Scott Remer, the only full-time professional coach for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, charges up to $180 an hour for private lessons. Recent champions Dev Shah (2023) and Faizan Zaki (2024) credit his coaching as crucial to their victories, despite his demanding style and premium pricing.
Coaching the Elite
Remer, 32, has coached five national champions and currently works with 34 spellers. His students have dominated recent finals, with multiple finalists expected at this year's bee, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday in Washington. Unlike most coaches who are former spellers still in school, Remer coaches full-time.
Dev Shah, now 17, called Remer "one of the most influential figures in spelling over the past 10 years." Faizan Zaki agreed, noting that despite the higher cost, "it's definitely worth it. I saw results." Faizan's father negotiated a reduced rate of $120 per hour, and Remer received a 7% bonus on the champion's $52,500 prize haul.
Intense Methods, Mixed Reactions
Remer drills students on roots, language patterns, and exceptions, aiming to build deep understanding so they can spell unfamiliar words. However, his pricing and brusque style have led some to seek alternatives. Navneeth Murali, a former competitor who now coaches at $50 per hour, said Remer's fees were "prohibitively expensive." Grace Walters, coach of 2022 champion Harini Logan, charges $75 and focuses on a more personalized approach.
Sree Vidya Siliveri struggled with Remer's methods before her 60th-place finish in 2024; after switching to a friendlier, cheaper coach, she placed 10th in 2025. Even fans like Simone Kaplan, 2019 runner-up, acknowledge his approach isn't for everyone: "Scott pushes his students to keep up with him. That can inspire, but it can also leave a student feeling they've disappointed him."
From Yale to Full-Time Coach
Remer graduated from Yale and earned a master's from Cambridge. He published his first study guide at age 16 and coached his first champion in 2010. After working for the Council on Foreign Relations and a New York synagogue, he became a full-time spelling coach in 2020, also tutoring in languages and test prep. He now lives in Mexico City.
Despite his success, Remer says marketing doesn't come naturally. "I'm trying not to be self-aggrandizing," he said. Scripps, the bee's organizer, does not endorse coaching but acknowledges it's inevitable given the competition's intensity. Executive Director Corrie Loeffler emphasized that spellers themselves deserve credit for their hard work and perseverance.
