Our teacher

John Hanni has spent most of his life teaching. He began after receiving his black belt at Yi-Dan Cha Gi Martial Arts during his senior year of high school. He then went on to run martial arts classes for both children and adults for over 6 years, during which time he earned a second degree black belt. While studying Business and English at the University at Buffalo. He served as President for their Chess Club during the 2014-2015 academic year. Not long after this he began teaching for Kids Play Chess, a business which offers chess classes as afterschool programs. He has taught with them for three years and at half a dozen schools across Western New York.

Mark Johnson has been practicingchess since he was a child. His peak online rating was 2290, and he has competed in several major tournaments. These include the World Open (10th place), Marchand Open (3rd place), and the Can-Am (1st place). He volunteered teaching chess at North Tonawanda High School from 2009-2015. During this time he studied Business at the University at Buffalo, where he served as president of the chess club in 2012. After this he coachedrowing at City Honors from 2013-2015. He has been teaching for Kids Play Chess for four years at schools all across Western New York. He is currently studying Actuarial Science, and will be taking the first exam later this year.