Kids gain “Train of Thought”!
Education Group’s (CEG) Family of Charter Schools
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 1, 2013) – Train of Thought, a chess education nonprofit focused on teaching the game of chess to children and youth throughout Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding areas will design, develop and implement chess curriculum for Celerity Education Group’s Family of Charter Schools.
Damen Fletcher, Train of Thought Founder/Executive Director began introducing the chess experience to the Celerity School Principals through a weekly class last Fall. CEG’s visionary President and CEO, Vielka McFarlane, a skilled chess player herself, charged Fletcher first with teaching her principals the basics before weaving chess education into the culture and school-wide curriculum of CEG.
Next, Fletcher and Train of Thought will begin training Celerity’s after-school personnel to teach the exciting game of chess to all elementary and middle school students. “I am thrilled by this extraordinary opportunity to take chess Education to the next level. Through this program we will introduce hundreds of new students to the game,” explains Damen Fletcher.
Celerity after-school program staff training starts March 1, 2013. CEG will roll out chess education in their after-school programs April 15, 2013. “The benefits of chess are life changing. Learning the game will strengthen focus, scholarship, discipline, critical thinking, analytical reasoning and build confidence in all of their students,” shares Fletcher.
Having already taught chess to over 3500 students throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, Damen Fletcher and Train of Thought don’t take opportunities like this one for granted, “Working with Celerity has been one of many dreams come true. I am teaching chess to 3 generations of students at one time. It can only spread like wildfire from here”, says Damen.
Train of Thought provides a positive, growth-enhancing, and academically enriching experience. Damen Fletcher, Founder and Director of Train of Thought, was raised on the streets of Compton. At the age of 13, he was introduced to the game of chess. Captivated by the beauty of the game, he learned how to use chess as a lifelong educational tool to help him and others rise above undesirable circumstances.
In 2007, Damen Fletcher founded Train of Thought, an enrichment program that teaches adolescents the rules, discipline, strategy, and etiquette of chess. The mission of the organization is to improve academic performance and instill a better attitude toward learning by bringing the social and educational value of chess to urban communities.
Kindergarteners learn chess at Community Magnet Charter School
from Damen Fletcher on Vimeo.
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About Train of Thought
Train of Thought is an enrichment program that teaches children the rules, discipline, strategy and etiquette of chess. Our mission is to improve academic performance and instill a better attitude toward learning by bringing the social and educational value of chess to urban communities, leading to improved test scores and reduced retention and dropout rates.
For more information please visit www.chesstrain.org or follow Train of Thought at www.facebook.com/chesstrain
Good stuff! The Jamaican chess fraternity extends best wishes for success now and in the future.
Hello,
I am starting a chess program at my school (Vanier College in Montreal), and I was wondering if I could use the picture of Damen Fletcher teaching two girls how to play chess on a pamphlet I am making to advertise the program to our school’s students. Would you be able to give permission for that?
Regards,
Mark Cohen