Saudin receives PRIDE award from PS116!

On March 28th NYChessKids Founder, Saudin Robovic, received the PRIDE ("a tribute we bestow upon members of our internal and extended community who have enriched our school and our students by Promoting Responsibility, Interest, and Direction in Education") award from PS116. Many chess parents were there to support him and he was so moved by this great honor!

Click on the title of this post to see some more pictures.

INTRODUCING CHRIS MAKS

Chris is a very experienced chess teacher, especially in the classroom. For years, he taught for Chess-in-the-Schools, and was one of their most successful chess teachers. While with CIS, he taught in tough classroom environments, and it is probably this that prepared him to teach anywhere--his enthusiasm and uncanny ability to talk to and teach students is remarkable.

Chris is also an experienced tournament director, and was one of the directors for the "Ultimate Chess Challenge" that drew over 1,000 kids several years back. This year, he is the Chief Assistant tournament director for NYChessKids events, and we are happy to have his experience both on the "floor" and in the "backroom." He also teaches NYChessKids classes and at NYChessKids Camps and Workshops.

Chris teaches students privately, and perhaps his most successful student was Eigen Wang, who is one of America's top junior players. He lives with his wife Tori (who is a teacher at St. David's School) and 1-year old son Kazimir on Manhattan's Upper East Side.


Chris can be contacted for private lessons at:
347-993-8327

INTRODUCING JOVAN MILETIC

Originally from Belgrade, Jovan has lived in the United States for the past 15 years. He has taught chess for more than 7 years, and teaches chess to both children and adults.

Jovan teaches in Corlears School, and for the past two years ran the chess program for Nest School. He teaches a lot of students privately.

He has taught many students over the years, but Jovan's most successful student may be Michael Thaler, who is approaching master strenth.

To contact Jovan,
917-806-5786
jovanbgd@earthlink.com

INTRODUCING CHRIS CHANIN

Chris Chanin has been teaching for 17 years in both the public and private schools, including the Bronx High School of Science, The Calhoun School and P. S. 75. He is the former Director of Teacher Training at Chess-in-the-Schools and has been actively involved with NYChessKids since its inception. A chess player all his life, Chris loves teaching the royal game to all students from kindergarten to adult.

Chris is an example of a person who really knows how to teach, and it shows. He also has an excllent relationship with his students, and they always improve whether he is teaching chess or a different subject. NYChessKids is very fortunate to have him as part of the team! This year you will see him at NYChessKids tournaments on the microphone, and at chess camps and workshops.

To contact Chris, you may email him at

Sammypawns@aol.com

INTRODUCING SAUDIN ROBOVIC

Born in Bosnia, Saudin arrived in New York City (a place he has always admired!) ten years ago, in the midst of the conflict in his native country.

Having achieved the rank of International Master, Saudin was a professional chess player in Europe, winning a lot of tournaments. Shortly after he arrived in the United States, he decided to retire from competitive chess and focus his attention on teaching chess to children. To this end, he founded NYChessKids, LLC in 1998, which continues to grow to this day. NYChessKids has chess programs in different public and private schools, organizes chess tournaments, and has recently become a retailer of chess books and equipment, through its NYChessKids Shop.

Saudin has seen a lot of different chess teaching approaches, and in his claseses he believes in friendly interaction between students and teachers. His students enjoy being in his classes, because Saudin always wants to ensure that students enjoy the experience of learning chess.


To contact Saudin,
saudin@nychesskids.com

INTRODUCING GREGORY CESAR

Gregory Cesar was one of NYChessKids's first chess teachers, and he has been with the company since the late 1990s when it ran summer camps in the Manhattan Chess Club.

As a chessplayer, Gregory is a strong expert, and is an especially good tactician. He has competed in a lot of tournaments, though he does not compete regularly any longer.

Gregory's special gift is the ability to teach the youngest of students. He is very engaging with his storytelling and kids love him! He has a definite knack for starting kindergarten students off "on the right foot" with their chess development. Of course, as a strong chessplayer Gregory can help older, advanced students as well, but it is his work work with the "kiddies" that really makes him shine.

Currently, Gregory teaches on at Horace Mann School, P.S. 116, and has worked in other schools during his career. He teaches a lot of private lessons for NYChessKids as well.

To contact Gregory:

gregory@nychesskids.com

917-696-1372

INTRODUCING MILOS SCEKIC

Milos Scekic joined the NYChessKids staff this year, and teaches at Horace Mann School, P.S. 116, and Special Music School. He also taught a number of years at Nest School in Manhattan.

Milos is an International Master and has a lot of professional playing experience. This obviously helps him to work with and develop the potential of advanced students. He works with many of NYChessKids' most advanced students privately.
Students like Milos because he is friendly and this comes across to them.

INTRODUCING GARY RYAN

Gary Ryan teaches the Tuesday Kindergarten After School classes at P.S. 116, as well as curriculum chess classes. He also teaches at Brooklyn Friends School and at Brooklyn Heights Montessori School. He is an experienced teacher and is excellent with kindergarten and first grade students.


Gary also works on the floor at NYChessKids tournaments.


When he is not teaching chess, Gary works part time at the United Nations. He received a Masters Degree from Harvard Divinity School.

To contact Gary,
Email: asilaydying@hotmail.com

INTRODUCING ANATOLY TRUBMAN

Anatoly has been working with NYChessKids for three years now. He coached the P.S. 116 chess team at the New York State Scholastic Championships, and at the National Elementary Championships in Denver this past May; P.S. 116 tied for first place in the K-3 Under 800 section, becoming national champions for the third time. He also teaches at Hunter College Elementary School (where he began) on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and at SAR Academy in Riverdale.

Anatoly has been teaching scholastic chess for 15 years, and is a very experienced teacher. He helps out at NYChessKids tournaments and assists at camps and workshops.

In his classes, Anatoly emphasizes tournament preparation, both on the chessboard and in the mind! Students who compete in tournaments or who would like to compete in tournaments really benefit from his classes.

INTRODUCING ANDRE HARDING

Andre Harding, 23, has been working with NYChessKids since August 2005, after graduating with an B.A. in History from Queens College. An Assistant Manager at the Marshall Chess Club from 2003-2005, he helps with NYChessKids administrative duties, teaches chess in four schools, and runs chess tournaments around New York City. He is the Chief Tournament Director for NYChessKids tournaments.

Having learned how to play chess at 8 years old, and competing in his first tournament at 12, Andre studied chess hard for years, but was certainly NOT one of the most talented players ever! He now does his best to encourage his students to reach their chess potential. He teaches curriculum classes and afterschool classes at P.S. 116 and afterschool with Special Music School for NYChessKids, as well as teaching the Intermediate Chess afterschool class at Metropolitan Montessori School and the afterschool chess class at The Cathedral School.

In 2002, Andre began his chess tournament directing career with The Right Move as a tournament aide. Since officially becoming a tournament director in 2003, he has directed about 300 tournaments in three years, including being on the staff of the past two NYC Scholastic Championships, and the 2006 World Open. He credits many experienced TDs for mentoring him, most of all Steve Immitt.

In the classroom, Andre's students tend to like him, though he is demanding and expects results!

To contact Andre Harding for lessons or tournament direction,
Email: andre@nychesskids.com
Phone: 347-248-6070