“Ms. Patoka was the perfect teacher at the perfect time for our Olivia. After years of home care, it was a dramatic shift for our family to start school outside the home but Ms. Patoka made the transition seamless. She welcomed Olivia and our entire family into her classroom and created an atmosphere for learning, growth, intellectual curiosity, and authenticity. She has the gift of making her students feel important as individuals while simultaneously being an integral part of a larger group. Our little one has excelled since her time in Ms. Patoka’s classroom and we will be forever grateful. I’m excited and proud of all she will bring to the students in Tennessee.”
– Shane & Jenine
“Wendy Patoka is the most encouraging and inspiring educator my daughter has ever had. She teaches kids to be self-reliant, capable, and confident. After a year and Mrs. Patoka‘s class, your student will be an active learner, confident, and curious about the world around them. My daughter’s experience in Mrs. Patoka’s class was transformative. We are so thankful for it.”
– Rebecca M.
“Mrs. Patoka is one of a kind. As a high-school teacher myself, and with my husband being a former college professor, we hold educators to particularly high standards, and she has more than met them. We have known Mrs. Patoka for more than 7 years, having entrusted her with both of our children during their primary and kindergarten years — the most critical period of a child’s development. Her passion and unique vision for teaching radiate from every corner of her classroom, and you feel enveloped in it. I knew instantly that she was the right fit. From morning lessons in her garden to her butterfly hatchery, she brings the world’s wonders into a child’s eyes. Her students are conscientious, free-thinking yet disciplined, and have a love for learning. Our kids (7 and 10) are inquisitive, independent, and love to learn, and without a doubt I see Mrs. Patoka’s imprint on them. We are so lucky to have met this phenomenal teacher.”
– Julie J.
“Wendy Patoka is the epitome of Maria Montessori’s philosophies. As career teachers, my husband and I wanted our two children to experience a learning environment that encouraged exploration, independence, and wonder. Mrs. Patoka’s classroom provided this and so much more. Mrs. Patoka is truly an expert in her approach to helping children become their best selves through the Montessori philosophies. She has an abundance of patience as she seamlessly coordinates and facilitates appropriate learning opportunities for each child. Mrs. Patoka cheers for learner successes and gently provides guidance when needed.
We could not have asked for a kinder, more caring foundational teacher for our kids. We continue to be blessed by her involvement and interest in the lives of our kids even 10 years after they left her class. Mrs. Patoka’s passion for learning is evident through her creative projects, home made materials, and expert implementation of all things Montessori. ”
– John and Elise D.
“Wendy taught my daughter for two years. She consistently blew me away not only with her passion, but with her ability to make school enjoyable and push academic potential way beyond what I would expect for primary school. My daughter would come home each day excited about the skills she learned digging in the garden, using science to create something, or how to do math in a new and different way. My daughter was not interested in reading, but Wendy would work outside of the standard way of teaching information to find a way to connect and motivate her to start reading. She even taught a multi-week lesson to the whole class just because my daughter was interested in the topic. Wendy was amazing at providing feedback – posting pictures and sending notes about how my daughter was doing academically, socially, and personally. She has made such an impact on my life, shaping my daughter’s future during these pivotal years. I will never be able to adequately thank her for instilling a love for learning and for helping her understand she can do anything she puts her mind to doing.”
– Bob W.
“We have sent four kids though primary Montessori programs, three of them with Wendy Patoka, and it was the best decision we ever made. Her classroom is a warm, loving, and orderly environment that fosters independence and allows the children to build confidence. She adapts to the individual needs of each child which allows them to develop a love of learning that lasts well beyond their time in her class. Our kids that have since moved into the public school system are well ahead of their peers academically. In communities that are increasingly defined by their differences, Mrs. Patoka instead guides the children in the Montessori teachings of grace and courtesy that encourages development of respect for themselves and others. Our kids adore her and we fully trust her with all aspects of their education.”
– Emily J.
“Mrs. Patoka has been a joy to have in our family’s life. She has taught two of my four children over the last five years, and we love her. Not only does she teach the children, and challenge them, but she finds a way to motivate each of them. Even better, she loves them all as though they were her own. As a teacher, she has an impressive skill set and is a keen observer of children. She can pinpoint behaviors in a few hours, and diagnose learning styles in a few minutes. Her classroom is full of interesting jobs, animals, plants, and art, making school so much fun for kids. She’s organized and communicative, and always has a story to tell about what your child did that day that was interesting or funny. Teachers like Mrs. Patoka truly stay with their students for their entire lives. My eight-year-old son can still be brought into line with, “What would Mrs. Patoka say if she saw you do/say that?”. We cannot recommend her any more highly, and we are so lucky to know her.”
– Theresa Z.