Gadsden Independent School District proudly hosted the 2026 Spanish Spelling Bee (Concurso del Deletreo en Español) on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Desert Trail Elementary School.

The annual district event brought together 36 students representing 14 elementary schools and 3 middle schools, all competing to demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of the Spanish language. After an impressive 15 rounds of competition, the following students earned top honors:

First Place:

Juan Chavez, 6th Grade – Anthony Elementary School

Second Place:

Jake Maldonado, 5th Grade – Chaparral Elementary School

Third Place:

Sergio Ortiz, 6th Grade – Anthony Elementary School

Gadsden ISD extends sincere appreciation to Desert Trail Elementary School for hosting the event, as well as to the many teachers, coordinators, and staff members who helped prepare students and organize the competition.

The district was also honored to welcome Gadsden ISD Board of Education Vice President Laura Salazar-Flores, who attended the event and helped celebrate the winners. Vice President Salazar-Flores has long been a strong champion for the Spanish language and bilingual education in our schools.

The Spanish Spelling Bee is an important annual tradition in Gadsden ISD, celebrating academic excellence while honoring the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of our community.

📸 View the full photo gallery from the event:

https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/District-Events-/2025-26-District-Events/2026-Concurso-de-Deletreo