Tazewell, VA- Tazewell County Public Schools hosted the 23rd Annual Tom Colley Reading Bee on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Tazewell Middle School in Tazewell, Virginia. During the event 4th and 5th-grade student teams from Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School, Cedar Bluff Elementary School, Tazewell Intermediate School, Richlands Elementary School, and Graham Intermediate School competed in spelling, comprehension, vocabulary, editing, and impromptu, where the students dramatized an impromptu question from a book they read.
The overall winners in the event for 4th grade were the students from Cedar Bluff Elementary coached by Dana Smith. The students on that winning team were Jordan Hylton, Lanh Pham, Avery Martin, and Paisley Richardson. The runner-up team from 4th grade was Graham Intermediate School, coached by Sarah Jones. The students on that team were Neveah Shrader, Laney Holman, Harper Mitchem, and Kylie Sparks. The 5th grade overall winners were the team of students from Richlands Elementary School, coached by Kiffani Dales. The team members were Caelyn Arms, Kai Rohrer, Aubree Gilbert, and Ella-Rae Patton. The runner-up team for 5th grade was Tazewell Intermediate School, coached by Courtney Mullins. The team members were Scarlett Brittain, Payton Bowman, Madison Montaigne, and Harper Cronce.
In the 4th-grade spelling competition, Cedar Bluff Elementary School placed first, Graham Intermediate School placed second, and Richlands Elementary School placed third.
In the 4th-grade comprehension competition, Graham Intermediate School and Tazewell Intermediate School tied for 1st place, Cedar Bluff Elementary placed 2nd, and Richlands Elementary School placed 3rd.
In the 4th-grade editing competition, Graham Intermediate School and Tazewell Intermediate School tied for 1st place, Cedar Bluff Elementary School placed 2nd, and Abbs-Valley Elementary School placed 3rd.
In the 4th-grade vocabulary competition, Graham Intermediate School placed 1st, Cedar Bluff Elementary School placed 2nd, and Richlands Elementary School placed 3rd.
In the 4th-grade impromptu competition, Cedar Bluff Elementary School placed 1st, Abbs-Valley Elementary School and Richlands Elementary School tied for 2nd place, and Graham Intermediate School placed 3rd.
In the 5th-grade spelling competition, Tazewell Intermediate School placed 1st, Cedar Bluff Elementary School and Graham Intermediate School tied for 2nd, and Richlands Elementary School placed 3rd.
In the 5th-grade comprehension competition, Tazewell Intermediate School and Abbs-Valley Elementary School tied for 1st place, Richlands Elementary School placed 2nd, and Cedar Bluff Elementary School placed 3rd.
In the 5th-grade editing competition, Richlands Elementary School placed 1st, Graham Intermediate School and Abbs-Valley Elementary School tied for 2nd place, and Cedar Bluff Elementary School and Tazewell Intermediate School tied for 3rd place.
In the 5th-grade vocabulary competition, Tazewell Intermediate School placed 1st, Richlands Elementary School placed 2nd, and Cedar Bluff Elementary and Graham Intermediate School tied for 3rd place.
In the 5th-grade impromptu competition, Richlands Elementary School placed 1st, Graham Intermediate School placed 2nd, and Abbs-Valley Elementary School placed 3rd.
“The Reading Bee is always a great competition and opportunity for our students to shine and this year was no exception. I'm so proud of all of the students,” said Dr. Christopher B. Stacy, Superintendent of Schools.
All team members for each school are listed below:
Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School
5th Grade Coach: Kristi Hale
5th Grade Team Members: Xavier Perez, Addyson Mason, Colt Schmeling, and Samuel Ealy.
4th Grade Coach: Jaime Bowman
4th Grade Team Members: Victoria Ball, Robert Dollinger, Grayson Summers, and Xander Hurt
Cedar Bluff Elementary
5th Grade Coach: Kaylee Shortt
5th Grade Team Members: Mariail Hyatt, Trynton Cruey, Hannah Ray, and Charleigh Dales
4th Grade Coach: Dana Smith
4th Grade Team Members: Jordan Hylton, Lanh Pham, Avery Martin, and Paisley Richardson
Graham Intermediate School
5th Grade Coach: Sarah Jones
5th Grade Team members: Camden Surface, Jake Gibson, Tayah Brown, and Rylan Chester
4th Grade Coach: Sarah Jones
4th Grade Team members: Neveah Shrader, Laney Holman, Harper Mitchem, and Kylie Sparks
Richlands Elementary School
5th Grade Coach: Kiffani Dales
5th Grade Team Members: Caelyn Arms, Kai Rohrer, Aubree Gilbert, and Ella-Rae Patton
4th Grade Coach: Lucas Wright
4th Grade Team Members: Tanner Sparks, Ivy Davis, Aria Gilbert, and Jackson Buchanan
Tazewell Intermediate School
5th Grade Coach: Courtney Mullins
5th Grade Team Members: Scarlett Brittain, Payton Bowman, Madison Montaigne, and Harper Cronce
4th Grade Coach: Courtney Mullins
4th Grade Team Members: Virginia Cox, Sadie Roberts, Peyton McDaniel, and Alexis Vance.
The Tom Colley Reading Bee used to be called the Tazewell County Reading Bee but was renamed in honor of the late executive editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, who was chairman of the Literacy Committee of what is now the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginia’s. The Reading Bee was created as a way to help children develop a love for reading. Tom had a passion for reading and his dream was to develop a love of reading for a lifetime.
Tazewell County Public Schools would like to thank the following individuals who served as competition coordinators, hospitality coordinators, and judges:
Ethan Lewis, Deacon Young, Debbie Bright, Michelle Brown, Amy Lawson, Terisa Corell, Shanna Plaster, Zantara Patrick, Bethany Smith, Graham Johnson, Amanda Miller, Rebecca Riter, Ashley Meadows, Eva McGuire, Rhonda Rogers, Lindsey Woodard, and Leesa Peery.
Special thanks and appreciation goes out to members of the Literacy Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginia’s Inc. and the numerous businesses and organizations that helped sponsor this year’s Reading Bee to make it possible. We would also like to thank the administration, maintenance, and custodial staff of Tazewell Middle School as well as the Tazewell County Public Schools Technology Department under the supervision of Randy Mullins. Finally, we would like to thank Mrs. Melanie Lashinksy, Mrs. Tammy Williams, Mrs. Ashley Brown, and Mrs. Amy Lawson who helped organize the Reading Bee, as well as the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginia’s representatives and members of the Tazewell County School Board who helped with the awards presentation this year.