School & Family Magazine Newstand Pearland ISD Winter 2018 | Page 22

Bee judges Tori Landis, Dale Pillow, Erin Steele and David Williamson led the rousing hive of players
through seven rounds of spelling competition.
The winning team “The Legal
BEEgles,” a team from Thompson
and Horton, persevered through
the championship round against
“The Killer B’s,” a team of teachers
from Dawson High School,
including Diana Gano, Mark
Lesmeister and Evelyn Zimmerman,
and sponsored by Lisa Brown and
Scott Durfee.
In four years, the Bee has
collectively raised over $115,000
for the Education Foundation, a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
that enriches teaching and inspires
learning in Pearland ISD. Mone y
raised benefits the Innovative
Teaching Grant Program, which
funds educational programs
and activities in the Pearland
Independent School District. 
For more information about the Pearland ISD Education Foundation, visit www.pearlandisd.org/foundation.
22 | PROGRESS
During this zany twist on the traditional spelling bee, 11 teams of three adults competed for the
coveted title of Best Spellers in Pearland during the Pearland ISD Education Foundation fourth annual
Grown-Up Spelling Bee on Nov. 7.
ati
on
A ND
L
R
Grown-up Spelling Bee a
Buzzing Success
A team from Magnolia
Elementary includes
Laurabeth Nardo,
Rusty Mathis and
Michelle Smaistrla.
Their team ““un-BEE-
leeva-BULL SPELRZ,”
was sponsored by
Roy Castillo for the
Justice of the Peace
and Greg Hill for Judge
for County Court at
Law #1.
d
n
u
Fo