TVM STUDENT OFF TO STATE SPELLING BEE

Sixth-grader Jacobo Guiterrez is preparing for a big spelling test on March 15. Studying more than 2,000 words, the Treasure Village Montessori student will square off against 25 other spellers in the 83rd annual Miami Herald Spelling Bee.

“They were a little intimidated by the size of the other players. But they had pride and resiliency,” Mangel said. “We were the small and mighty team.

“The partners were compassionate and patient with the athletes,” Mangel continued. “When the team won, they all jumped up and down and screamed. It was amazing.”

Mangel said she always had a passion for the Special Olympics and working with students with special needs. Before she was a principal, she helped teach students with special needs.

At TVM, Mangel said they don’t have a self-contained classroom for the special needs students. They interact and bond with the rest of the student body throughout the school day.

“It really helps increase awareness and acceptability within the daily lives of students on campus. It’s important,” Mangel said.

TVM isn’t new to the Special Olympics. Three years ago, the school started a unified track team and won district competition. The COVID pandemic prevented them from competing at states. TVM also has a unified bocce team that’s set to play on Big Pine Key this weekend. The track team will compete in Collier County in April.

TVM’s basketball team included Reef Bennett, Ian Ward, Gordon Gomila, Anthony Riesgo, John Oughton, Dominik Jimenez, Alexandria Burson and Liam Bursa.

“We really didn’t know what to expect, but they pulled through and made us all proud,” Mangel said.

If Gutierrez wins the spelling bee, he will be on his way to Washington, D.C., along with 200 spellers across the country, for the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28.

Kelly Mangel, TVM principal, said Gutierrez won the first round of competition by coming out the top speller at school. A second round saw Gutierrez taking an online spelling test, which more than 150 students were taking across South Florida. Gutierrez made it out of the second round.

Mangel said Gutierrez comes from a family of serious spellers. His sister, Gabriella, won the TVM spelling bee during her fourth- and fifth-grade years.

“He’s dedicated and wants to do well,” Mangel said. “He literally goes home and studies every day.”