The National Scholastic Chess Foundation (NSCF) and Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) held the Mindsets: The New York Chess in Education Conference on December 6, 2025, at Quorum in Rockefeller Center. The conference brought together educators, administrators, and researchers from the US, UK, Latvia, and Sri Lanka to explore how chess can be intentionally integrated into education, focusing on growth, mastery, and purposeful play.
Pre-Conference Reception at Hunter College Campus Schools
On December 5, the pre-conference reception featured tours led by the middle school chess team and chess games. Dr. Lisa Siegmann, Head of School, welcomed attendees via video, highlighting chess's central role at Hunter. Elementary School Principal Dawn Roy shared her journey as a chess advocate, and Sunil Weeramantry introduced key contributors, including Dr. Jeff Bulington and Matan Prilleltensky.
Morning Presentations
The conference opened with a continental breakfast and welcome addresses by Sunil Weeramantry and Michael Khodarkovsky. Dr. Jeff Bulington discussed the justification for teaching chess in schools, emphasizing the development of transferable skills like planning and decision-making. Panels on the philosophy of games and learning through play, led by Dr. Troy Seagraves and Dr. Loren Schmidt, explored how games foster curiosity and resilience.
Alan Abrams and Mike Amori demonstrated integrating chess with literacy and storytelling. Matan Prilleltensky presented the Steps Method, a mastery-based approach to chess education. Garry Kasparov delivered a special address, connecting elite competition lessons to everyday teaching and discussing the evolution of chess education in an AI-driven world.
Afternoon Programs
The afternoon sessions included research presentations and panels. Dr. Brian Kisida, Dr. Matthew Pepper, and Dr. Michelle Wickman analyzed gender gaps in competitive chess, showing that female participation increases narrow the gap. The panel "Chess in the Curriculum" discussed embedding chess into school curricula and aligning it with academic standards.
Panels on building a bridge from high school to collegiate chess and teaching chess as an academic subject explored preparing students for higher education and offering chess for college credit. Former scholastic chess players discussed redefining success in chess beyond ratings and titles.
Keynote Address
Grandmaster Peter Wells and Dr. Barry Hymer delivered the keynote, exploring the intersection of educational and competitive chess through a growth mindset lens. They contrasted fixed mindset beliefs with growth mindset approaches, advocating for "serious play" grounded in intrinsic motivation and productive failure.
Closing Reception and Additional Events
The conference concluded with a closing reception and a special talk and book signing at the Marshall Chess Club. An add-on reception at Chess Place in Spanish Harlem emphasized play, joy, and community. The conference highlighted chess as a tool for cultivating growth mindsets and meaningful learning.
Support and Future Events
The conference was supported by The Saint Louis Chess Club, US Chess, US Chess Trust, ICC, Mark Wieder, Chess in the Schools, and the New York State Chess Association. The 2026 Chess in Education Conference dates were announced.
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