Chess in the Schools Announces:
The Andy Lerner Award
for Excellence in Chess Education

This nationwide annual award recognizes exceptional work in chess education by administrators and chess educators serving public schools or non-commercial children’s chess clubs. 

This year, there will be two Lerner Award recipients and four finalists decided upon by a committee of educators and members of the chess community. The two winners will each receive a $10,000 award. The award will be divided between the educator and their affiliated organization, each receiving $5,000. Awards of $2,000 will be given to finalists.

The award recognizes educators’ impact on the chess community and students, with alignment to CIS’s mission and the values of youth enrichment through chess education. The committee will take into account innovation and dynamism in teaching and programming (such as tournaments or other events), and awards, recognition, or other outcomes of the students, clubs, and communities served.

“It is my hope that this award will highlight the invaluable work that chess educators are doing in underserved communities across the US” –  Andy Lerner, Award Supporter and Board Member

Candidacy is by nomination only, with nominations due November 14th, 2025. 

Candidate materials are then due by January 16th, 2026. 

The final decision, with an award ceremony to follow, will take place in Spring 2025. 

If you were nominated for this award last year and wish to be considered again, please email Marilyn Lucero, CIS Development Associate, at mlucero@chessintheschools.org for further details. Finalists from previous years are encouraged to reapply, with the exception of those who were recognized in the year immediately preceding their current application.

Additional questions may be directed to Marilyn Lucero, CIS Development Associate: (646) 688-0732, mlucero@chessintheschools.org

Nomination Form

Lerner Award Finalists/Winners: Archives