Important Note: You are registering directly with Scripps. The Arizona Educational Foundation does not take payment for your registration fees. All registration fees and eligibility policies are set by Scripps. Scripps accepts checks or credit cards only, they do not accept purchase orders.
2021 deadlines.
path to the Arizona Spelling Bee.
Classroom Bee
School Bee
District Bee
County/ Regional Bee
AEF™ Arizona Spelling Bee
2021 deadlines.
School Registration Deadline: December 18th, 2020
Deadline to Finish School Spelling Bee: January 8th, 2021
Deadline to Finish District Spelling Bee: February 1st, 2021
Deadline to Complete County/Regional Spelling Bee: February 19th, 2021
School Registration Deadline: December 18th, 2020
Deadline to Finish School Spelling Bee: January 8th, 2021
Deadline to Finish District Spelling Bee: February 1st, 2021
Deadline to Complete County/Regional Spelling Bee: February 19th, 2021
Important Note: You are registering directly with Scripps. The Arizona Educational Foundation does not take payment for your registration fees. All registration fees and eligibility policies are set by Scripps. Scripps accepts checks or credit cards only, they do not accept purchase orders.
eligibility.
-
To participate in the 2020 Arizona Spelling Bee, a student must attend a school in Arizona that is enrolled with the Scripps National Spelling Bee on or before the deadline December 18th, 2020.
-
There is no minimum grade or age level at the state or national finals; however, spelling bee officials at the classroom, school or district level may, at their discretion, set a minimum grade and/or age limit.
-
A student is eligible to compete if he or she has not passed beyond the eighth grade on or before February 1, 2021 and has not reached his or her 15th birthday before August 31, 2020.
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To qualify for the AEF™ Arizona Spelling Bee, a speller must win preliminary bees at the classroom, school, district*, and county/regional levels. A district run-off is needed in the following instances:
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Public Schools: If there are multiple schools from the same district enrolled, you must hold a district wide run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Charter Schools: If there are multiple charter schools operating under the same LEA, CMO, EMO, (such as BASIS, Great Hearts, etc.), you must hold a run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee. Even if each school in a charter network is considered an independent LEA, if they are part of a larger network, a run-off is needed.
-
Private Schools: If there are multiple private schools operating under the umbrella of an organization (such as a Diocese or private management organization), you must hold a run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Home Schools: If there are multiple home schools operating under the umbrella of an organization or collective, you must hold a run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Independent Schools: If the enrolled school (charter, private, home, virtual) is entirely independent (not associated with any other schools or management organization) the winning speller will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Not sure if your school needs a district bee? Contact Matthew Feller at matthew@azedfoundation.org.
timeline.
Aug-Jan
Enroll school with Scripps
Jan
Hold school spelling bee
early Feb
Hold district spelling bee
late Feb
County/Regional spelling bee
late May
enroll your school.
path to the Arizona Spelling Bee.
eligibility.
-
To participate in the 2020 Arizona Spelling Bee, a student must attend a school in Arizona that is enrolled with the Scripps National Spelling Bee on or before the deadline December 18th, 2020.
-
There is no minimum grade or age level at the state or national finals; however, spelling bee officials at the classroom, school or district level may, at their discretion, set a minimum grade and/or age limit.
-
A student is eligible to compete if he or she has not passed beyond the eighth grade on or before February 1, 2021 and has not reached his or her 15th birthday before August 31, 2020.
-
To qualify for the AEF™ Arizona Spelling Bee, a speller must win preliminary bees at the classroom, school, district*, and county/regional levels. A district run-off is needed in the following instances:
-
Public Schools: If there are multiple schools from the same district enrolled, you must hold a district wide run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Charter Schools: If there are multiple charter schools operating under the same LEA, CMO, EMO, (such as BASIS, Great Hearts, etc.), you must hold a run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee. Even if each school in a charter network is considered an independent LEA, if they are part of a larger network, a run-off is needed.
-
Private Schools: If there are multiple private schools operating under the umbrella of an organization (such as a Diocese or private management organization), you must hold a run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Home Schools: If there are multiple home schools operating under the umbrella of an organization or collective, you must hold a run-off to select the student(s) that will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Independent Schools: If the enrolled school (charter, private, home, virtual) is entirely independent (not associated with any other schools or management organization) the winning speller will advance to the county/regional bee.
