Chess Coaches

Note to Parents:
Coaches Krista, Arthur, Joshua, James, Jeff, JT, and Corey have been background checked by Hillsborough Country Schools. Coaches Krista and Arthur have additional background checks from Berkeley Prep, Westlake Christian School, Idlewild Baptist Church, St Marks Episcopal Church, and Citrus Park Ministries.

As parents ourselves, our top priority is the safety for our children and yours!

Our History:

*** Alton Family Photo Gallery ***

USCF Affiliate for Alton Academy 4 Chess

Krista was an active member of our local elementary school where our boys attended. In 2011, Coach Willard Taylor started a chess club, and Krista quickly became the club chess mom. Coach Taylor recognized her talent for children and hired her for his local tournaments. In 2012, Krista teamed up with Corey Acor, (a National Master Level Coach) to work with him in his schools. In 2014, Coach Corey and Coach Krista started "West Tampa Rated" Chess Tournaments. Over the years their partnership ran 45 US Chess rated tournaments.

In January 2015, Coaches Krista and Arthur officially launched "Alton Academy 4 Chess" and hired their sons Joshua and James as assistant coaches. With love and passion for students their Chess company continued to grow. Alton Academy 4 Chess started running their own chess clubs at Westlake Christian School, Roland Park Magnet School, Trinity Homeschool Academy, and Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science. In 2018, Alton Academy 4 Chess launched "Tampa Bay Rated" Chess Tournaments. Coach Jeff was hired as a tournament director and coach. Also in 2018, Coaches Krista and Arthur were hired by US Chess to work National Chess tournaments. In 2019, Krista was elected to serve on the board of the Florida Chess Association.

Today, Alton Academy 4 Chess survived the hard years when Covid shut down their chess business. We are now thriving once again. We lead 9 chess clubs in schools in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. We also teach 3 Zoom classes, a small group night class and run monthly US Chess Rated tournaments. In 2021, we hired Coach JT Martin, and Coaches Joshua and James became lead coaches running their own chess programs. In 2022, more schools were added, and Alton Academy 4 Chess is stronger than ever.

Meet Our Chess Coaches

Coach Krista Alton

1982 President of her High School Chess & Battle Club
27 years Teaching Children with a BS in Psychology and AA in Teaching
Parent of a Special Needs Autistic Son
1 of 13 Board Directors for the Florida Chess Association since 2018
Florida State Representative for the US Chess Women's Committee
Since 2018, Worked for the US Women's Commitee for US Chess which includes organizing and running, as part of a team, the Girls Club Room at National Scholastic Tournaments
10 years Coaching in School Chess Clubs
10 years Working in USCF Chess Tournaments, Working Local, State, and National Level Tournaments
6 years Receiving Private Lessons from National Chess Master Corey Acor
8 years Organizing/Running the Largest Rated USCF Chess Tournaments in the Tampa/St Petersburg Area
8 years Head Coach Running Chess Clubs
Currently Running 7 Classes / Clubs in 3 Schools
Currently Working as a Floor Tournament Director for Continental Chess Association Since 2016
Organize & Teach in "Thursday Knights" Chess Class
Since 2016, Organized & Chief TD for The Largest "All Girls" Rated Chess Tournaments in Central Florida
Recognized for Helping Woman & Girls Succeed in Chess
Since 2018, worked 4 day National tournaments in Orlando Fl, Nashville TN, Columbus OH, with Washington DC, and Baltimore MD on the schedule
7 years Providing Private Lessons
Since 2020, Providing Online Private Lessons Through Zoom
Since 2020, Providing Zoom Classes for Students

