Custer Elementary School’s story is guided by a belief that shapes everything from morning greetings to academic planning: student success grows from strong partnerships among families, staff and the community.  

Principal Kathy Weymiller calls it “the Custer Way,” an approach rooted in climate and culture where everyone belongs, no exceptions. The work begins with making sure students feel welcomed, valued and ready to learn.  

“We believe that everything starts from climate and culture,” Weymiller said. “Without it, we’re not going to get the results that we want.”  

That culture is visible the moment students arrive each day. Staff greet children by name, often with a fist bump or a pat on the shoulder. Fourth grade teacher Theressa Prather believes those small routines are intentional and powerful. “We want every child to know we’re glad they’re here,” Prather said.  

Elementary school is where academic identities are formed. It is where students learn how to be learners, how to build confidence in their abilities and how to persevere through difficult tasks. That foundation is built intentionally. Students develop the habits and skills they will need as they transition to middle school and prepare for the remainder of their educational journey.  

Fifth-grade teacher Roeme Kitchen, who has a middle school background, said preparing lessons that connect to what comes next helps students understand why the work matters.  

“I always make a connection to what they’re going to know next year,” Kitchen said. “It helps them leave us ready.” Understanding middle school expectations allows her to strengthen foundational math skills, reinforce academic vocabulary and encourage independent thinking.   

Custer serves a richly diverse community. More than three-quarters of students qualify as low income, students speak 10 primary languages and more than one-third receive special education services across a full continuum of programs.  

Inclusion is a defining strength. Students with special needs learn alongside peers whenever possible, building empathy and collaboration skills that extend beyond academics. Programs such as Kitchen-Aides, in which fifth graders support peers in special education classrooms, reinforce the message that every student belongs and plays an important role.  

This inclusive culture creates a strong learning environment that supports academic growth.   

The school is celebrating gains in math, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and staff are strengthening literacy instruction through intentional, targeted adjustments focused on foundational skills such as phonics, fluency and comprehension.  

Professional learning communities (PLCs) play a key role. Because Custer is a small school, PLCs are organized across grade levels rather than by grade alone. Prather said that structure helps teachers share effective strategies and align instruction over time.  

An example of targeted results was seen last spring in fifth grade English Language Arts (ELA) scores. Teachers increased the amount of dedicated reading time for upper-grade students, ensuring more consistent exposure to complex texts and structured reading routines. In addition, the team placed a renewed emphasis on writing, integrating frequent writing practice, clearer models and regular feedback into daily instruction.  

“Our fifth graders’ strong ELA scores this year are consistent with this cohort’s performance throughout their time at Custer,” Weymiller said. “This group has demonstrated steady achievement year after year, and their current results reflect that long-term pattern of strength.Their success is not an isolated jump but rather the continuation of a trend we have observed as they’ve progressed through each grade level.”  

Due to sustained progress in special education and multilingual learner achievement, Custer exited the state’s Office of System and School Improvement support status, marking an important milestone in the school’s continued growth.   

In 2025, Custer was voted Best Public School in the Best of the South Sound Awards, recognizing their strong relationships, inclusive culture and academic foundation. 

Families are essential partners in the work. Attendance at school events is consistently high, with families attending assemblies, concerts and family nights. That partnership has helped accelerate student growth and strengthen the systems that support it, promoting attendance, engagement and stability in the learning environment.   

At Custer, staff say, heart and hard work go together. That is the Custer Way. 

Learn more about some of the ways CPSD is preparing students to be Future Ready in the early spring issue of Inside Schools.