4 features
May 29, 2015
photos courtesy of Ryan Poepard
Left: Ryan Poepard playing collegiate baseball. Middle: Poepard with his daughters at Disney World. Right: Todd (left) and Ryan Poepard (right) playing basketball for Forest Lake.
Poepard moves from athlete to dean by Monica Kemp editor ‘14-’15
As a kid, Dean Ryan Poepard’s dream was to be a sports psychologist. He had a passion for sports, and he genuinely wanted to help people. Sports psychology seemed like the obvious route. Following this dream, Poepard played football, basketball, and baseball in high school, and continued to play baseball at Valparaiso University in Indiana. As he pursued his major in college, it became clear to him that sports was less interesting for him and helping people, especially students, was a far greater concern. “For most kids, high school is an extremely difficult time and, I believe, [a time when] some of the most critical and life-changing work can be done. This work is largely unnoticed, yet can make all the difference in a student’s life,” he said. Before becoming a dean at Mounds View, Poepard taught at White Bear Lake for 11 years. This experience would later illuminate the advantages Mounds View students receive. “When [Mounds View students] go to college,
they will be so ahead of their peers, and have such a huge competitive advantage,” he said. “I wish students would stop living up to their friends or [pushing] themselves to be something they’re not, because I think everyone here is very special and unique.” When he became a dean at Mounds View, Poepard faced a unique new challenge. With 300 students to support, connecting to each one can be difficult. “Every kid comes from a different and unique path,” said Poepard. “Just being able to relate to a kid, no matter who they are or where they come from, being accepting and tolerant, and helping them, whether it’s to go to Harvard or to find a place for them to live and eat, is really great.” Like most deans, Poepard uses his experiences to connect to students. As a high schooler, Poepard never identified with a single group. “I was athletic and shy in high school. I did not party or care about being in the ‘cool crowd.’ I hung out with all types of friends who shared my values,” he said. Poepard’s friend group included people he met through his involvement in choir and sports. He
also kept himself busy with a variety of jobs he held throughout his high school years, including a job in construction and working at a waterpark. In addition, as a high schooler, Poepard visited the dean’s office for reasons other than awards and positive feedback. “As an immature sophomore, I was dared to stand on the top of a desk and sing a specific song, so I did. I took that bet, and I started singing,” he said. Poepard’s decision won him the bet but landed him in detention. Looking back, Poepard sees his high school years in a different light. “High school is about making mistakes, but it was also about being held accountable and learning from them. I love being in a mentoring role because it is such an important job,” he said. Today, all of these experiences help Poepard relate to students. He believes that one of the greatest perks of being a dean is having old students visit him and tell him he had a meaningful impact in their lives. “When kids come back after high school and say, ‘You made a difference at a really hard time in my life’... that makes me really happy to be at my job,” he said.
Poetry contest recognizes May Li ing more about poetry in her English class. “I was in CIS Literature, and we had a unit on poetry,” Li said. “I really enjoyed it because it was a creative method to communicate Beating multiple budding poets from the Class of 2015, my experiences and ideas to others.” May Li, 12, won the annual Franklin E. Brainard Poetry The judges enjoyed the sophistication of Li’s poetry. Award with her poems Empathy, Home, and Clay Smile. “What we do ask them to look for is a range of topics, a The award was implemented by Mounds View’s sense of maturity, and uniqueness of voice. May’s poems English teachers in the late 1970s in honor of monumental had these things,” said Burback. english teacher Franklin Brainard. Li’s winning poems, EmpaBrainard was very humorthy, Home, and Clay Smile, all ous and could easily captivate an touched upon previous memorable audience. “He would go into the experiences. “It is easier to write library during lunch and stand on if you know what you are writthe table tops to recite his poetry ing about,” Li said. Her favorite to the congregated students and poem, Empathy, was inspired by whoever else happened to be the widespread homelessness she there,” said English teacher encountered on a recent trip to Las Shawn Burback. Vegas. It is used as a way to en“Las Vegas isn’t all the glimcourage appreciation for poetry mer and glitz that people typically among seniors. Each student associate with it,” Li said. “I was who enters is required to submit surprised at the juxtaposition of a three to five poems to be judged. culture focused on spending and a These teachers receive the poems culture focused on survival.” photo by Hana Gulli anonymously and pick the poems Li also took inspiration from May Li, 12, scribbles her thoughts. they think are the best. “We will more personal experiences. Home, bring together three to five English the judges’ favorite, deals with Li’s teachers who all like something mixed cultural background. “Home different and are looking for something different,” said Bur- is essentially about being part of two cultures – the Ameriback. “Some like classic sounding [poetry], some modern, can and Chinese cultures,” said Li. “At the end of the day, some consider the use of poetic devices important, some I will always return to a home that is built in America but don’t.” intertwined with the Chinese culture.” The winner of the poetry competition receives a Li plans on pursuing an English major and looks certificate, a collection of Franklin E. Brainard’s works, a forward to hearing other people’s opinions on her future pogift card to Barnes and Noble, and their name on a plaque etry. “It would be interesting to see what other people think displayed in the library. about what I write,” she said. Li was motivated to enter the competition after learnby Katie Karjalahti spread editor
Home Land of the Brave Freedom saved Born from a thousand lakes A child of snowflakes The Red Land Tradition takes a stand Born from white rice A child of the year - mice Roots mix with leaves Different yarn make the sleeves Dumplings and soy sauce Black vinegar and broccoli toss Homemade pizza with the soggy crust Environment and home separate Languages must integrate Only from endless possibilities Do disadvantages turn into capabilities From the flight of a plane Born with two different names Learned not to waste a single crumb Come see the land I’m from