D.C. & Prince George’s Spelling Bees
For over four decades, Washington Informer Charities has proudly sponsored the bees — an annual tradition that champions academic excellence and provides students with a pathway to the national stage.
A Legacy of Literacy and Empowerment
The story began in the early 1980s, when Dr. Mary E. White of the D.C. Public Schools sought to return District students to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Years earlier, D.C.’s participation had ended when The Washington Daily News, the original sponsor, was acquired by The Washington Star, which later ceased its support. With no sponsoring newspaper, D.C. students were locked out of the prestigious competition.
Dr. White turned to The Washington Post, hoping the region’s leading daily would take the lead. But the Post declined, stating that its coverage area included not just D.C., but also Maryland and Virginia, and suburban sponsors were already in place.
That’s when Dr. White approached Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr., founder of The Washington Informer and a staunch supporter of D.C. youth. Without hesitation, Dr. Rolark committed The Informer to sponsor the Bee—making it the first African American-owned newspaper in the U.S. to take on this important role. He enlisted his daughter, Denise Rolark Barnes, then managing editor, to help organize the first City-Wide Bee alongside D.C. school officials.
That inaugural Bee took place in March 1982 at Backus Junior High School. Sixth grader John Krattenmaker of Mann Elementary took first place. But a new challenge emerged: the Scripps National Spelling Bee initially denied John entry because The Informer was a weekly newspaper—at the time, only daily publications were eligible to sponsor students nationally.
Dr. Rolark pushed back. With the legal expertise of his wife, attorney and D.C. Councilmember Wilhelmina J. Rolark, The Informer challenged the policy as discriminatory. The result? Scripps changed its rules, opening the door for weekly newspapers—and their communities—to compete.
Since then, The Informer’s City-Wide Spelling Bee has become a cornerstone event in the District, engaging more than 2,000 students each year from public, private, charter, parochial, and home schools. For nearly 40 years, the Bee was hosted and broadcast by NBC4, bringing the excitement of academic competition and the value of literacy into homes across the Washington metropolitan area.
Today, the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) serves as the official broadcast partner of the Bee, airing the event across all D.C. public access channels and ensuring wide community access to this inspiring showcase of young talent.
More than a decade ago, Washington Informer Charities expanded its reach by adopting the Prince George’s County Spelling Bee. This partnership now allows two local champions—one from D.C. and one from Prince George’s County—to represent their communities each year at the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in May.
If we want to improve the quality of life for all Americans, then we must begin by teaching our children to read—which they cannot do unless they learn to spell.
DR. CALVIN W. ROLARK, SR.
Jason Moore, coordinator for the DC City Wide Spelling Bee
Jason Moore serves as the Manager of Literacy & Humanities Assessment & Interventions in the Office of Teaching & Learning at District of Columbia Public Schools. In this role, he supports 115 schools across the district in advancing high‑quality literacy diagnostics and instruction, strengthening intervention systems, and ensuring equitable access to rigorous humanities learning experiences for all students in grades K- 12.
Jason oversees districtwide implementation of key literacy diagnostics, including DIBELS, i‑Ready, and MAP, and collaborates with school leaders and educators to interpret data, refine instructional practice, and promote student growth. He also leads the development of resources and professional learning that equip teachers to deliver meaningful, culturally grounded instruction in reading, writing, and the humanities.
A passionate advocate for joyful learning and academic excellence, Jason partners closely with community organizations—including Washington Informer Charities—to elevate student voice and celebrate achievement, most recently through coordination of the 2026 DCPS/Washington Informer Citywide Spelling Bee. He has had the honor to serve as the primary coordinator and pronouncer for the Intermediate Bees since 2017
He is proud to support DCPS students in becoming confident readers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.
Doug Hayes, coordinator for the Prince George’s County Spelling Bee
Doug Hayes is a seasoned media and finance professional with a diverse career spanning publishing, real estate, and wealth management. He previously served as Associate Publisher for the Prince George’s County Gazette, where he helped lead the publication’s editorial and business initiatives, fostering community engagement and local storytelling. Currently, Doug is a Realtor licensed in MD and DC, as well as an Investment Advisor with Legacy Investing & Wealth Management, specializing in IRA and brokerage account management.
Doug is passionate about giving back to the community and is excited to invite middle school students of Prince George’s County to participate in the upcoming Spelling Bee, encouraging young learners to explore the power of words and the joy of learning.
