Our employee of the month is Nick Darrell from Boston, MA!
Nick was chosen as our Wizard of the month because of his stellar attendance record, great working relationship with the Milton School District, his punctuality, enthusiasm, and dedication to Chess Wizards. Nick Darell moved away from MA and worked as a DC chess Wizard for a year, then he returned to MA and continued his rise as a Star Wizard!
Nick, 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.
Cheсk out our interview with Nick below:
1. Who are you, where do you come from, where are you going?
My name is Nick Darrell, I’m from Boston MA and I am hoping to spend the near future in the area.
2. How long have you been teaching with Chess Wizards?
I have been with Chess Wizards for 2.5 years.
3. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started teaching?
How incredibly quickly children can learn a new topic/skill if you as a teacher can make it interesting for them.
4. What is the most exciting experience you have had while playing or teaching chess?
On trophy day, having my students fight to introduce me to their parents.
5. How do you motivate your students to succeed?
Through Chess Wizard points and constantly reinforcing to my students that they are making progress. They should be proud of themselves!
6. If you could retire tomorrow and never have to worry about money again, what would you do with your time?
I would spend my days traveling the world and seeing friends and family.
7. What’s your go-to technique for dealing with ‘handful students’?
Give them a chance to be a star. Say to the class, if the “handful student” answers a question correctly, then everyone gets Chess Wizard points. You just need to make sure it’s a question they can answer.
8. What is an unusual place you have been to?
Havana Cuba and Beirut Lebanon are the most unusual places I’ve been.
9. Do you have a talent that not many people know about?
Nothing too crazy but I can squat over 400 pounds.
10. What’s your #1 teaching tip?
Remember you’re teaching kids not robots. There is no need to bombard them with information just for them to get frustrated when they cannot understand.
11. What is something interesting that you’re involved in, outside of Chess Wizards?
Outside of Chess Wizards I am a huge fan of the Boston Celtics.
12. If you saw a kangaroo and a chimpanzee playing chess what would you do? Who do you think would win?
I would go with the chimpanzee, have to root for my fellow primate and a chimp having higher critical thinking than a kangaroo.
13. Star Wars, Star Trek, or they’re both lame?
Star Wars but I respect the Star Trek fans.
14. What do you like most about working with Chess Wizards?
Watching my students make any sort of progress truly fills my heart with awe and pride.