Families, students, and educators across the San Bernardino City Unified School District continue to share pride in the district’s most recent Districtwide Spelling Bee, an event that brought together 21 outstanding young spellers from elementary and middle schools throughout the community. Each participating school selected up to three of its strongest spellers, creating a stage filled with students who had already excelled in their campus competitions.
The evening concluded with six middle school students earning top honors. First place was awarded to Keith Johnson of Richardson PREP HI Middle School, who secured the championship with the correct spelling of "talcum." Arianna Fox of Rodriguez Prep Academy earned second place, and Sebastian Avelar, also from Rodriguez Prep Academy, placed third. Fourth place resulted in a three-way tie among Isaiahs Cervantes of Serrano Middle School; Aiden Noflin of Del Vallejo Leadership and STEAM Academy; and Matthew Rubio of Chavez Middle School. Their achievements reflect the dedication of families, teachers, and school communities who support academic growth every day.
Top Winners
• 1st Place — Keith Johnson, Richardson PREP HI Middle School
• 2nd Place — Arianna Fox, Rodriguez Prep Academy
• 3rd Place — Sebastian Avelar, Rodriguez Prep Academy
• 4th Place (three-way tie) — Isaiahs Cervantes, Serrano Middle School; Aiden Noflin, Del Vallejo Leadership and STEAM Academy; Matthew Rubio, Chavez Middle School
The Districtwide Spelling Bee also served as the qualifying step for the San Bernardino County Spelling Bee. The top two spellers from each school site advanced to the county’s online preliminary round, which occurred on February 24th and 25th, following the structure established by Scripps. This progression gave students additional opportunities to build confidence, practice public speaking, and represent their schools at a higher level of competition.
Students Who Advanced to the County Spelling Bee
• Chavez Middle School — Lilyanna Specht, Matthew Rubio
• Curtis Middle School — Hope Chambers, Diana Sanchez
• Del Rosa Elementary School — L’Oreal Coates, Jason Nieves
• Del Vallejo Leadership and STEAM Academy — Aiden Noflin, Steven Mendez
• Lytle Creek Elementary School — Noah Chavez, Sophia Islas
• Richardson PREP HI Middle School — Keith Johnson, Mateo Lopez
• Rodriguez Prep Academy — Arianna Fox, Ayaan Sharma
• Serrano Middle School — Isaiahs Cervantes
As Secondary Education, College, and Career Program Specialist, Asifa Geerlings, explains, the district’s approach ensures that students are recognized for their hard work, while also preparing them for the next level of future competitions. Those who advanced through the county round may earn the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, a milestone that reflects both individual dedication and the strength of the district’s academic programs.
This event continues to be a meaningful celebration for families and the broader community, highlighting the talent, perseverance, and school pride that define SBCUSD’s students.