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The only full-time spelling bee coach charges $180 an hour. Champs say he's worth it

Nbcwashington · · 1247 words · By Ben Nuckols; The Associated Press
Coaching ethics and methodology Professionalization of academic competitions Socioeconomic barriers in education
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What to know about Coaching ethics and methodology

When Dev Shah won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2023 and Faizan Zaki took the title last year, they posed for remarkably similar photos on the confetti-strewn stage.

Claims checked 22
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center86%
Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

When Dev Shah won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2023 and Faizan Zaki took the title last year, they posed for remarkably similar photos on the confetti-strewn stage.

Why it matters

Standing next to them, beaming, was a bespectacled man in an aloha shirt, holding up a copy of his book “Words of Wisdom.” For Scott Remer, the champion spellers' coach, posing for a picture was more than just a celebration.

Common ground

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Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/spelling-bee-coach-cha…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 22 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 12
check_circle Corroborated 5
verified Verified By Reference 2
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
Claim 1: “Dev Shah won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2023”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia explicitly lists Dev Shah as the winner of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, and this is corroborated by a news cross-reference.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, and the fourth largest in the Tampa Bay area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 82,485, up from 77,648 in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largo,_Florida
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 95th Scripps National Spelling Bee was a spelling bee competition that was held at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The 2023 bee welcomed 231 spellers from…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/95th_Scripps_National_Spelling…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dev Shah may refer to: Dev Shah, main character played by Aziz Ansari on Master of None Dev Shah, winner of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dev_Shah
+ 4 more evidence sources
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Claim 2: “Scripps, the Cincinnati-based media company that has run the bee for a century”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 3: “That was also the year he coached his first champion, Anamika Veeramani”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 4: “He charges more than other coaches: up to $180 for an hourlong private lesson”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that Scott Remer charges up to $180 for an hourlong private lesson.
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web search NEUTRAL — Scott Sports pushes the boundaries of innovation, technology and design to develop some of the best cycling, skiing, running and motorsports equipment. We want to share our love of sports.
https://www.scottbikeus.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Scott Sports SA (formerly Scott USA) is a producer of bicycles, winter equipment, motorsports gear, running shoes and sportswear. The company's main office is in Givisiez, Switzerland, with branches i…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Sports
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web search NEUTRAL — SCOTT Sports pushes the limits of innovation, technology and design to develop some of the best bikes, ski, running and motosports equipment.
https://www.scott-sports.com/us/en/
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 5: “Zaki Anwar... negotiated a reduced rate of $120 an hour for Remer's services”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific detail about Zaki Anwar negotiating a reduced rate of $120 per hour is only mentioned in the cross-reference and not corroborated by other sources.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Zaki Anwar... negotiated a reduced rate of $120 an hour for Remer's services
https://www.denver7.com/entertainment/scripps-spelling-bee/w…
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Claim 6: “Remer graduated from Yale in 2016 and earned a master's degree from Cambridge a year later”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 7: “Born and raised in the Cleveland suburbs, he now lives in Mexico City”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 8: “the field of 247 spellers at this year's bee — which begins Tuesday and concludes Thursday in Washington”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific details regarding 247 spellers and the Tuesday-Thursday schedule in Washington are only found in the cross-reference; web search results for 'current' were generic and did not provide specific bee statistics for the current year.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Scripps National Spelling Bee, formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and often referred to as the National Spelling Bee or simply “the Spelling Bee” in the United States, is an annual …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A spelling bee is a competition in which contestants are asked to spell a broad selection of words, usually with a varying degree of difficulty. To compete, contestants must memorize the spellings of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling_bee
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Scripps National Spelling Bee (formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and commonly called the National Spelling Bee) is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. The competitio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scripps_National_Spell…
+ 4 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 9: “Navneeth Murali... charging roughly $50 for an hourlong lesson”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 10: “the 32-year-old Remer is the country's only full-time, professional tutor for elite spellers”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results and a cross-reference describe Scott Remer as the only full-time professional tutor for elite spellers.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald Trump's second and current tenure as the president of the United States began upon his inauguration as the 47th president on January 20, 2025. Trump, a Republican, previously served as the 45th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_presidency_of_Donald_Tr…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Terra Eve Lawson-Remer ( TERR-ə LAW-suhn REE-mur; born July 1978) is an American educator and politician serving as chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 2025. A member of the Democ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_Lawson-Remer
