Cindy Webster

Weaver Elementary School
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Missouri
cjwebster@spsmail.org

In her six-year tenure as principal of Weaver Elementary, Cindy Webster has contributed to sustained improvements in academics, culture, and community relationships. In her first year as principal, Weaver was designated a Focus School for falling in the lowest 10th percentile statewide among Title I schools for reading and math. Drawing on nearly a decade of classroom experience, Webster led a collaborative process to build a coherent, standards-aligned curriculum, and Weaver exited Focus School status in just three years. As the highest-poverty school in the district, Weaver once struggled with persistent behavioral challenges and high teacher turnover. After Webster led the implementation of a successful PBIS program, however, disciplinary referrals have decreased 75 percent, and survey data and teacher retention indicate an improved climate for students and adults alike. Webster has gone even further to address the impacts of intergenerational poverty at the school by piloting a School Community Liaison role to integrate families and community members into the school improvement process while building strong networks of support. The successful model has since been adopted district-wide, creating a new leadership development pathway for aspiring administrators. One community partner describes Webster as “a consummate leader, a caring companion, and a staunch friend.” She holds an Education Specialist credential from Southwest Baptist University, a Master’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Southwest Baptist University.