Meet The Team
Welcome to our online chess and language school, where a love of learning meets the thrill of strategy. Our diverse team of instructors includes a resident doctor, an engineer, an International Master, and a medical student—each bringing a unique blend of academic excellence, teaching experience, and competitive chess success. Whether your child is just starting out or aiming to sharpen their game, our team is dedicated to nurturing confidence, creativity, and critical thinking through personalized, engaging lessons. Meet the team behind the board!
Founder & Executive Director
Louisa Hou
Louisa is a passionate educator with over 6 years of experience. With a strong background in child development, and mental health, she has worked in diverse educational and clinical settings. Her teaching emphasizes intrinsic motivation and independent learning, helping students build the tools they need to thrive in and outside of class.
Chess Coach and Lead Academic Mentor
Nicka Kalaydina, MD
Nicka is a dedicated educator and medical doctor with a background in biomedical sciences and experimental medicine. A former competitive player for Team Canada at the WYCC, she brings academic excellence, multilingual fluency, and high-level chess experience to every lesson, inspiring students to think critically and creatively.
Head Chess Coach
Olivier Kenta Chiku-Ratté, IM
Olivier Kenta Chiku-Ratté is a Canadian International Master (IM) from Montreal. Olivier remains an active competitor on the tournament circuit, offering students not only a solid foundation in chess fundamentals but also rare insight into high-level play, preparation, and mindset.
Chess Coach and Academic Mentor
Lee Wang
A former Team Nova Scotia player at the Canadian Chess Championship, Lee has 6 years of teaching experience and is passionate about mentoring young minds. Currently studying medicine at UBC, Lee also once used his cooking skills to land a job in biopharmaceutical manufacturing!
English Teacher
Geoff Meugens
Geoff is an English educator with more than 5 years of experience. He holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and is completing a second one in education at McGill University. His interests include critical literacy practices, youth engagement with digital media, and diverse educational approaches to literature.
Math Teacher
Cam Gallinger
Cam is an experienced math educator with over six years of university-level teaching experience. He holds a Master in Mathematics (Concordia) and a Honours in Physics (Queen's University). He brings deep subject expertise and a passion for making complex mathematical concepts accessible and engaging for students.
