Ray Davis Middle School’s Austina Anyigba wins Rockdale County’s 2026 Spelling Bee with “Valiant,” Barksdale Elementary student named runner-up

What was the winning word that he cinched? Anyigba’s winning word described her performance at this year’s Bee: “valiant.”

Ashley Green, a fourth grader at M.G. Barksdale Elementary School (BES), was named the runner-up. 

Fifteen contestants, ranging from fourth to eighth grades who represented an elementary or middle school,  faced off in the RCPS Spelling Bee, which was held on Friday, Jan.16, at G.L. Edwards Middle School.

In the final round, Green, who had also competed at the district level last year as a third grader, incorrectly spelled “pinnacle.”  Anyigba then correctly spelled “tectonic” and “valiant” to win the title as RCPS Spelling Bee champion.

Anyigba will go on to compete in the Regional Bee on Feb. 28 at Edwards Middle School, and Green will serve as the alternate.

The district Bee’s judges were Heather Toliver (RCPS Science, Health, and PE Coordinator), Jenee’ Lee (RCPS ESOL Coach), and RCPS Teacher of the Year Gretchen Gault. This year’s announcer was Curt Zehner. 

RCPS Spelling Bee organizers included RCPS Literacy Coach Trinecia Ward; RCPS Language and Literacy and Early Intervention Program Coordinator Shenita Russell; and English Language Arts and World Languages Coordinator Sha’Ronda McRae.

The 2026 RCPS Spelling Bee contestants and school-level winners were: 

Ashley Green, Barksdale Elementary

Aiden Travieso, C.J. Hicks Elementary

Ava Ball, Flat Shoals Elementary

Prince Williams,Hightower Trail Elementary (school winner, did not compete in district Spelling Bee)

Gabriella Patrascu, Honey Creek Elementary

Madison Danowski (J.H. House Elementary)

Imani Howard, Lorraine Elementary

Desirey Abbott, Peek’s Chapel Elementary

Montezz Luster, Pine Street Elementary

RiaPrimetiva Howell, Shoal Creek Elementary

Jurnee Nelson, D.L. Sims Elementary

Trio Miller, Conyers Middle

Augustina Anyigba, Ray Davis Middle

Sivanni Paari, Edwards Middle

Annalise Nozart, Memorial Middle

Geoffrey Crenshaw, Jr., Rockdale Virtual Campus, 6th Grade

Pictured: 2026 RCPS Spelling Bee Champion Augustina Anyigba of Ray Davis Middle School (left) and Ashley Green of Barksdale Elementary School(right). Photo via Rockdale County Public Schools