DeSoto ISD Scholar Benjamin Pearson Advances to National Spelling Bee Competition
DeSoto Independent School District proudly celebrates Benjamin Pearson, a 7th-grade scholar at Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy, for advancing to the national round of the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee following an outstanding performance at the 68th Annual Dallas Regional Spelling Bee.
Watch Benjamin’s Regional Performance Here
Pearson’s growing love for language and spelling has fueled a fascination with unique and complex words, including one of his personal favorites: “hariolation.” Ironically, Pearson admits the word was also one of the most difficult for him to master because its meaning: to engage in educated guesswork or divination which mirrored the very process he used while learning to spell it correctly. The challenge, he says, only deepened his appreciation for the intricacies of language and strengthened the determination that has now carried him to the national stage.
Pearson is one of just three scholars advancing to represent North and East Texas at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, taking place May 26–28, 2026, in National Harbor, Maryland.
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment for Benjamin and our entire district,” said Yolanda Hanspard, principal of Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy. “Benjamin’s focus, perseverance, and passion for learning have positioned him among the top young scholars in the region. We are incredibly proud to see him represent DeSoto ISD on the national stage.”
Twenty-seven contestants representing 20 North and East Texas counties competed in this year’s regional bee. These scholars emerged as the top performers from approximately 100,000 students across more than 840 schools that participated in campus-level spelling bee competitions, highlighting the exceptional academic talent across the region.
Pearson’s advancement marks a historic achievement for DeSoto ISD and continues the district’s growing tradition of academic excellence and scholar achievement.
“Benjamin’s success reflects the incredible potential of our scholars when dedication and opportunity meet,” said Dr. Diane Gill, the DeSoto ISD district librarian who helped Pearson with early preparations for his spelling bee journey. “To be among only three students advancing from such a highly competitive field is an incredible honor. Our entire DeSoto ISD community is cheering Benjamin on as he prepares to compete against the nation’s top spellers.”
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is one of the nation’s most respected academic competitions, bringing together elite student scholars from across the United States to compete in vocabulary mastery, language arts, and spelling excellence.
Supporters across the DeSoto ISD community can cheer Pearson on during the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee by tuning in to the nationally televised competition May 26–28. Preliminary rounds will stream live during the day, while the semifinals and finals will air nationally on ION Television on May 27 and 28 from 8–10 p.m. ET. Additional live coverage of every round will also be available through Bounce XL and the Scripps Sports Network. Viewers can visit Scripps National Spelling Bee Watch Page to find local channel listings, streaming options, schedules, and live coverage details as Benjamin competes against the nation’s top young spellers in Washington, D.C.
For more information on the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee, visit www.dallasspellingbee.com. Details about the Scripps National Spelling Bee are available at www.spellingbee.com.