Jane Haywood will return for her 10th year as a judge and pronouncer. Mrs. Haywood retired from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor after 17 years of teaching in the English department. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Baylor University. She has received the Trustee’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Henry Castillo has been an instructor at Temple College for 30 years. He currently teaches English and serves as the chairman of the Athletic Committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. He has post-graduate hours from the University of Texas, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Baylor University and Texas A&M University. He has served as a judge for the spelling bee for 23 years.
A lifelong resident of Temple, Linda Barnes is an honor graduate from Temple High School, holds an associate’s degree from Temple College and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Mrs. Barnes has been a secretary for the director of College Communications at Temple College since 1990. Before that she served as administrative assistant at the Temple Coordinated Child Care council for 13 years. Mrs. Barnes has been an active member of the Professional Secretaries International, where she served as president, secretary, board member and chairperson of the scholarship committee. She was named “Secretary of the Year” in 1990 and was selected as an “Outstanding Young Woman in America” in 1978.
This will be Cynthia Martinez’s third year to judge the bee. She has served as a Temple College math instructor for eight years and has served three year as department chair. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Angelo State University and a master’s degree of education in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas. She also serves as the faculty sponsor for the Temple College Students of Latin-American Culture.
Words from the University Interscholastic League spelling list for the third through eighth grades will be used in the competition.
If necessary, students may be asked words from the UIL’s high school list.
The top speller will receive $100 and an engraved plaque, plus the Traveling Trophy, which is awarded to the winner’s school to be displayed for one year.
The second-place winner will receive $50 and an engraved plaque, and the third-place contestant will take home $25 and an engraved plaque. All contestants will receive a certificate of participation.
