Houston Prepares To Host 1st African American Spelling Bee March 17, 2011

  1^st Annual African American National Spelling Bee Championships To Take Place In Houston, Texas

 (Houston, TX) – Spelling is an important building block to teaching children how to read. Research shows children who are good spellers become more confident readers. The movie “Akeelah and the Bee” was a heartwarming story however; no African-American child has ever won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in its 85-year history. The African American National Spelling Bee Championships, Inc.’s (“AANSBC”) focus is to get children excited about spelling. The goal is to help African American kids expand their vocabulary, which will make them stronger readers.

 The 1^st Annual African American National Spelling Bee Championships will be held May 14, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.in the Auditorium of Jack Yates Senior High School, 3703 Sampson St., Houston, Texas 77004. Hundreds of students at several Houston schools are currently taking place in campus wide spelling bees. Winners of those contests will compete in the Championships for prizes. 

Dr. Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education and AANSBC Advisory Board Member, says “all children can learn at high levels when taught at high levels.” Through specialized training of teachers, business professionals and volunteers, the AANSBC will train our children to be able to compete in spelling on a national and international level. Every child will be a winner. 

For additional information on the African American Spelling Bee, go to www.beeaboutit.org. 

The African American National Spelling Bee Championships is a 501(c)(3) public charity organization. The objective is to expose middle-school aged African American youth (grades 6-8) to the origin and spelling of words, increase vocabulary and develop confidence which will catapult students to a higher level of education.