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States UFO files, also referred to as the UFO files or the UAP files, are a collection of declassified United States government records concerning UFOs, also called unidentified anomalous p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_UFO_files
+ 4 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 11: “He has published three other books and has worked for the Council on Foreign Relations and as the communications coordinator for an LGBTQ-friendly synagogue in New York”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 12: “Simone Kaplan, who finished runner-up to the “octo-champs” of 2019”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 13: “He claims 34 spellers as his students this year and has worked with no fewer than 29 during each of the past four bees”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm the specific numbers: 34 students this year and no fewer than 29 during each of the past four bees.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... He claims 34 spellers as his students this year and has worked with no fewer than 29 during each of the past four bees. He charges more than ...
https://www.foxsports.com/articles/cfb/scott-remer-the-only-…
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 hours ago ... Scott Remer, 32, has coached five spelling bee national champions, including two of the last three.
https://www.facebook.com/nbcphiladelphia/posts/scott-remer-3…
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... He claims 34 spellers as his students this year and has worked with no fewer than 29 during each of the past four bees. He charges more than ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/05/23/national-sp…
+ 1 more evidence source
schedule
Claim 14: “Grace Walters, who coached 2022 champion Harini Logan and four other champions, charges $75 an hour”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 15: “Remer has written an op-ed about the bee for the Guardian every year since 2019”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 16: “Remer describes coaching as a passion that grew out of his disappointing fourth-place finish in 2008”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia to confirm Remer's 2008 finish or his personal motivations.
schedule
Claim 17: “His first study guide, “Words of Wisdom: Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee,” was published in 2010”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 18: “If spellers finish in the top 10 and earn a cash prize, he receives up to 10% of their winnings”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results (including WWLP) confirm the arrangement where Remer receives up to 10% of winnings for top 10 finishers.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... ... up to $180 for an hourlong private lesson. If spellers finish in the top 10 and earn a cash prize, he receives up to 10% of their winnings ...
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/ap-top-news/2026/05/23/scot…
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... ... up to $180 for an hourlong private lesson. If spellers finish in the top 10 and earn a cash prize, he receives up to 10% of their winnings ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/05/23/national-sp…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... ... up to $180 for an hourlong private lesson. If spellers finish in the top 10 and earn a cash prize, he receives up to 10% of their winnings ...
https://www.wwlp.com/news/entertainment/ap-entertainment/ap-…
schedule
Claim 19: “Remer took home 7% of the champion's prize haul of $52,500 — a bonus of $3,675”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 20: “Faizan Zaki took the title last year”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and multiple web search results confirm Faizan Zaki won the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee (2025). The claim 'took the title last year' aligns with the current context of the 2025 win relative to the reporting date.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Faizan Zaki is an Indian-American spelling bee contestant known for winning the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee that marks the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Faizan Zaki wa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faizan_Zaki
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Scripps National Spelling Bee (formerly the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee and commonly called the National Spelling Bee) is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. The competitio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scripps_National_Spell…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee was a spelling bee competition held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The bee marked a special milestone with its …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/97th_Scripps_National_Spelling…
+ 4 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 21: “Sree Vidya Siliveri was coached by Remer before her 60th-place finish in 2024... and finished 10th in 2025”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 22: “Remer has coached five national champions”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results (one from NBC and another source) explicitly state that Remer has coached five national champions.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of some notable people who have lived in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States. People born elsewhere but raised in Denver are marked with a §. People born and raised e…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Denver
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web search NEUTRAL — 13] The 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was the first time that an African-American (Zaila Avant-garde) became the champion and only the second time that the champion was a black person. The compet…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scripps_National_Spell…
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web search NEUTRAL — Remer has coached five national champions, and since the bee emerged from the pandemic disruptions of 2020 and '21, he has scaled up the coaching profession. He claims 34 spellers as his students this…
https://www.wrtv.com/entertainment/scripps-spelling-bee/why-…
+ 2 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.