I am not just a coach but a previous athlete. This connection has given me my “why,” which is the fuel that has guided me to come to MPA every day with the same passion and love I had when I was a student here.

A Message From Alumni Board Member Isabel (McKeown) O’Branski ’14

April 11, 2025

Every year, we seek additional members to join the MPA alumni board, and we recognize that you may or may not know what committing to the board entails. The board is perfect for those who want to connect further with the MPA community or give back to the school that gave them so much without a major time commitment. As a second-year board member, I am incredibly glad I chose to join the board and only wish I had joined sooner.

I’m here to share my experience by debunking a few common myths about joining the board:

Myth No. 1: I have to live in the Twin Cities

I have lived in two cities since joining the Board, neither of which are even located in the Midwest. While there are always alumni and school events you can attend (as a board member or not!) if you live locally, your participation on the board will be entirely virtual. I’ve Zoomed into our meetings from San Diego and New York City over the years and am grateful that I can participate from out of state. Read More

Welcome Back To MPA, Michelle Korbel ’10!

April 7, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Michelle Korbel! Ms. Korbel will hold the position of director of human resources, and we are excited to introduce her to the community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked most recently for ArchKey Parsons Electric.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have my BA degree in Psychology from the College of Saint Benedict. After college, I spent a year volunteering with Americorps, helping individuals with barriers to employment find work. I’ve been doing HR for ten years now in banking, healthcare, and construction. Very excited to bring my HR experience to MPA.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA is a special community that I feel so lucky to have been a part of growing up. I graduated in 2010 and went to school at MPA from kindergarten to 12th grade. I built amazing relationships with friends, faculty, and staff during my years as a student. When I heard about the opening, I jumped on it. I’m really looking forward to re-establishing old relationships, building new ones, and working together to enrich the employment experience at MPA.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
My goal is to enrich and enhance the employment experience at MPA by providing meaningful and valuable resources to, collaborating with, and supporting MPA employees. This will, in turn, help and empower employees to focus on their students, knowing they have an advocate in HR ready to listen and support them.
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

Five Things To Know About MPA From Andrea Pugh

April 4, 2025

At MPA, Andrea pursues her interests while engaging in rigorous academics. Read on for what she thinks are the five things you should know about MPA!

1. There are a variety of theatre classes.

Theatre has always been a big part of my life. In MPA’s curriculum, I’m able to constantly do the activity I love in classes like musical theatre and winter show, and I love to participate in the Spring Musical.

2. MPA’s flexible schedule lets you do what you love.

I love all kinds of music, and at MPA, I can play in both orchestra and chamber orchestra, and in a jazz ensemble with band—an opportunity I got to fit into my schedule because of MPA!

3. Speech and debate are built into the curriculum.

A unique thing I learned coming to MPA is how debate is built into the curriculum to allow someone busy like me to still be able to join. Speech is also incredibly easy to join, and I found many friends through it.

4. MPA’s community is across all ages.

Because of MPA’s size, I’ve been able to form deep bonds with many people in different grades, which would be hard to do if the class environment wasn’t so personalized.

5. Academics are rigorous and supportive.

Though they are rigorous, MPA’s academics provide opportunities to delve deep into more complicated topics. At MPA, you always feel supported.