Our employee of the month is Edgar Sanchez from Texas.
Egdar has an amazing work ethic, and has been so enthusiastic and open to learning new ideas. He has shown tremendous growth as an instructor and in his classroom management abilities. Edgar is a great leader, caregiver, and influential instructor.
Edgar, thank you for being such an outstanding employee and teacher!
To show our appreciation for your dedication and hard work – please check your email this week for a special gift from us.
Check out our interview with Edgar below:
1. Who are you, where do you come from, where are you going?
My name is Edgar Sanchez, I grew up in the Austin Texas area, and I’m going to live an even more interesting life.
2. How long have you been teaching with Chess Wizards?
About two months.
3. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started teaching?
Classroom management is crucial to master.
4. What is the most exciting experience you have had while playing or teaching chess?
One time when I checkmated with the knight with 0.1 seconds on the clock. I felt really accomplished and excited that it happened.
5. How do you motivate your students to succeed?
I motivate them by awarding Wizard Points.
6. What is your most memorable memory from your time as a Chess Wizard?
One time I had a 6 year old student invent his own rules for how the pieces move so that he could have more fun with it and be more engaged. It was really exciting when he was ready to really learn how the pieces move.
7. If you could retire tomorrow and never have to worry about money again, what would you do with your time?
I would spend it giving private lessons to individuals and small groups on what I already love to teach in the way I love to teach.
8. What’s your go-to technique for dealing with ‘handful students’?
I give them a warning and if they still don’t listen I talk with them one on one to explain the consequences of them misbehaving and ask them if they want to experience those consequences.
9. What is an unusual place you have been to?
The Meow Wolf Convergence Museum in Denver Colorado. It was very weird to say the least. They had a whole concept of many weird worlds from different universes converging in one place and created a whole unique art exhibit from that concept.
10. Do you have a talent that not many people know about?
I can generate useful ideas, explore them, build upon them, and connect those to other useful ideas and concepts pretty easily which has really helped change my life for the better. I don’t know what that talent is called though.
11. What’s your #1 teaching tip?
Utilize a fun and passionate energy that grabs attention and invokes the curiosity of the students.
12. What’s your favorite classroom Attention Getter?
I say: “One, two, three all eyes on me!” And they say: “One, two eyes on you!”
13. What is something interesting that you’re involved in, outside of Chess Wizards?
I have a spiritual practice that is about how I can change my life in ways that feel true to me and I really love to teach the ideas to those who are curious about it.
14. If you saw a kangaroo and a chimpanzee playing chess what would you do? Who do you think would win?
I would start recording it on my phone so that I could prove to myself and to others that I haven’t gone crazy. I think the chimp would win. I’ve seen the Planet of the Apes movies, so I know how it goes.
15. Star Wars, Star Trek, or they’re both lame?
Star Wars because Star Trek doesn’t have the Jedi. Jedi have their different colored lightsabers, and their telekinesis and other powers were my favorite things about Star Wars when I was growing up.
16. What do you like most about working with Chess Wizards?
My coworkers because they help make the class more fun and we have fun meetings too.