The Chess in Education – US Mission

A 501(c)(3) Non-profit Organization

Chess change lives.

Our mission is to advance the potential of Chess in Education (CIE) in the United States. Working with leaders in the international CIE movement, we bring CIE best practices to educators in a way that aligns with their education goals and standards. As a result, we help teachers use chess as an educational tool to help students develop the skills needed for success in and beyond the classroom.

We are:

• Adapting successful international CIE models for the decentralized US education community.
• Developing a network of educational service providers to deliver CIE certification programs and to develop cost-effective CIE programs.
• Working with international partners to foster a worldwide Chess in Education community.

Advisors, Contributors, Volunteers

Paul Roberts

• CIE-US Operations Manager
• New England Regional Events Coordinator
• Education Consultant
• Certified Chess in Education Instructor – Level 2

Paul joins Chess in Education – US following a 34-year career as an administrator and teacher in elementary, middle school, and high school primarily in New Hampshire. He is married, a parent, and a grandparent. Paul has played chess and other strategy games since the 7th grade.

Paul Nager

• CIE-US Financial Officer
• Chess Coach
• Certified Chess in Education Instructor – Level 1

Christie West

• Training Consultant
• Video Producer & Editor

Renate Otterbach, Ed.D

• Researcher and Data Scientist
• Cognition and Student Learning
• Research, Statistics, and Assessment
• Curriculum Theory and Design

Eric Schlapak, M.Ed, J.D.
Dover (NH) High School

• Math Teacher
• Education Consultant
• Chess Coach
• Writer
• Certified Chess in Education Instructor – Level 2

Victoria Winifred

• Author, Writer
• Education Consultant
• Elementary School Teacher

Victoria joins Chess in Education – US following the 2022 publication of “The Princess, the Knight, and the Lost God: A Chess Story”, a 220-page mythological chess fantasy for kids. She is a strong advocate of including chess in the everyday teaching of all subjects, and holds a graduate level certificate in Chess and Education from the University of Texas at Dallas. Victoria taught ten years in NYC public schools where she worked with the New York City-based Chess in The Schools program. She has continued her career in East Tennessee since 2016.

Advisory Board

John Foley

• Secretary, Educational Commission of European Chess Union
• Director, ChessPlus

Jesper Hall

• Chairman, Educational Commission of European Chess Union

Mike Klein

• Chief Chess Officer, ChessKid