Beck Elementary teacher spins words into wins on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

For Beck Elementary dyslexia interventionist Cynthia “Cyndi” Carrick, the rules of the English language are more than classroom lessons — they are a way of thinking.

They also are the skills that helped her become the big winner during NASCAR Tournament Week on Wheel of Fortune, taking home thousands of dollars and a trip to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the Daytona 500.

During her final appearance, Mrs. Carrick even teamed up with NASCAR driver Joey Logano. But the road to that moment began months earlier — quietly — in her classroom.

A Secret in the Classroom

Mrs. Carrick was at Beck Elementary when the email arrived.

“I was in here with my last group,” she said. “One of my little girls was sitting right there, and I got the email and started freaking out.”

The student quickly realized something big had happened. Mrs. Carrick, though, wasn't allowed to share the news.

She first applied in March, submitting a 30-second video after spotting a social media post encouraging teachers to try out. She interviewed twice — once in March and again in August — and was not selected.

“I had already given up,” she said.

Then in October, producers emailed asking if she was interested in specific taping weeks. A week later, another message arrived: They wanted her in Los Angeles.

“It was completely unexpected,” she said.

From Practice to the Big Stage

Taping took place at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. Contestants arrived at 6:45 a.m. for hair, makeup and wardrobe approval. They rehearsed, practiced and waited as episodes were filmed back-to-back throughout the day.

What surprised her most was what viewers never see.

“It’s a little bitty studio, but it takes so many people,” she said. “Between commercials, hair and makeup are fixing you, they’re changing things on the wheel, checking puzzles, adjusting cameras. It’s constant.”

She admitted nerves nearly got the best of her during rehearsal.

“I didn’t solve a single puzzle in practice,” she said. “I thought, ‘Why am I even here?’”
But once the real game began, she found her rhythm.

“After I solved that first puzzle, I thought, ‘I’ve got this,’” she said.

She avoided landing on “Bankrupt” or “Lose a Turn” throughout her appearances and advanced to the bonus round. One puzzle — the last one she missed — that she still thinks about: “Waffling.”

“I’ll never forget it,” she said with a laugh.

Studying Like a Student

Because it was NASCAR-themed week, Mrs. Carrick prepared strategically. She studied racing phrases, car-related songs and movies, and reviewed past episodes dating back to the 1980s. She practiced on the show’s mobile app, even while relaxing by the pool last summer.

Her preparation was not just trivia study. It was professional instinct.

As a dyslexia interventionist, Mrs. Carrick teaches students to recognize word patterns, suffixes and syllable types. Those same decoding strategies ran through her mind under the studio lights.

“You look at word endings. Is there a suffix? Are there double letters? If there are double letters, the vowel is usually short,” she explained. “English words don’t end in V or J. If you see T-I-O-N, there’s probably an I in there.”

She breaks words into parts automatically — a skill she works to instill in her students every day.

“Those rules just come naturally now,” she said. “And they absolutely helped.”

A Moment That Felt Real

Though Mrs. Carrick met co-host Vanna White backstage early in the day, it was when host Ryan Seacrest walked out and began chatting with her that the experience truly sank in.

“That’s when I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. This is real,’” she said. “He’s such a nice guy.”

After taping, the first calls she made were to her daughters. Contestants were not allowed access to their phones during filming, and she wanted her family to know she had survived.

A School Celebrates

Back at Beck Elementary, support has poured in from colleagues, students and families. Parents sent videos of children cheering at home. Staff members stopped by her room with congratulations.

“We have a great family here at Beck,” she said. “They’ve been so supportive.”

Mrs. Carrick was able to give the school a shoutout during one episode. 

She plans to use some of her winnings to fund a classroom “room transformation,” immersive themed learning spaces she creates with colleague Christy Montgomery. Past transformations have turned classrooms into pirate ships, jungles and football fields.

A race car theme may be next.

“We just want to make learning fun and engaging,” she said.

She and her husband also plan to renovate their 25-year-old pool and take a family trip. Mrs. Carrick said she remains deeply grateful for the experience.

“I couldn’t complain about a single thing,” she said. “It was literally the most amazing experience of my life.”

A Message for Students

For Mrs. Carrick, the spotlight moment carries a bigger lesson.

“I’ve always wanted to be on ‘Wheel of Fortune,’” she said. “I watched it with my grandmother when I was little. I watched it with my kids. And now my husband and I still watch it together.”

Her advice to students — especially those with dyslexia — is simple: “Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. Put yourself out there. What’s the worst that can happen?”

For one Beck Elementary teacher, a lifelong dream turned into a spinning wheel, bright lights and a trip to Daytona, powered by the same word rules she teaches every day.

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View footage of Mrs. Carrick's first taping here. View footage of her final puzzle here.