FARMINGTON (WWJ) - A local teacher will be spinning the wheel on the game show “Wheel of Fortune.”
Forest Elementary School fifth grade teacher Tiffiney Lee has been selected as a contestant on the long-running show.
Lee's been a teacher with the Farmington Public Schools for 22 years. She has taught at Warner Middle School, Wood Creek Elementary and East Middle School.
Lee said she grew up watching “Wheel of Fortune.” When she went to college, she would watch the show with her roommate. They decided one year to apply to be contestants. They developed a tradition to apply every year, but never received a call to audition.
In August, Lee received an email that “Wheel of Fortune” was looking for contestants. She applied with her college roommate again. Both were chosen to audition.
Lee’s first audition was over Zoom in late September. “I was so nervous,” Lee said. “But my Forest colleagues encouraged me to smile and to just be myself.”
Lee said she was nervous during her audition because it was difficult to see the letters, but she “smiled, stayed calm, and finished the audition proudly.”
The show sent an email with the heading ‘congratulations!” just before Halloween.
Lee flew to California with her daughter Brooklyn and sister Traci in November.
“Being on the set of Wheel of Fortune was like a dream come true,” Lee said. “My favorite memory from this experience was getting to meet Pat Sajak. He gave all of the contestants great advice and helped us relax and enjoy the experience. This is his last season as the host of “Wheel of Fortune” and it was great to get the chance to stand next to him as I played the game.”
“Wheel of Fortune” has been on the air for 48 years.
Lee’s episode will air on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.