-
Not sure if your school needs a district bee? Contact Matthew Feller at matthew@azedfoundation.org.
Classroom Bee
School Bee
District Bee
County/ Regional Bee
AEF™ Arizona Spelling Bee
timeline.
2021
Arizona Teacher of the Year
Meet the ten teachers recognized this year.
award recipients.
2021 Arizona Teacher of the Year
Sara Wyffels
Spanish | Chandler High School
Chandler Unified School District
2021 Ambassadors for Excellence
Estevan Carreon
Special Education | Independence High School
Glendale Union High School
Jillian Hernandez
5th Grade | Puente de Hózhó Elementary
Flagstaff Unified School District
Sara Mora
Career & Technical Ed | Wrightson Ridge School
Sahuarita Unified School District
Hillary Stacey
Chemistry | Empire High School
Vail Unified School District
2021 Semi-Finalists
Jeffrey Mann
World History | Flowing Wells High School
Flowing Wells Unified School District
Sharisse Nunes
Elementary Education, 5th Grade | Falcon Hill Elementary
Mesa Public Schools
Nicole Powell
Elementary Education, 5th Grade | Las Sendas Elementary
Mesa Public Schools
Shaylyn Savage
Special Education, 5th-8th Grade | Sunset Ridge Elementary
Pendergast Elementary School District
Elizabeth Shaw
Social Studies | Rincon Vista Middle School
Vail Unified School District
book a teacher to speak.
The Teacher of the Year and four Ambassadors for Excellence each bring a different perspective on education. Please read the following descriptions and then book the speaker of your choosing using the form below.
Sara Wyffels, 2021 Arizona Teacher of the Year
As an Ambassador for Excellence, Sara Wyffels has centered her focus on renewing education during the pandemic. She is specifically exploring why we should not go back to “normal,” and how we should start new instead. Wyffels can provide reflection and talking points to guide the process in renewing our systems and practices in regards to student learning, instruction, approach, equity, inclusiveness, technology, community, and the overall purpose of school.
Estevan Carreon, 2021 Ambassador for Excellence
As an Ambassador for Excellence, Estevan Carreon will focus on the commitment of educators regarding inclusion when meeting the needs of all students. Inclusion is a proven model of creating learning environments that are welcoming and safe for students with disabilities. This model utilizes strategies that would also benefit other marginalized students. Mr. Carreon can address approaches that schools could use to create safe classrooms for students with differences related to race, ethnicity, nationality, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, traumatic experience, or other factors.
Jillian Hernandez, 2021 Ambassador for Excellence
Real change happens when students co-create their educational experience by critically questioning and taking action. Jillian Hernandez believes that teachers can build equitable spaces and lean into education as an act of social justice. Hernandez can address how to elevate each student’s voice by incorporating culturally relevant learning opportunities, how to invite students to critically question assumptions, and how their participation plays a part in creating an equitable opportunity for all students. She can also address the role teachers and staff have in learning and "un-learning" their own assumptions for the benefit of the educational community.
Sara Mora, 2021 Ambassador for Excellence
As an Ambassador for Excellence, Sara Mora will focus on the importance of authentic learning experiences to revolutionize schools into 21st Century learning. Authentic learning experiences lead to student engagement, retention of knowledge, and emphasize employability skills that are needed to empower students to be successful in an unforeseen but innovative future. Mora can address data and research that supports authentic learning experiences, including the benefits of career and technical education programs at the middle school level; and provide an overview of how to apply project-based learning to a variety of content areas.
Hillary Stacey, 2021 Ambassador for Excellence
As an Ambassador for Excellence, Hillary Stacey promotes STEM to girls and underrepresented communities. Her classroom is full of humor and relevancy. This along with highlighting her students' unique abilities are her main methods towards an enthusiastic student population. She believes that inspiring interest in these fields will improve the lives of these students and the community at large. Stacey is also a leader in her district on the new state science standards and STEM outreach extracurricular activities.
staff contact.
For questions, please contact Kim Graham at or 480-421-9376.