Truly closing the opportunity gap requires a fundamentally different approach. At the heart of the Prodeo model is a strong culture of instructional coaching and mentorship where exceptional teachers and leaders continuously learn from one another, refine their craft, and coach colleagues in the practices that drive meaningful results for scholars.
Our highest grade of scholars at Prodeo Academy St. Paul represent something unique. They are, in many ways, the clearest test case of what’s possible when students experience consistent excellent instruction over time.
These scholars are not just keeping pace; they are outperforming. According to their most recently published test results (completed as 7th graders), they are soaring in their proficiency as compared to all learners across the state of Minnesota.
The results are even more stark when comparing students of similar socioeconomic backgrounds. These scholars are nearly three times as likely to meet or exceed math proficiency standards as compared to the state. This success didn’t happen by chance. It was built intentionally through a model grounded in strong instruction, real-time feedback, and a growing pipeline of exceptional educators.
At the heart of this work are teachers like Matt Toppin and Sarah Ehlen.
Matt Toppin, 7th grade math teacher, former school principal, and Minnesota Teacher of the Year candidate, ensures that rigor and relationships go hand in hand in his classroom. Students are pushed to think deeply, explain their reasoning, and persevere through challenges -all while receiving constant, actionable feedback that help them grow.
Alongside him is Sarah Ehlen, a founding middle school teacher of Prodeo St. Paul and a cornerstone of math instruction at Prodeo. Her impact extends far beyond her own 5th grade math instruction. Known for her clarity, consistency, and results, Sarah has helped shape the instructional foundation that these students have experienced year after year.
What’s especially powerful is how this excellence is being sustained and expanded.
Through regular observation, weekly coaching feedback, and collaboration, newer teachers are improving their practice within the same high-expectations, high-support model that drives Prodeo’s success. This is how the work scales: not by chance, but through deliberate investment in people.
The result is a pipeline of teachers who are learning from the best, refining their craft, and delivering strong outcomes for scholars beginning from their very first years in the classroom.
And now, as Prodeo St. Paul continues to grow, the story is only beginning to unfold. For the first time, a full cohort of students is progressing through the entire middle school experience at Prodeo Academy St. Paul. If the trajectory of this current group is any indication, the impact will only deepen.
This is what it looks like to build something that lasts:
Scholars growing year after year.
Teachers learning from one another.
A model that turns potential into performance.
At Prodeo St. Paul Middle Academy, closing the opportunity gap isn’t just an aspiration; it’s becoming a reality.