Sixth-grader Willa Stuart is a formidable competitor. During lunchtime at Haines School Willa told me that she memorized 1,100 words for the Alaska State Spelling Bee, somewhat apathetically, while nibbling on chicken fingers.
Every day last week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. more than 180 kids from across Alaska in third through eighth grade gathered in the Anchorage Center for the Performing Arts to test their spelling skills.
Even though last week Willa tied…