Coach Arthur Alton

30+ years Teaching Children
Parent of a Special Needs Autistic Son
Hillsborough County Contractor/Vendor + Level 2 screening - expires 08/31/2027
5 years Receiving Private Lessons from National Chess Master Corey Acor
5 +years Lead Chess Coach
5+ years as a Tournament Director
5+ years as Lead Club Instructor / Leading Lessons
5+ years Providing Private Lessons
5+ years Chess Camp Instructor
Instructor for "Thursday Knights" Chess Class
2015-2021 Westlake Christian School Advance Club Lead Coach
2017-2020 Hillsborough Academy of Math & Science Lead Coach
2018-2021 Roland Park Magnet School Lead Chess Coach
2019-2020 Roland Park Magnet School Technology Lead Coach
2019-2020 Westchase Elementary School Chess Coach
7 years Coaching Soccer, NAYS Certified (National Association Youth Sports)
Spikeball Tournament player & Ambassador since 2018
Spikeball Ambassador Award Winner 04/2021
City of Tampa Spikeball Tournament M.C. 02/2020
Drama director / volunteer: Haiti missions trips (2014-16) www.schoolsforhaiti.com .
2017 - 2022 Volunteer at Northwest Community Church - Covenant Youth Group, helper/assistant
Software Engineer/Developer/Software Consultant - Career 30+ yrs
Software Developer / Architect since 2000 - currently consultant @ 3T
2007 Software Consultant & Award Winner for Outstanding Contributions for Time / Attendance H.R. custom software design & implementation @ HHS
2016 Award Winner: Tampa Bay Code-A-Thon Hillsborough County Web Automation
2017 - Present Technology Instructor for 2 schools teaching: Web Site Design, Intro - Computer Programming with Game Development, Using Java Script & Phaser, Computer Animation, Coding for Kids, and introduction to Technology.
Website Design Consultant
Technology Camp Instructor/Director

Coach Jeff Hitchlock

Playing Chess 40+ years
17 years as Lead Chess Instructor for School Classes or Clubs
Lead Coach - Roland Park Chess Club since 2021
Lead Coach - Elisa Nelson Chess Club since 2021
Led 2 Schools to Win Top School Trophy in 3 Different Tampa Bay Tournaments
7 years as Tournament Director
7 years Teaching Private Lessons
12 years in Cleveland Ohio Teaching Public & Private Schools as a Lead Chess Coach before Joining Alton Academy 4 Chess in 2018
Taught Chess Summer Camps 2006 - present
Head Coach for Hillsborough Community College Summer Program
Lead Chess Instructor for Alton Academy 4 Chess and Another Bay Area National Chess Company Since 2018
Working as a Floor Tournament Director at 2019 K-12 Grade Nationals in Orlando
WestLake Christian Advanced Chess Club Instructor 2021
Hillsborough County approved public school contractor with level 2 background screening

Lives in Pinellas County and is
available for private Lessons

Coach Joshua Alton

2020 - Present Lead Coach: WestLake Christian School Advanced Club
Started Southeastern University Chess Club
Rated Tournament Player: With Over 350 Rated Games Played, Winning Money Since 2016
2022 Lead Coach for Tampa Day School
6 years Receiving Private Lessons from National Chess Master Corey Acor
1 year Receiving Private Lessons from National Chess Master Todd Bryant
6 years Assistant Chess Coach
6 years Providing Private Lessons
6 years Working Chess Tournaments
4 years Working as Floor TD's
5 years Lead Technical Club Instructor / Leading Lessons
Instructor for "Thursday Knights" Chess Classes
Working Coach for Multiple Chess Company in Tampa
Assistant Coach for 18 Summer Chess Camps from 3 Different Chess Companies Since 2015
Southeastern University Student Since 2020 3.8+ GPA
Zoom Chess Class Instructor
Volunteer at Grace Family Church, Youth Leader
Small Group Bible Study Organizer and Instructor

Since 2017, Coaches Joshua and James have won money several times at the Southern Open in Orlando ....... Winning from $50 - $400

Coach James Alton

2021 Florida State Blitz Scholastic Champion
Started Southeastern University Chess Club
Rated Tournament Player: With Over 250 Rated Games Played, Winning Money Since 2016
6 years Receiving Private Lessons from National Chess Master Corey Acor
Zoom Chess Class Lead Instructor for 2 Classes since 2020
1 year Receiving Private Lessons from National Chess Master Todd Bryant
5 years Assistant Chess Coach
5 years Providing Private Lessons
5 years Working Chess Tournaments
5 years Working as Floor TD's
Instructor for "Thursday Knights" Chess Class
2 years Lead Technical Club Instructor / Leading Lessons
Assistant Coach for 15 Chess Camps
2019 - Present Lead Tech Volunteer for Children Ministry (5 hours Every Sunday) at Grace Family Church
2021 Marksmanship Award Winner from Sickles ROTC
4 years Sickles JROTC Sr. Flight Commander
Sickles H.S. Honors Student, Graduated with 7 A.P. College board classes: Physics 1, 2 & 3, Calculus 1, Calculus 2, & Comp Science 1, and Comp Science 2
Southeastern University Honors student
Tournament Spikeball Player, and Tournament Assistant