Scott Remer, the only full-time spelling bee coach in the United States, charges up to $180 (£140) per hour for private lessons. Despite the high cost, champions like Dev Shah and Faizan Zaki credit him for their victories at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Remer, 32, has coached five national champions and currently works with 34 spellers. He also receives a performance-based bonus of up to 10% of a speller's cash winnings. Faizan Zaki's father negotiated a reduced rate of $120 per hour, and Remer earned $3,675 from Faizan's $52,500 prize.
Many families believe the investment is worthwhile. “Even though his classes are more expensive, it's definitely worth it. I saw results,” said Faizan. However, some spellers find the cost prohibitive. Former competitor Navneeth Murali charges $50 per hour and called Remer's pricing “prohibitively expensive.”
Remer's intense coaching style is not for everyone. Sree Vidya Siliveri switched coaches after a 60th-place finish and improved to 10th place with a cheaper, friendlier alternative. Nonetheless, Remer remains a dominant figure in competitive spelling, with his students often forming the majority of finalists.
