Meet the Team
Chloe Alexander
Owner + Head Coach, PlayWisely ATX
My name is Chloe Alexander and I'm so excited to be bringing PlayWisely ATX to Austin and the surrounding suburbs! I am a lifelong learner with a passion for education, child development, and family.
I have a Masters degree in Elementary Education from The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and a Bachelors in Elementary Education and Spanish Studies. I was an elementary school teacher/team leader in both Minnesota and Texas for six years. I'm so excited to utilize my passion and experience in education to make PlayWisely ATX classes engaging, memorable and fun for both littles and their loved ones.
I currently reside in Dripping Springs, TX with my husband, our two-year-old son, and our rescue pup. In my free time, I love to spend time with family and friends, travel, go out to eat, do pilates, thrift shop, read, and experience all that Austin has to offer!
Patty Hannan
Founder, PlayWisely
Patty Hannan is the founder of PlayWisely, a brain-based early cognitive and motor development system, recognized nationally and internationally for its ground breaking approach to Early Child Development.
The inspiration for the science behind the play evolved from Patty's experience as an All-American collegiate gymnast and her participation in a research project conducted by NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas (1984-1985). The study focused on the unique human performance capabilities of the world-class gymnast. Patty was particularly impacted by her experience in zero gravity where she became acutely aware of the profound affect gravity has on the form and function of human performance. Upon the urging of NASA scientists, Patty learned the language of neuroscience and cognitive psychology which ultimately led her to focus on early human performance development.
In 1987, Patty helped found the prestigious da Vinci School in Dallas, TX, known for its innovative science based curriculum. In 1988, Houghton Mifflin published Hannan's first book, "Teaching Your Child Basic Body Confidence".
Patty started PlayWisely in the ASI gymnastics center in Rockwall, TX and by 2006 launched in the Czech Republic. That same year, she presented PlayWisely's "The Directionality Method" to an early learning forum at Oxford University in England. PlayWisely has since expanded to Slovakia, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, and beyond.
Patty is now a member of the International Society of Psychophysics for her innovative work and has presented at universities in Italy, Germany, Canada, Israel, Sweden and Russia.
PlayWisely was the featured business in the Bank of America Small Business Owners Report for Fall 2015. Patty continues to teach PlayWisely classes, lead trainings, educate others, and currently resides near Dallas, TX.