Smithville Teacher to Try Her Luck on 'Wheel of Fortune'

A teacher in the Galloway Township Schools is going to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

Courtney Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Smithville Elementary School, will be on 'Wheel' on Thursday, November 6th at 7 pm on 6 ABC.

Smithville Elementary School Teacher Becomes a Game Show Contestant

I found out about Miss Smith being on Wheel of Fortune from a Facebook post by my old friend, Erin Thompson. Erin is the Program Director at Cancer Support Community New Jersey at Gilda's Club.

Erin fondly remembered Courtney as a teen volunteer at Gilda's Club years ago.

One of my favorite shows - I even have the wheel umbrella and glassware to prove it and now one of my favorite humans as a contestant! Courtney was a long time volunteer at Gilda’s Club when she was just a teen! She’s as sweet and genuine as she is adorable and I hope she wins!!! I’ll be watching!!

How Does Someone Become a Wheel of Fortune Contestant?

To become a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, you apply online and include a photo of yourself and a one-minute video explaining why you think you would make a great contestant.

Then you take a test where you play a quick 10-minute game of 'Wheel of Fortune' and can complete it in one session.

If you’re selected, the show's producers contact you to set up a virtual audition in your home.

If you are picked to be on TV's 'Wheel of Fortune', you will go to the Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City, California, where the show is taped.

Do You Have to Keep The Episode's Outcome a Secret?

Yes, you do. This has always been one of the most interesting aspects of being a contestant on any recorded game show or talent show to me.

When you are a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, you must promise not to reveal the outcome of your appearance until after the episode has aired.

There is a standard non-disclosure agreement that contestants sign to ensure that they follow this rule.

Contestants are not permitted to share their winnings or the results with anyone, including close family, until the broadcast date.

Contestants are told that they have won nothing until the episode is officially broadcast. This helps reinforce the importance of keeping the results confidential.

There are stories of game show contestants who have to keep their life-changing winnings a secret for months.

For example, one contestant who won a million dollars in May 2025 had to keep it secret from her boyfriend until the episode aired in October. That's hard!

Good luck to South Jersey's Courtney Smith on Wheel of Fortune!