Principal, Mrs. Ruby Cutshaw

Ruby Cutshaw - 28-year veteran educator in NC Schools

• CCS employee since 2010
• AHS Math Teacher 2010 - 2016
• AMS Math/Lead Teacher 2016-2018
• HDEMS  Principal 2018 - 2021
• AMS Principal 2021 - present

I am the middle child of 6 in a military family, a wife to my best friend and soulmate, mother to 3 beautiful, bright, and successful children, and grandmother to 7.  My mother was from Germany and my father from the Louisiana Bayous and the value of education was indoctrinated into us at an early age.  We knew that education was the only road to successfully meeting our goals.  During my lifetime, I have moved 11 times, lived in 4 times-zones, 5 states, 10 cities, and attended 5 different school systems.   I graduated from the most diverse high school in the US,  East Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska.  After beginning a family, I  received my Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics with a Secondary Teacher Certificate, gained my National Boards, earned a Masters's in Education from Concordia, and my Principal's Licensure from Western Carolina.   I have been named Basketball Coach of the Year,  Teacher of the Year (twice), and Principal of the Year which I give credit to my players, students, and teachers.  I am a long-time Arkansas and Dallas Cowboys fan but slowly being converted to a Bama Fan.  When I finally decide to retire, I am planning on spending my time traveling, fishing, and riding my bike with my husband, visiting my grandchildren, and volunteering in our school system.

I believe that everyone deserves to be taught a relevant and rigorous curriculum by highly qualified teachers in an environment that is safe, inviting, engaging, and empowers our kids to push themselves to do more than what’s expected so they exceed their goals.   I love time spent investing in our students, especially middle school students.  I like calling this age group “curious hormones with feet and an attitude that think they are invincible” which makes me call these years, “The Wonder Years” because I am always wondering what is going to happen today.   My goal when I decided to become an educator was not to be a leader but to make a difference.  As a leader, I don’t see failure but unfinished success.  Every student can succeed but some take a little more time.

At AMS, we show Compassion, Acceptance of others, and work as a Team so we all can be Successful. We also are Respectful, strive for Outstanding Achievement, and Responsible. 

CATS ROAR!