"Our family has had a very positive and wonderful experience in this program. It is also our first introduction to Minnetonka Schools and Minnesota public schools. We were excited and anxious because we knew the great reputation the district has and this was the first public school experience for our children.
 
We have twin Kindergarteners and [their teacher] is a fabulous educator.  She is detail oriented and her weekly layout, plans, support documents, and source availability are incredible and impeccable. I am amazed by the work she is doing on a daily basis and how she is able to lead and guide a large group of Kinders in an online environment. She makes it easy for the students to become independent and easy for parents to help their learners. She is always so upbeat and excited to talk to the students and engage with them. My twins love her class and can't wait to log in and see what she has planned. She's made our whole family fans of her wiggle breaks and stories!
 
Our oldest is in third grade. Our son had only been in a small, private Montessori school previously, and we were most concerned about his transition into public education in a new state. We've had a lot of questions and it has been a learning process for him in adjusting to the different learning/teaching strategies and the expectations. I really appreciate the amount of time and effort that [his teacher] has put into aiding his transition as well as ours. I am constantly impressed by the quick responses we receive in addition to all of the typical teacher duties that are expected. Mrs. Heaney responds quickly to concerns, questions, and needs to meet. She has made a learning environment that our son feels comfortable and confident in. He's learned about the different backgrounds and cultures of his classmates through their morning meetings. Something we appreciate her encouraging is being helpful to someone each day, choosing to make a positive impact on someone's day, and hard work being important in the face of talent (I know I didn't write that exactly right, but the sentiment is there). I also received a message that she's making a connection for our son to participate in an Independent project - which is so important and crucial to continued engagement.
 
Communications from both grades have been more than I could have expected. Responses are fast, throughout the day, overnight, on weekends, and during holidays. Definitely faster than I could have imagined during a working school day. I am impressed by the adaptability of your educators and their ability to reach their students in this program."
 
- Jo Lynn Knotts, Tonka Online Parent

"My son is enrolled in 4th grade Tonka online [and] we absolutely love it! We are very pleased with both his academic progress as well as his bonds with other kids and the teachers. I don't think my son ever loved a teacher more. Thank you so much for all the hard work that is going into this program. The attention to detail and focus on the kids is visible."

- Elena Ochian, Tonka Online parent

"We originally enrolled in Tonka Online at the beginning of the school year because our local public school district was unable to meet the needs of students and families who were seeking remote learning for a myriad of reasons, one of which is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That said, we have truly loved it and feel it offers an exceptional education, with outstanding educators, resources and a true understanding of best practices in online educational delivery.  

Our 4th grader has really blossomed in her reading, math skills and public speaking during her time in Tonka Online.  She has been leading small groups of students during different break out sessions, and we both feel that being online actually facilitated her leadership skills more than being in person.  Sometimes the cacophony of the in-person classroom prevents the kids who are trying to be "rule followers" from taking the lead in class, and instead they remain quiet to assist the teacher in maintaining classroom control. Tonka Online actively creates space for some of those growth opportunities, and has a truly exceptional 4th grade teacher. He makes learning fun every day, is incredibly creative, and has high standards for students' behavior and academics.  

Our 6th grade daughter is now like a young college student in her study habits, loves how the day flows, and appreciates the fewer interruptions from other students during class.  She has similarly blossomed in terms of managing her time and prioritizing her school tasks, while simultaneously staying connected with her friends and classmates.  She has thrived in accelerated math, received almost a perfect grade in Language Arts, and frequently led break out rooms for assigned group work. 

In addition to traditional academics, the supplemental offerings tailored to smaller groups are fabulous.  Live music lessons, Spanish immersion supplementation with personalized attention, book reading groups, and opportunities such as Project Think -- we have loved it all and feel spoiled by the myriad opportunities for enrichment.  

We would recommend this program to any family looking for a rigorous education that brings a high-quality classroom experience into your home."

- Kim and Dan Wick, Tonka Online Parents

“My husband and I were looking for a school that could give our daughter the best education in Minnesota when we moved here. We had always heard that the Minnetonka district had the best academic level in the state, and were reassured by the statistics that show this institution in the top ranking, best teachers, academic achievement, students with high test scores, and 98 percent of seniors graduating. Tonka Online was one of the reasons we chose the Minnetonka school district, being a high quality online learning program.

This is the first year for our daughter in Tonka Online. She arrived in the USA from Colombia in December 2021. She came without any knowledge of English, and academically she was behind. In the beginning, we were afraid that she would not learn the language while attending an online school. Some people told us that if she wanted to learn a language she needed a teacher in person, but Tonka Online is giving her all the support she needs to succeed. She has a dedicated EL teacher only for her, it is like having a private English tutor! In these 3 months of school, her English level has increased enormously, this makes her feel more confident. She participates in class like any other student, and is not afraid to ask questions. In her previous school, she did not have the opportunity to participate in class, the size of the classes were huge and she was sitting in the back of the classroom with 2 students that supposedly needed to help her with the language.

In Tonka Online the teachers are amazing, they make the class super interesting and dynamic. My daughter is in 8th grade, and academically she is learning a lot. When we talk to her she uses concepts learned in class, her vocabulary has expanded, she feels more confident and most importantly she is happy to connect the next day online with her teachers. She has already told us that she wants to finish high school in Tonka Online!  I highly recommend Tonka Online, my daughter is receiving the best education, the best teachers, the best support, and all this from our home!”

-Giuliana Lozano, Tonka Online Parent