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Chess Clubs - Tampa Bay Area
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Educators and parents want their children to learn. Students want to have fun. Chess club offers an environment were both happen in abundance. So In today's world of brain sapping quick click video games, students both learn and have fun at Chess Club. This once a week opportunity adds a social element with a common bond of learning with a purpose. Every child learning and growing in there individual cognitive ability. Each player increasing their skills and confidence. Chess club offers new opportunities for friendships.
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In today's world of brain sapping quick click video games, where can students learn and have fun? |
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Krista-
School Clubs: In 2011, a chess program came to our boy's school Citrus Park Elementary. Krista soon became the volunteer chess Mom. Joshua and James were club members and loving the game of chess. Krista has a love for working with students, and opportunities quickly opened from several top coaches in the Tampa Bay area. Roland Park Magnet School was our first chess club coaching job, Fall 2012. WestLake Christian School and Trinity Homeschool Academy soon followed. Tournaments: At the same time new opportunities opened up for tournament directing. First at the local level, then at the regional and state level. Krista was an assistant TD (Tournament Director) for the K-1 division at the US Chess Scholastic Nationals in 2014 and 2015. In March 2014, Krista partnered with their coach National Master Corey Acor and started West Tampa Rated Chess Tournaments. Their tournament partnership lasted 4 years, running almost 50 tournaments. Those tournaments were for students and adults and had the following divisions: Beginner Rated (U500), Advanced Rated (U1000), and Open/Cash with almost $500 of prize money. Summer Camps: Starting 2012, Krista started volunteering at 2 different camps. Summer 2013 - 2016 Krista became a staff member for several different companies offering Chess camps. Summer 2017, Alton Academy 4 Chess began offering their own camps. These one week (6 hour each day) camps bring a new level of chess for each player. Besides the mental challenge, several physical challenges and fun games create an atmosphere of opportunities. January 2019 - Coach Krista Alton was elected as a Regional Director to the board of the Florida Chess Association. Krista also is the state representative for the US Chess Women's Committee. Arthur- Starting in 2015 Arthur began working as a floor director at the West Tampa Rated Chess Tournaments. In January 2016, Arthur became the head coach for the new Advance Chess club at Westlake Christian School. In September 2017, Arthur became the head coach for the chess program at Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science. 2018-2019 worked with National Master Corey Acor at the Westchase Elementary chess club with over 80 students. |
