She is 10-year-old Leya Ismail. She’s the spelling bee champ of New Orleans, who is now headed to the National Spelling Bee Contest in Washington, D.C.

Last year when DeKalb County student Sarv Dharavane came in 22nd place at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, he told his parents he could go further. The 11-year-old kept his promise this year ...