Saturday, January 18, 2025
17.0°F

New superintendent says “Charlo wants to be true to Charlo”

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 months, 4 weeks AGO
by BERL TISKUS
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. Contact her at btiskus@leaderadvertiser.com or 406-883-4343. | August 22, 2024 12:00 AM

Since Teresa Weems loves the mountains, the commute from Missoula to Charlo is “a renewed blessing everyday,” she said. 

While she’s a fan of the countryside, the new superintendent of the Charlo School District says she’s here for the students.

“Every single thing we do has to come back to what’s best for Charlo students,” she said in a recent interview. Weems added that the teachers, the school board, and the community really get that.

Describing the school board as “amazing,” she said, “They’re really good people who want to do what’s best for the kids. And the teachers are the same way.” 

Community members Weems has met are down-to-earth people who “bleed purple” and support the schools.  

Weems replaces Steve Love, who retired at the end of the 2023-’24 school year. Since arriving, she’s noticed that Charlo Schools are student-driven, with a staff committed to doing what’s best for the kids. 

“For the most part, people are a little more open to change than other districts I’ve worked with,” she continued.

She also notes that the elementary, middle school and high school each strive to reflect the community and its values. 

“Charlo wants to be true to Charlo,” Weems said. 

As an administrator, Weems has set a couple of goals for herself.

“My first goal is just to make sure Charlo is a school that has a climate and culture teachers want to be in, and students want to go to,” she said. “I want Charlo to have a good reputation.”

Next, Weems wants to look into adding a preschool program, since the community doesn’t have one, and believes it would be a major asset for the district. 

Open-door policy

Weems brings a suitcase full of degrees and experience. She grew up in Idaho “just over the mountain,” and earned her bachelor’s at the University of Idaho in Moscow, her master’s in K-12 reading from Northwest Nazarene, also in Idaho, and her master’s in math education in Utah. Her graduate certification to serve as a principal and superintendent came from the University of Montana.

Weems has worked in several schools, including a stint in Title 1 and intervention in the Lolo and Bonner schools, and teaching in Cascade and, most recently, St. Regis.

She and her husband live in Missoula and would like to move to the Charlo area. They have two grown daughters. 

The 2024-’25 school year begins this week, with teachers returning Aug. 19, and students back in classrooms Aug. 20. 

As the year begins, Weems is getting acquainted with teachers and when classes commence this week, she’ll be in all the classrooms getting to know students too.  

In addition, Weems has an open-door policy and said she invites people to stop and say “Hi.”

MORE BREAKING-NEWS STORIES

Love chosen as western region Superintendent of the Year
Lake County Leader | Updated 8 months, 1 week ago
Dayton teacher brings extra tools to classroom
Lake County Leader | Updated 10 months ago
Charlo's newest corral sells coffee
Lake County Leader | Updated 7 months, 3 weeks ago

ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

Ronan council considers PAL Memory Care, gravel pit subdivision
January 15, 2025 11 p.m.

Ronan council considers PAL Memory Care, gravel pit subdivision

Keith Deaville, who owns PAL Memory Care in Ronan, Polson and St. Ignatius, approached the Ronan City Council at last Wednesday’s meeting to make them aware of two construction projects he has pending in Ronan.

Winter Fest celebrates sled dogs and snow machines
January 15, 2025 11 p.m.

Winter Fest celebrates sled dogs and snow machines

Snow sifted down gently Saturday, and the temperature hovered around 33 degrees – perfect for the Miracle of America Museum’s annual Winter Fest.

Irvine Flats ranchers win state stewardship award
January 8, 2025 11 p.m.

Irvine Flats ranchers win state stewardship award

Irvine Flats west of Polson is cow country, with lots of grass, hills and swales. Ranch families are the main residents in the sparsely populated area, and one of those families, Greg and Lynn Gardner, their daughter Brittany and her husband Wacey Cathey, received the 2024 Montana Stockgrowers Association Stewardship Award.