Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Keevin Woody announced the appointment of three principals – at Murphy High School, Murphy Middle School and Andrews Middle School – as well as a director of curriculum.
Wendy Leatherwood is the new principal of Murphy High School, promoted to the position from assistant principal at the school. She will replace Dr. Lisa Fletcher, who is leaving at the end of June to become superintendent of Transylvania County Schools.
Leatherwood has been with Cherokee County Schools for 29 years. She is a graduate of Murphy High and Western Carolina University. She received a master’s degree from Coppin State University and an education specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University. She is also a National Board Certified teacher.
Adam Clonts was named principal of Murphy Middle.
Clonts is a 2003 graduate of Murphy High and attended Lenoir Rhyne University, where he was a three-year letterman in football and earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education. He then earned a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in educational administration and leadership.
He taught at Marble Elementary School for two years before transferring to Murphy Elementary School, where he was assistant principal. Clonts has coached football and baseball for Murphy High and basketball for Murphy Middle.
Joslyn Parker was named principal at Andrews Middle. A 2004 Andrews High School graduate, Parker has served as the assistant principal for Andrews Elementary and Andrews High schools.
She earned a bachelor of music degree at Western Carolina University in 2009, a master of music from UNC-Greensboro in 2021 and a master of school administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2022. She is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Gardner-Webb University.
In 2009, Parker returned to Andrews to direct the Andrews middle and high school bands. During her 12-year tenure as band director, her bands received superior ratings at concert, marching, solo, ensemble and jazz music performance adjudication events.
She was Andrews Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2013 and Andrews High School Teacher of the Year in 2014. She was also selected as the Teacher of the Year at Andrews High, Cherokee County Schools and the runner-up for the N.C. Western Region Teacher of the Year in 2020.
Ruby Cutshaw was named the director of curriculum and instruction. She received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a secondary teacher certificate, gained her National Boards, earned a master’s in education from Concordia and her Principal’s Licensure from Western Carolina.
The 28-year educator last served county schools as principal of Andrews Middle.