A total of 42 students from across Schuylkill County will take the stage this Saturday to compete in the 2026 Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council Regional Spelling Bee, coordinated by the Schuylkill Technology Center.
The competition will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium at DHH Lengel Middle School, 1541 Laurel Boulevard, Pottsville.
The annual event brings together top spelling students in grades four through eight who first competed in spelling bees within their own schools. Spelling Bee coaches from each district register their students in the fall and begin preparing students for local spelling bees held earlier in the year. The winners from those competitions advance to the regional bee.
This year’s competition will feature 42 spellers representing the twelve Schuylkill County public school districts as well as several non-public institutions.
The Regional Spelling Bee is coordinated by the Schuylkill Technology Center in partnership with the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council (NEPA MAEC).
Adding a local touch to the competition this year is the championship trophy, which was designed and manufactured by Nathan Elo, a senior in the Precision Machine Trades program at Blue Mountain School District.
Elo participates in the NEPA MAEC Your Employability Skills (YES) Program and will graduate as a YES Graduate at the end of the school year. His work highlights the hands-on career and technical education opportunities available to students through Schuylkill Technology Center and its partner schools.
Families, educators, and community members are invited to attend and support the students as they compete for the regional title.
The 2026 Spelling Bee will be guided by a team of volunteers. Mary Ann Hodges, a retired speech therapist, will serve as pronouncer, while the judging panel will include Cynthia Mensch of Alvernia University, Devina Singh, a former National Spelling Bee competitor, Joshua Sophy of Coal Region Canary, and Justin Reed of Skook News Media. Ashley Hess of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 will serve as recordkeeper, Cathy Bronakowski as appeals judge, and Shannon Brennan of Schuylkill Technology Center as emcee. Stage assistance will be provided by Dr. Rene Evans and Jaime Zimerofsky.
The winner of the regional competition will earn the opportunity to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in the Washington, D.C. area. from May 26–28 at
DAR Constitution Hall.
DAR Constitution Hall.
Meet the Contestants
Assumption BVM
Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain Elementary East School
Blue Mountain Elementary West School
Blue Mountain Middle School
Mahanoy Area
Mahanoy Area Elementary School
Mahanoy Area Junior Senior High School
Minersville Area
Minersville Area Junior Senior High School
North Schuylkill
North Schuylkill Elementary School
North Schuylkill Junior Senior High School
Pine Grove Area
Pine Grove Area Elementary School
Pine Grove Area Middle School
Pottsville Area
D H H Lengel Middle School
Saint Clair Area
Saint Clair Area Elementary Middle School
Saint Jerome Regional School
Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley Elementary School
Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School
Tamaqua Area
Tamaqua Area Elementary School
Tamaqua Area Middle School
West Penn Elementary School
Tri-Valley
Hegins Hubley Elementary School
Tri-Valley Junior Senior High School
Williams Valley
Williams Valley Elementary School
Williams Valley Junior Senior High School
