Competition was intense Saturday morning when 30 winning spellers from elementary and middle schools across the district gathered onstage at Dekaney High School for the seventh annual Spring ISD Spanish Spelling Bee.

Roberson Middle School eighth-grader Miguel Navarrete took the first-place overall spot for secondary students, while Clark Elementary School fifth-grader Timothy Inestroza won first place in the elementary category. Navarrete earned his title first – being the last remaining secondary student onstage while several elementary contestants still remained.

“My word was ‘itinerario,’” Navarrete said of his final turn at the mic. “Honestly, I thought that I was going to get it wrong. I think it was the only word I thought I was going to get wrong, but then I felt so lucky that I didn’t.”

For Inestroza, meanwhile, winning the elementary first-place title took several additional rounds, including a final two-person match-up between Inestroza and Cooper Elementary fourth grader Alexander Luis – eventually named the second-place elementary winner – that lasted nearly half an hour, as the two students went back and forth attempting to correctly spell two Spanish words in immediate succession, with every individual letter, diacritical mark and accent properly placed and noted in their responses at the microphone, under the bright onstage lights.

Inestroza said that becoming bilingual was important to him – not just learning English fluently, but also maintaining his native Spanish language and cultural heritage.

“It’s important because it is the second-most-talked language in the United States,” Inestroza said, “and it helps a lot with finding jobs for the future.”

As interest and enrollment in Spring ISD’s dual-language programs has expanded in recent years, Director of Multilingual Programs Lettie Houck said that events like the Spanish Spelling Bee offer an opportunity for the district to come together and celebrate how these opportunities are equipping students to be successful in the future.

“As we grow those programs throughout high school and middle school, we also want the kiddos to keep in mind that there is the seal of biliteracy that can go on their diploma,” Houck said. “When you apply at a university, they see that seal of biliteracy on that diploma, and that makes a world of difference.”

Before the competition got underway on Saturday, Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa greeted families and spoke to participating students, applauding them for studying a second language – whether that be Spanish or English – while also working to develop and maintain fluency in their primary language, or the main language spoken in their home.

“Being bilingual, having two languages – not only English but also Spanish – is what’s giving you your superpower,” Hinojosa told the students. “And I can tell you, and the parents that are here, that being bilingual is and has been my superpower.”

As the district’s top secondary winner at the April 6 Spanish Spelling Bee, Navarrete now has the opportunity to travel in June to El Paso to take part in the 2024 National Spanish Spelling Bee.

“It feels great to be able to win an award like this,” Navarrete said. “I did feel kind of nervous, but at the same time I felt like I was prepared. Even with 30 kids, I still felt ready.”

Overseen by the Spring ISD Multilingual Department, Spring ISD’s Spanish Spelling Bee gives students an opportunity to learn and apply new vocabulary, develop better language pronunciation, and improve their overall communication abilities.

“At the campuses, we had more students participating this year than ever,” said Elementary Multilingual Programs Coordinator Kathy Heinze, who oversaw districtwide planning and preparations for the event. “I am very pleased with the progression of participation every single year, and that comes from leadership. It is a true team effort. I love doing this, and the kids love it, too.”

This year’s top winners, including elementary and secondary level contestants, include the following:

Secondary

• 1st Place: Miguel Navarrete, 8th Grade, Roberson MS
• 2nd Place: Nahomy Mata Murillo, 6th Grade, Springwoods Village MS 
• 3rd Place: Regina Otero, 8th Grade, Claughton MS 

Elementary

• 1st Place: Timothy Inestroza, 5th Grade, Clark ES 
• 2nd Place: Alexander Luis, 4th Grade, Cooper ES
• 3rd Place: Jacob Gallardo, 4th Grade, Anderson ES