Brothers emerge as Gaston County Schools Spelling Bee champions
Two shiny new bobblehead trophies
got to go home with the same family
after the Gaston County Schools
Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 9.
The younger Dover won the
elementary championship with the
words “garbanzo” and “couriers.”
The older Dover won the middle
school championship with the words
“execrations” and “Leipzig.” The
students had to spell two words
correctly in the final round to win.
Thirty-eight of Gaston County’s best
spellers competed in the bee at Stuart
W. Cramer High School. There were
26 elementary school level winners
and 12 middle school level winners
vying for the titles of elementary
school champion and middle school
champion. And of those 38 students?
The champions are brothers.
Belmont Central fourth grader Rex
Dover won the elementary competition,
and James Dover, who is a sixth grader
at Belmont Middle, took home the
trophy for winning the middle school level. With the elementary and
middle school rounds being held concurrently, it was obvious throughout
the competition that each brother was rooting for the other to win their
age category.
Runners-up in the competition were Lila St. Romain from New Hope
Elementary, and Ava Sizemore from the Gaston County Virtual Academy.
The third-place finishers were Leah Brooks of Robinson Elementary and
Regis Lu of Cramerton Middle School.
To be crowned champions, students had to spell their way through an
impressive 14 rounds in the elementary school portion and a stunning 32
rounds for the middle school portion. Each student wowed the audience
with their ability to confidently spell tough words. And when they didn’t
know the spelling for sure, they still gave it their best guess.
The competition began with the
introduction of each school level winner
“walking the red carpet” and receiving a
certificate/plaque from Superintendent
of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker and “GC
the Book Bug.” “GC” is the Gaston
County Schools’ reading mascot
from the 1990s who “came out of
retirement” for the school district’s “Big
50 Anniversary” celebration this year.
Additionally, each school level winner received gift cards from
Adventure Landing, Chick-fil-A, and Sweet Frog. The winners and
runners-up received a specially-designed trophy with a bobblehead bee
on it and tickets to Sea Life Aquarium at Concord Mills Mall.
This year, Gaston County Schools held a spelling bee separate
from The Gaston Gazette Spelling Bee to ensure that the district had
a spelling bee champion during its 50th anniversary year. The school-
level champions will have the option to participate in The Gaston
Gazette Spelling Bee in March, which features students from public,
private, charter, and home schools in Gaston County. The winner of The
Gazette’s spelling bee will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee
in Washington, D.C.
School Board Recognition
During the Gaston County Board of Education meeting on February
18, each Board member was honored in celebration of School Board
Recognition Month.
National School Board Recognition Month is usually observed in
January. However, since the Board’s regular meeting in January was part
of the work session/retreat, the recognition was moved to the February
regular meeting.
The nine citizens who serve on the Gaston County Board of Education
are business professionals, community advocates, and civic leaders, who
care about the children of Gaston County Schools and the future of our
community. The Board members epitomize service to others through their
hard work, leadership, commitment, and expertise in guiding the public
schools in Gaston County.
To recognize and pay tribute to our Board of Education members and
Superintendent Booker, an elementary school class “adopted” a Board
member. Representatives from the 10 schools attended the meeting to
present a framed picture of the class to a Board member along with a
special “thank you” card.
n Board chairman Brent Moore, who represents the Crowders
Mountain Township, was recognized by students in Lacey Walters’ third
grade class at Bessemer City Central Elementary School.
n Board vice chairman Kevin Collier, who represents the Riverbend
Township, was recognized by students in Dolly Williams’ second grade class
2 • March/April 2019 • Parent Teacher Magazine
at Rankin Elementary School.
n Board member Lee Dedmon, who represents the Gastonia
Township, was recognized by students in Kimberly Luna-Jones’ first grade
class at Woodhill Elementary School.
n Board member Justin Davis, who represents the South Point
Township, was recognized by students in Amy Brown’s fourth grade class at
Belmont Central Elementary School.
n Board member Terry Usery, who represents the Cherryville
Township, was recognized by students in Leigh Herman’s third grade class
at Tryon Elementary School.
n Board member Steve Hall, who represents the Dallas Township, was
recognized by students in Samantha Wong’s second grade class at Carr
Elementary School.
n Board member Dot Guthrie, who represents the Gastonia Township,
was recognized by students in Tonya Dye’s second grade class at Sherwood
Elementary School. Mrs. Guthrie could not attend the meeting, and
Superintendent Booker accepted on her behalf.
n Board member Jeff Ramsey, who is an at-large member, was
recognized by students in Sangeeta Gupta’s kindergarten class at New
Hope Elementary School.
n Board member Dot Cherry, who is an at-large member, was
recognized by students in Trevor Dunlap’s fourth grade class at Pleasant
Ridge Elementary School.
n Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker was recognized by
students in Lorna Ross’ third grade class at Brookside Elementary School.