Crete-Monee Sixth Grader Advances to Scripps National Spelling Bee in D.C.

Crete-Monee Board of Education Meeting | April 14, 2026

Article Summary: The Crete-Monee Board of Education celebrated 11-year-old Kingston McGee, who recently became the first student in the middle school’s history to win the Will County Regional Spelling Bee.

Spelling Bee Champion Key Points:

• Sixth-grader Kingston McGee will compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in late May.

• He secured the regional championship title by correctly spelling the word “blastema.”

• To prepare for the national stage, McGee practices daily by focusing on Greek and Latin root words.

The Crete-Monee Board of Education on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, formally recognized 11-year-old Kingston McGee, a sixth-grader who recently made local history by winning the 2026 Will County Regional Champion title for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

McGee’s victory marks the first time a student from Crete-Monee Middle School has been declared the regional winner, earning him an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., to compete on the national stage at the end of May. The prestigious national spelling bee will be broadcast live on the ION network.

During the meeting’s “Good News” administrative update, district officials praised McGee for his dedication and confidence throughout the competitive spelling rounds. At the county-level competition, he clinched his victory by correctly spelling the word “blastema.”

When asked by the board how he prepares for such high-level academic competitions, McGee detailed a rigorous, self-driven study regimen.

“I actually prepare myself,” McGee told the board. “I focus on root words in Greek and Latin. I do a word list with my family daily. Sometimes I do put it off, but a lot of the times I do it.”

District staff noted that after winning the building-level bee, McGee was provided an expansive new list of vocabulary to master, and he is now actively drilling an entirely new set of words for the national event in D.C. The board commended McGee and his family for their ongoing dedication, playfully suggesting they would host a watch party complete with popcorn when he makes his national television debut.