Meet the Office

Heather Cameron Ploen

Director of Admission and Financial Aid


Heather Ploen has just completed her first year at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. New to Minnesota, Ploen comes directly from the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she was Director of Admission and Financial Aid. Prior to that, Ploen worked at the Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire, where she was Senior Associate Director of Admission. She has complemented her admission experience with working as a marketing director for Sametz Blackstone and Associates in Boston, which specialized in developing strategic communications, design, and technology strategies for its clients, including many schools throughout New England. Ploen graduated from Colby College in 1987, and she also has a chef’s degree from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ploen lives with her husband Sean, who is originally from Stillwater, Minnesota, and their daughter Poppy.

Julie McGlincey, ‘84

Associate Director of Admission


Julie McGirl McGlincey is a graduate of St. Paul Academy and Summit School and has taught 2–6 grade at SPA. She is pleased to work for a school that combines a respect for tradition with a forward-thinking curriculum that prepares children for the future. Fostering a diverse student body is a priority for Julie, who values the many perspectives SPA families bring to the school community. Julie graduated from Bowdoin College.  She holds a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota. In her free time, she likes to cook, play with her children, and walk along the Mississippi River.

Laurie Goldfarb

Admission Counselor


Laurie Goldfarb has 20 years of experience at SPA, from teaching grades 1–3 to directing the Extended Day program. She loves working with prospective SPA students and their families. Her work also reflects her passionate commitment to diversity and to building strong relationships with the broader community. Laurie holds a B.S. degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In her free time, she enjoys walking, reading, needlepointing, and spending time with her family. Her twin sons are juniors at SPA and have attended the school since kindergarten.

Anne Schreiner

Admission Counselor


Anne Schreiner joined SPA in 2006 after working in admission at St. Olaf College. She brings to her admission work a strong interest in diverse cultures and in fostering multicultural education. She enjoys watching new students gain confidence and go on to thrive at SPA. Outside the office, Anne coaches SPA's 5th- and 6th-grade girls' soccer team; she also teaches preschool gymnastics in Eagan. She holds a degree in social work and family studies from St. Olaf College. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring St. Paul with her dogs Greta and Vinny, and spending time with her fiancé Patrick.