Get to Know the People Putting on the County Spelling Bee

While the students are buzzing with nervous anticipation and showing their lexicographic skills at the March 6 San Diego County Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, there will be a dedicated group of adults making everything is sweet as honey.  

This includes television personalities who will emcee, a radio host as the pronouncer, and dozens of other people to manage logistic, tech needs, communication, and more.  

The Pronouncer  

Self-proclaimed “word nerd” Martha Barnette will serve as the pronouncer this year, reading each word and giving the students all that helpful information about language or origin, parts of speech, and definitions.  

She co-hosts A Way with Words, which is heard each week on National Public Radio affiliates across North America. She holds an undergraduate degree in English from Vassar College, did graduate work in classical languages at the University of Kentucky, and studied Spanish in Costa Rica at the ILISA Language Institute. 

Before working in broadcasting, Barnette was a reporter for the Washington Post and an editorial writer for the Louisville Courier-Journal. She has written three books on word origins: A Garden of Words, Ladyfingers & Nun’s Tummies: A Lighthearted Look at How Foods Got Their Names, and Dog Days & Dandelions. 

The Emcees 

Morning news anchors from ABC 10News will serve as the emcees for the bee.  

Melissa Mecija is the 10News This Morning weekday anchor. She specializes in covering consumer issues, the Asian American Pacific Islander community, and San Diego Unified and Sweetwater Union High school districts. Melissa has served in numerous roles at 10News, including investigations, traffic/weather anchor and general assignment reporter. 

Morning Anchor Jared Aarons has been with ABC 10News since 2014. Over the past 10 years, he’s covered some of the biggest stories in San Diego, from the COVID-19 Pandemic, to San Diego’s homelessness and housing crisis, to the Chargers bolting for LA. When he’s not working, you can find him running, going to theme parks, collecting bobble-heads, watching movies, or spending time with his family. 

The Judges 

The time can fly by at spelling bees. Luckily, there will be a panel of judges to help ensure everyone goes by the book. Though they all have a background focused on words, each of them brings a different expertise and perspective.  

• Lead Judge Dr. Rima S. Haroun is a coordinator with the Multilingual Education and Global Achievement team at the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE).  

• Laura Mendez is principal librarian for the City of Carlsbad.  

• Migell Acosta is a director for San Diego County Library.  

• Christy Ball is a professor of English at San Diego City College. 

The Event

The spelling bee is open to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in a public or private school with a combined enrollment of 30 or more children. The overall winner of the countywide Spelling Bee will be awarded the title of Spelling Bee Champion and go on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. 

Learn more about the county bee on the SDCOE website, which includes spelling resources, social media templates, and bee rules.  

The San Diego County Scripps Regional Spelling Bee starts at 9 a.m. March 6 at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in San Diego.