Tomo Fukui
President and Co-Founder

Tomo Fukui is the President and Co-Founder of Growing Minds Chess Academy. He started playing chess at the age of 5, learning the game during curricular Kindergarten classes at Hunter College Elementary School. He soon became an integral part of Hunter’s Chess Team that went on to win the National Championships for 12 consecutive years. Tomo also won 3 individual National Titles (including the very first Super Nationals in Knoxville, TN in 1997).

With over 15 Years of teaching experience, Tomo has worked individually with children from as young as 3 years old. Many of his students have won City, State, and National Championships and are some of the top players in their age group. He has also successfully organized and coached scholastic teams that have won National, NY City, and NY State Championships, as well as a 1st place finish at the NY Mayor’s Cup in 2014.

Alanna Katz
Co-Founder and Lead Instructor.

Alanna is one of the top 100 female chess players in the US. In 2005, Alanna became the sole United States Girls Under 18 representative at the Pan American Chess Championships held in Brazil. She was the 11th Grade NY State Chess Champion in 2003.

Alanna has an MS in Education and designs much of the chess curriculum for the curricular, after school, and camp/prep programs. She is a New York State certified Teacher and has worked for the NYC DOE for the past 5 years. Alanna has taught chess for over 20 years and has worked with teams that have won the State Championship, City Championship and the National Chess Championships. She has taught over 10,000 students how to play chess and looks forward to working with your child.

Ben Katz
Co-Founder and Lead Instructor.

US National Master Ben Katz, is in the 99th percentile of all chess players in the US, currently rated 2243. He has won numerous major tournaments and represented the United States in several international events, most notably as part of a delegation called the “Collins Kids,” a group that competed all around the world. This group was led by famed chess coach John Collins, former World Champion Bobby Fischer’s chess coach and mentor.

Abby Marshall
National Master

Abby is a 5-time National Chess Champion and became the first girl to ever win the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, a tournament where each of the 50 states sends a representative to compete. Abby also represented the United States twice in the World Youth Championships in Turkey and at the World Mind Sports games in China.

Abby is one of the most sought out chess instructors on our staff and brings her wealth of experience as a player and coach. Abby has over 15 years of teaching experience and looks forward to teaching your child!

Harold Scott
Candidate Master, Head Coach

Coach Harold has been teaching chess to children of all ages and abilities for over 25 years. Harold is a US Chess Candidate Master and is a Senior Tournament Director. He also earned his FIDE Instructor title.

He is the Head Coach and Lead Instructor at Avenues – the World School. Harold is also a chess writer, who has had articles published in Chess Life and New in Chess Magazine. In 2022, Harold’s first book Winning the World Open was published and co-authored by GM Joel Benjamin.

Joel Benjamin
Grandmaster

Winner or co-winner of virtually every major U.S. title, including six World Opens and three U.S. Opens, Joel Benjamin has competed in a record 23 consecutive U.S. Championships, winning three (1987, 1997, 2000). A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, he became the then-youngest National Master at age 13, breaking the record previously held by Bobby Fischer. He continued to rise, attaining IM and GM status in 1980 and 1986, respectively. Benjamin competed on six U.S. Olympiad teams, winning silver and bronze medals, and received an individual gold medal as part of the 1993 U.S. World Team. 

Joel served as the official grandmaster consultant for IBM’s Deep Bluecomputer, which in 1997 claimed a historic victory over Garry Kasparov. Voted 1998’s

Grandmaster of the Year by the U.S. Chess Federation, Benjamin became the (then) youngest U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductee in 2008. 

Joel has over 25 years of coaching experience and has worked with several of the top Junior chess players in the country. In addition to coaching at the City, State and National level, Joel has coached the USA Internationally at the World Youth Chess Championships and the Pan American Chess Championships

Travis Patay
Candidate Master

Coach Travis started teaching chess in 2001 when he was a junior in high school at St. Francis Prep in Queens. Travis won first place in the U1600 section of the 2001 World Open along with the $10,000 first place prize! Travis captained and trained St. Francis Prep to the NYC Catholic H.S. Chess League championship his senior year. Upon graduation, he continued to train the team and helped produce four straight varsity and junior varsity championships.

Since then, Travis has taught chess to children as young as 4 years old, gained experience teaching chess in various public and private schools in NYC, and was the coach of the 2008 K-6 NY State Champion. We are thrilled to have Travis share his love of chess with the next generation of chess players.

Josue Castillo
National Master

Coach Josue Castillo is a National Chess Master and holds the FIDE title of Candidate Master.  He has been teaching chess to children since 2010 and holds the title of FIDE National Instructor. He is an active tournament player and loves every aspect of the chess game. He enjoys helping kids grow as confident and independent thinkers. 

With Growing Minds, Coach Castillo is working with students to build their chess skills through mini games and group problem solving. He also works with the Avenues: The World School chess team, where he is training students to be tournament ready.

In addition to teaching chess in NYC, Coach Castillo organizes chess programs for underserved children in the Dominican Republic. 

Lily Faerman
US Chess Expert

Lily Faerman has been teaching chess to children and adults for 20 years. She’s a Chess Expert who also holds the title of FIDE National Instructor. 

Lily began playing chess at the age of 4 in her home country of Russia, where she studied with prominent masters at Petrosian’s Chess Club in Moscow. Soon after moving to the United States at 13, Lily became the 2nd highest-rated female player in her age group and was invited to participate in the Youth Chess World Championship in Paris, France.

Lily has won the New York State High School Championship and went on to participate in the Denker Tournament of high school champions. Her 1st place team from Edward R. Murrow High School was honored at City Hall by Mayor Giuliani.

Lily is a certified tournament director and is also a singer. You can find her performing at the renowned Marshall Chess Club or in the heart of NYC, where she organizes chess & music events and simuls.

Ernesto Tobar

Coach

Ernesto has been teaching chess for over 10 years. Ernesto is extremely passionate about chess and enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities. He has been with Growing Minds since 2017 and has taught classes from our youngest beginners in pre-school to our most advanced students on chess teams. Ernesto is a Class A chess player and looks forward to teaching your child

Kevin Singh
Coach

Coach Kevin learned how to play chess by Growing Minds Co-Founder, Alanna Katz, through Chess In the Schools. In his very first chess tournament, he took first place and his love for chess was born! He continued to improve his game and was part of the 2012 Nationals winning team who took first place in the U800 section in Minneapolis. Kevin is currently teaching chess full time and we are fortunate to have him with us on staff, where he can share his joy and passion for the game with his students

Darron McMorries
Coach

Coach Darron was taught chess by Growing Minds Co-Founder, Alanna Katz as part of an after-school program sponsored by Chess-In-The-Schools when he was in 8th grade. His aptitude for the game was very impressive and he was soon competing every weekend in chess competitions throughout NYC. He was the captain of the chess team that took first place at the Chess Nationals in Minneapolis in 2012, U800 section.