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Reviews
Shannon P.
Mrs. Katya is an absolutely brilliant and delightful teacher. Since we live far from her class location, I sat in on almost all of my son’s classes for Biochemistry Literacy A last year; every class was riveting due to both her passion for the material and her genuine care for the students and their learning. She explains difficult concepts in such a simple and logical manner that middle schoolers are grasping material that I learned in college, and what is more, she shows them how the material is relevant to them and how scientists have used the concepts to solve real-world problems. Because of this class, my son fell in love with biochemistry, and the understanding that he has gained in the class is astounding. This year, he is continuing to grow his love and understanding of biochemistry in Mrs. Katya’s Biochemistry Literacy B.
My daughter is also taking Biochemistry A this year and provides another data point which says that Mrs. Katya both fabulous and fun in her teaching. And now my kids bond (pun intended) by drawing molecular models on our white board.
This year, my son decided to take Algebra with Mrs. Katya as well because math has historically been his hardest subject. For the first time ever, he is thriving in math and feeling confident in his understanding. As with biochemistry, Mrs. Katya explains difficult mathematical concepts in a way that is easy to understand, but she also stretches the students’ minds by challenging each student at his or her own level. She even tailors the homework to make sure that each student is practicing some problems correctly at a level that is confidence-building but is also challenging his or her mind with some problems that require extra effort.
C.Y.
Katya is a great teacher. She is very patient, passionate, and easy to work with. Her class is fun and my kid enjoys it and learns a lot!
Anonymous
Dr. Panina is an inspiring math and science teacher who truly sparks a passion for learning. Thanks to her guidance, my son’s confidence and understanding have soared. She fosters a joyful yet challenging learning environment, making my son excited to explore new lessons each week.
My son says, "Ms. Panina is incredibly patient, inclusive, and encouraging. She listens carefully to everyone’s questions, promotes more questions and discussion, and makes sure we all understand the concepts. She creates a positive and collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels supported. Even when students learn at different pace, she checks in with each of us individually to ensure we fully grasp new concepts."
​I believe my son’s words truly say it all.
Shaumika Coachbuilder
We have been very pleased with the geometry, pre-calculus, and advance biology. The classes are well-structured and present advanced mathematical and biological concepts in a way that is challenging yet accessible for students at my son’s level.
Katya explains topics clearly and encourages logical thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance. Our son has gained a stronger understanding of functions, graphing, and basic trigonometric concepts, and we have seen growth in both his confidence and analytical skills. The balance between instruction, practice, and reinforcement helps my son stay engaged and motivated.
Overall, these classes provide an excellent foundation for higher-level mathematics and science. We appreciate the supportive and rigorous learning environment.
NJ Mom
This is my child's second year and 4th class with Katya. I wish we'd found her sooner, and I wish my child could be her student forever! She is the kind of gifted, dream educator who has the best impact and who you will never forget: she meets EVERY student at their level with genuine concern, talent, joy, and kindness, and her students are happy and engaged as a result. My child happily works hard for each of her subjects and always says that her classes are highlights of his week. I know she sounds too good to be true, but audit a class or two with her, as we did, and you will see for yourself. In short, Katya Panina is a GEM, and I recommend her and her classes as highly as possible.
Dr Jennings
I have sincere gratitude and respect for Dr. Panina’s teaching. We were fortunate to meet Dr. Panina when she was providing instruction at a Math Circle. I recall thinking, “I wish I had had a math experience like this!” Her enthusiasm and joy for problem-solving spread to the students in ways I had never witnessed. When she piloted a year of teaching and needed a group of students, I clamored at the opportunity. We had math teachers prior who we adored; still my daughter was reluctant to do the work. Despite my best efforts, she remained lukewarm about math. Our primary goal for homeschooling was to foster a love for learning but that seemed only to be happening for preferred coursework. I feared my daughter would not reach her potential in math. Sadly, I knew that meant some doors would be closed for her in her future. I wanted her to find challenges exhilarating but wasn’t able to make that happen. That goal fell into place under Dr. Panina’s tutelage. Gone are the homework struggles. The moaning and complaining evaporated. She looks forward to her math and science classes and is cheerful at the end. She has experienced the feeling of success from hard work WHILE enjoying the work - and THAT has been a gift beyond measure.
Anonymous
My daughter has taken Algebra II, Geometry, and Advanced Biology with Katya, and she has grown to love math and biology. I highly recommend Katya to everyone.
Melody
My son has thrived in the teaching environment Katya provides. All students are engaged in the learning process every class, whether remote or in person. The subject matter is approached as if it all is fascinating, worth exploring and learning, challenging but attainable, relevant and important. Katya draws every student in, supporting their thought process as they dig into the content, guiding them to accurate understanding. Outside of class, the work assigned is intentional and reasonable. There is no "busy work." I appreciate that there are also regular assessments, grades, and feedback. My son has taken math and science classes both with Katya, and we could not be more pleased.
Tenny C.
My daughter took Geometry, Algebra 2, and Advanced Biology from Ms. Katya. Her clear explanations, encouragement, and passion for the subjects made the classes so interesting that my daughter has asked to continue taking more advanced math classes and hopes for further studies in molecular biology. Ms. Katya teaches well to different personalities and interest levels. My older son and daughter also learned so much from taking Ms. Katya’s classes, both math and advanced biology.
Jeannie M.
My kids have greatly enjoyed all the classes they've taken with Katya. My girls don't normally like math, but they look forward to her classes. One daughter even described them as "magical".