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Credo
	Research has proven that children who learn chess consistently outperform their classmates who do not learn chess in school. Children who learn chess gain increased concentration, better self-esteem, pattern recognition, increase reasoning, logic, science, and cognitive skills, self-discipline, and understanding the consequences of making mistakes. We at the ICI firmly believe that a well-run chess curriculum is one of the must beneficial programs that may be offered. This is why we provide well-trained and certified instructors to teach children this wonderful game. Instructors are well versed in adolescent psychology, educational tools, chess theory, and teaching technique.
Management
	The ICI is comprised of numerous chess coaches and chess professionals worldwide, but much of our success is due to the people behind the scenes, the ICI board of directors. Kent Leung, President and Scholastic Director I found chess or more whimsically stated chess found me in the beginning of 1996. I was lucky enough to have met the late Gus Gosselin a chess promoter, teacher, and most important a mentor and a friend. Ever since I have dedicated my life to chess as an avid chess enthusiast, chess promoter, and a few years later as a professional chess coach. Currently, I am the president and scholastic director of the International Chess Institute. My experience ranges from being a chess promoter to a professional coach. My role in the ICI has been to develop, implement, and maintain a chess curriculum in the various public and private schools adopting a ICI chess program. In my efforts I have taught and worked with people from many countries, and through my collaborative experience it has given me a new found drive to reexamine chess and its role in school education. Thus the International Chess Institute was founded in May of 2001. In just a few short years later ICI students have won a National Championship title and produced six state champions in six years. I can only express my deepest gratitude to work with such talented colleagues. Henry Tsau, International Students Director Hello my name is Henry Tsau, and I am the International Students Director. My goal is to facilitate the transition for international students in to ICI chess programs through one-on-one counseling. Through this counseling process it is my hopes to develop a rapport with each incoming student to identify their personal needs. My experience includes speaking Mandarin Chinese, English, German, and conversationalist Taiwanese. In addition, prior to coming to the states to obtain a Bachelor in Science, I lived in three different continents, and many different countries; ranging from Asia, to America, to Europe. My experience with assisting international students has further developed under my father´s mentorship as an international diplomat who has traveled and lived in over twenty different countries. Victor Oppenheimer, Chief Information Officer It seems as if chess, education and computer science have been omnipresent throughout my adult life. In high school I became an ardent chess player and was the president of our chess club. This passion has never left me as I went on to a career in computer science. I combined an interest in education with information science while serving as director of Research and Development in a program at Harvard´s graduate school of Education. At Harvard I taught programming fundamentals to New England educators. Subsequently I formed ran a successful software development company where we attempted to combine chess and software expertise I am the proud father of an eleven year old son. His mother and I have made chess classes from ISI an important part of his home schooling. We feel that in the short run these lessons contribute to his ability to focus. In the long run they hopefully will also provide him the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment and personal growth. In addition to my on-going involvements in chess and computer science I am a committed practitioner of and instructor in yoga. I have taught classes and trained teachers in yoga extensively both in the US as well as numerous international venues.
Faculty
	ICI instructors are the proverbial "cream of the crop." They have been hand selected based upon their unique teaching skills, personality and conscientiousness. In addition, every ICI instructor must undergo a vigorous and comprehensive teaching training program. Only those selected based on performance become certified instructors. Instructors are required to submit their teaching materials prior to using them, which guarantees the best quality of lectures. ICI instructors are revealed periodically to assess their teaching technique and overall performance. They must attend monthly meetings to improve their teaching ability. Instructors are also required to be up-to-date with any new chess trends and knowledge. Why settle for unprepared teachers when you can have a certified instructor. The instructor will provide a healthy and conducive learning environment. The difficulties of running and maintaining a chess club are vast, but with out assistance things should be much simpler. We at the ICI realize all the adversities therefore we will provide all tools necessary in running a successful chess club.
What you need to bring to the table
	All you need is some kids who enjoy the game and want to play chess. Sounds easy enough don´t it! We will provide the sets, equipment, proper certification, instructor, and safe friendly environment. We will also setup individual and school matches.