Elizabeth Shaughnessy

Chess can be a crucial part of child development. The human mind needs the depth of thinking required by the game. People also assume that a child who struggles in the classroom will struggle with chess. But a lot of the children who find learning a challenge love chess. They look forward to it like no one’s business. I vividly remember a pair of brothers who were very smart but resident troublemakers. They always gave their teachers a hard time and were constantly in the principal’s office. No educator in that school thought they would do well in my chess class. Yes, at the beginning, they did sit in the back and act up, but that ended once they became interested in the game. They quickly became two of my top chess players, and their behavior at school improved dramatically as well. They finally learned to sit still, listen and learn.​​

The benefits of chess also go beyond academics. I remember one fifth grade student — Mateo, a child with Asperger’s syndrome who struggled with social skills. With chess, Mateo found his tribe and a sport he could excel at. Chess provides structure and instills confidence in children trying to navigate an emotionally chaotic world. Today, Mateo is an extremely successful professional.

Advice to others who want to make a difference​​

Pay attention to children. Listen to them, give them a new challenge, and sit back and see the things that happen. Learning isn’t just about filling your mind with facts — it’s about stimulating it, too. When your mind begins to question those facts, that is learning. It’s like reading literature: You can skim a book, but those who read deeply and ask questions discover so much more than those who don’t.

Why my approach is unique

There are many excellent chess programs in the greater Bay Area, but our outreach program is the only one devoting significant resources to provide free or reduced-fee chess instruction in Title 1 schools. The majority of children in these underfunded schools are economically disadvantaged, with families lacking enough income to meet basic needs. Almost all are new to chess. We nurture and engage their intellect by teaching them not what to learn, but how. A simple $10 chess set opens a whole new world to them.​

Over the years, our programs have yielded a world youth champion, four grandmasters, international masters and many state and national champions. But the vision of the Berkeley Chess School has never been about producing masters, though that often happens. The mission is to help all children, especially those struggling with learning inequalities, reach their full academic potential, flourish as good citizens and good human beings, and become champions of their own lives.​