Corrie and Paul Loeffler have been an integral part of Bee Week for almost 20 years. Since 2006, Paul has served as the Bee’s TV analyst, while Corrie is the executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Corrie works on the Bee year-round as the executive director, while Paul, outside of Bee Week, works as a sports announcer and hosts a syndicated radio show focusing on World War II veterans.
Both siblings have also participated as spellers in the past. Paul mentioned, “I was in it once, and she was way better at spelling than I was because she competed three times and came closer to winning.” Corrie has been involved in the national finals for 30 years in various roles.
They attribute their spelling journey to their mom, who supported them since their childhood in Central California. Paul recalled their mom incentivizing him with baseball cards to study, while Corrie’s focus and dedication made her the stronger speller.
While they acknowledge the increasing difficulty of the words, they appreciate how prepared the current spellers are. The recent years witnessed memorable moments like the 2019 eight-way tie and the 2022 spell-off for the winner.
Corrie’s favorite part of Bee Week comes at the end during the Bee Week Bash, where the kids celebrate with “We are the Champions.” For Paul, connecting with the spellers and their families off-camera is the highlight of the week.
Despite their busy schedules during Bee Week, Corrie and Paul find time to maintain their sibling rivalry and catch up with each other. “She would beat me in a competition now,” Paul joked.
