Buzzing With Pride

AUTHOR: MAX SMITH, Region 10 Digital Marketing Specialist

EXCITEMENT. Pride. Nervousness. These emotions were all in the air as 28 students from 11 school districts came together to celebrate the Spanish language during the 2022 Spanish Spelling Bee at Region 10. This year was the sixth annual Regional Spanish Spelling Bee, and the first time it has been held on-site since 2019.

For Region 10 English Learner Support Consultant Angela Greca, the Spanish Spelling Bee celebrates and honors being a language learner.

“Generations of language learners have grown up in a deficit-based second language model – meaning you erase the home language in order to acquire the target language. In our case, that has been English,” Greca shared. “This includes my grandmother, who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. They were punished for speaking a word of Spanish at school, including while playing on the playground. We need to recognize that multilingualism is something to celebrate, always. When people hear that I am multilingual as a native English speaker, they always congratulate me for an amazing accomplishment. If you think I am so amazing, why don’t you also think the students who are doing the exact same thing but with greater proficiency and at a younger age are even more amazing?”

Three separate competitions were held; third grade, fourth-fifth grade, and sixth-eighth grade. The first Spelling Bee of the day, the third grade competition, saw Diego Ramirez from Denison ISD take first place.

“I'm so proud of Ramirez, because he has been working hard to study the words ever since we had our spelling bee in the school,” Denison ISD’s Yencys Rodriguez said.

Winning did not come easy for Ramirez, who faced some challenges in the final round.

“I had trouble with the word that I won on, but I am very happy that I won,” he recalled.

The fourth-fifth grade Spelling Bee saw 11 students compete in a highly competitive round, with Emiliano Noyola Garcia from Wilson Elementary in Coppell ISD claiming first place. This wasn’t the only highlight of Garcia’s day. After taking home the top prize, he went on later that day to perform the leading role of Aladdin in his school play.

“He represents the best of what we see for our kids, as a part of our dual language program,” Principal Cooper Hilton shared. “When I think of Garcia, I think of hard work, whether it's in preparation for the Spanish Spelling Bee or our school musical extracurriculars that he's a part of.”

According to Principal Hilton, Garcia had the full support of his teachers.

“I was texting his teachers while he was competing, and they said they were screaming so loud, they were worried that he could hear them all the way from Coppell,” Principal Hilton shared with a laugh.

For Dr. Patricia Dawson, Coppell ISD’s Director of ESL Bilingual, participating in the Spanish Spelling Bee is a very rewarding experience not only for the students, but also for the educators.

“I think having the Spanish Spelling Bee brings validity to the Dual Language program, and to our incredible culture and language of our native Spanish speakers in the district and around the state,” Dr. Dawson shared. “It speaks highly of the amazing educators who work hard in these programs each and every day and put forth excellent education, both academically and linguistically.”

The final Spelling Bee of the day, the sixtheighth grade competition saw Garland ISD’s Andrea Cueva and Faith Family Academy’s Lucy Gonzalez go back and forth through multiple rounds, before Cueva finally ended up taking first place on the eve of her birthday.

“I was so nervous at the start, I felt like passing out for a little bit. As the competition went on, I wasn't as nervous,” shared Cueva. “I'm super proud of myself because I never thought I could do it, but I put myself to it and I accomplished it.”

Cueva wasn’t the only one feeling all the emotions of the competition, according to Garland ISD’s Esther Bellah.

“We were watching so closely and just crossing our fingers through the ups and downs,” Bellah shared. “It's a roller coaster of emotions, but it was really fun.”

Cueva thanks Bellah, Garland ISD LOTE Coordinator Laura Parker, and her Spanish teacher Mr. Cardona for their support. She also thanks her mother, who would practice the words with her in the car. While Cueva is a talented speller, spelling isn’t her only talent.

“Yesterday, I also won first place at a track meet,” Cueva shared. “But I think I am better at spelling than track.”

The day left a profound impact on Texas State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos, who was one of the judges.

“Today was really quite emotional for me, seeing that these children still are nurturing their cultural connections,” Ramos reflected. “I'm very honored to be here with future presidents, lawyers, teachers, and even my future replacement right here in this room.”

While there were three winners, every participant impressed and inspired her.

“I never competed in a spelling bee as a child, I was always too scared. I hope they realize the level of courage they have, and the admiration I have for them for participating in something that's not easy,” Ramos shared. “I was intimidated just being a judge, because even though I do speak fluent Spanish, it's a different level. These kids bumped it up 10 notches."