New staff welcomed into Custer School District

The 2025-26 school year is up and running in the Custer School District (CSD), and a brand new group of staff members are ready to help make the year a success. 
Serving as the new special education director, Dr. Rhonda Frederick said, “What I enjoy most about this position is my ability to lead and advocate for children with disabilities.” 
This is Frederick’s ninth year as a special education director. She previously held the same position in the McLaughlin School District. All told, Frederick has worked in the special education field for 36 years. 
Originally from Gettysburg, Frederick moved to Custer from Mobridge after living there for 21 years. She has three adult children, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. 
“I applied here when the position opened as my husband was offered the superintendent position,” said Frederick. 
Frederick is looking forward to meeting the staff, students and families as the year goes on. 
At Custer Jr./Sr. High School (CHS), Clay Cates is the new assistant principal. This is his 31st year in education, having served as a principal at every grade level for a total of 20 years. 
“I spent 30 years in education in Wyoming prior to coming to Custer. I want to continue my career and live in the Black Hills, which has been a desire of mine for years,” said Cates. 
As Cates settles into the CSD, he said, “I am excited about working in a smaller school district and being part of this beautiful community. I love working with people, and I can tell that I am coming into something special. The people, facilities and initiatives in the CSD 16-1 are impressive. There’s a great deal of positive energy here, and I am honored to be a Wildcat.” 
Also at CHS, Cassandra Morgan is teaching Spanish and senior projects. Morgan is originally from Newcastle, Wyo., but has made Custer her home over the last five years. Her husband grew up in the area, and Morgan said, “I feel so lucky to have become part of a welcoming and supportive community.”
This is Morgan’s 12th year teaching. Previously, she taught for one year in Shepherd, Mont., and 10 years at Central High School in Rapid City. 
 “What I love most about teaching Spanish is watching students gain confidence communicating in another language. It is empowering and opens doors to new perspectives. I also enjoy teaching skills that go beyond language that will carry over into every aspect of their lives,” said Morgan. 
Senior projects are new to Morgan, but she said, “I am excited to see kids pursue something they care about and connect with the community as they prepare for life after high school.” 
Samantha Lebert is the new CHS art teacher. She is in her fourth of year teaching, having previously taught in Estelline. 
“I am from Colman. I did a year at Black Hills State University and have had many vacations to the area. I’ve always wanted to come back and stay,” said Lebert. 
When it comes to teaching art, Lebert said, “I love the creativity and freedom of art, and the analysis that comes along with the process and results. I am very excited to provide a space for students to practice this.” 
Lebert is proud to be a Wildcat and is excited to build relationships with the students and staff in the district. 
“Art is a great way to get to know people, as there can be so much self-expression in the process. I am excited to guide students toward creating, analyzing and building soft skills,” said Lebert. 
Jake Hiser is the new physical education and weights teacher at CHS. 
Originally from Glenrock, Wyo., this is Hiser’s 21st year teaching. Previously, Hiser taught in Cheyenne, Wyo., for 16 years and in Colorado Springs, Colo., for four years before that. 
“I like the interaction with the students and staff,” said Hiser. 
He is looking forward to “working with a great staff and preparing students to become contributing members of society.” 
Destiny Malsam is a special education teacher at CHS. 
This is Malsam’s sixth year teaching. She previously taught at Dakota Christian Elementary School in Corsica. 
“My husband really likes the area and wanted to move out here. When a job opportunity opened up for him, we moved out here. For myself, coming from a smaller community, I know how special a small community is and wanted to be part of one on the west side of South Dakota,” said Malsam. 
Working in a high school will be a whole new experience for Malsam, but she is excited about the opportunity. 
Over at Custer Elementary School (CES), Brianna Cutlip is the new school counselor. This is her third year working as a school counselor and her sixth year as a mental health counselor. Previously, she worked in the Hot Springs schools for two years. 
Cutlip has lived in Keystone for three and a half years. She and her husband came to visit her parents over the summer a few years back and fell in love with the Black Hills.
“I applied for the position of elementary school counselor because I have a deep passion for supporting children’s emotional, social and academic development from an early age. I believe the elementary years are a foundational time when students begin to build self-confidence, learn how to manage their emotions and develop healthy relationships. I want to be a trusted adult who helps them navigate these early challenges, while also working closely with teachers and families to create a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment. My goal is to equip students with the tools they need to thrive not just in school, but in life,” said Cutlip. 
Cutlip added that she enjoys helping students be their best selves. 
“I am most excited to get to know the community as well as the kids and have a fun and safe 2025-26 school year,” said Cutlip. 
Kristie Panacopoulos is the new math interventionist teacher at CES. This will be her 31st year working in education, teaching children from birth through third grade. 
Panacopoulos grew up in a small town in southern Illinois and began her teaching career there. Since then, she has taught in California, Colorado and Alabama. 
“My husband and I have been on a 10-year plan until retirement and plotting where we would live. South Dakota, specifically the Black Hills, was on our list. The plan was to visit here this summer, but God had other plans for us. My husband took early retirement from the government and found a job in Rapid City. I am enjoying the scenery, climate and kind people here,” said Panacopoulos. 
Panacopoulos believes she will enjoy teaching students math skills in small group settings. 
“I am excited to develop relationships with students, families and the whole Custer team. I am also itching to explore the Hills,” said Panacopoulos. 
Nicole Schmidt is the reading interventionist teacher at CES. Schmidt substitute taught at CES for the last two years. 
“I love this position because I get to work with so many different kids,” said Schmidt. 
Schmidt taught in Minnesota before moving to the Black Hills with her family. She has two boys who will be attending CES this year, and they love doing anything outside. 
“I’m excited to see the kids from last year, but also help the students get more confident in reading,” said Schmidt. 
Laura Schumacher is an early childhood special education teacher and evaluator for CES as well as Hermosa School. 
Schumacher relocated to Custer this past June from New London, a small town in southeast Iowa along the Mississippi River. 
“My husband and I have always loved the Black Hills, and we had the opportunity to move here for my husband’s job,” said Schumacher. 
This is her 14th year teaching, and she said, “I am looking forward to working with such amazing educators in Hermosa and Custer.”
Finally, Wyatt Ellis is the new music instructor at Hermosa School. 
Ellis was born and raised in Hot Springs and is currently working toward his bachelor’s degree in music education at Chadron State College. 
“I was reaching out to find a student teaching placement when the CSD contacted me. I was thrilled to find an opportunity that would allow me to stay in the Black Hills and work alongside passionate educators,” said Ellis. 
While this is his first experience in a classroom, Ellis has previously taught private music lessons. 
“What I enjoy most about music is how it connects us to different cultures and histories, and how music allows for creative expression in so many forms. It’s such a powerful and versatile subject,” said Ellis. 
Ellis said he is honored to step into the role and will work hard to maintain the traditions and spirit of the district. 
“I’m most excited to help students prepare for recitals, drama performances and other musical events. I look forward to seeing their talents grow and watching all their hard work come to life on stage,” said Ellis.