PARIS — It is National Principal’s Month and the staff at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School has pulled out all the stops to make sure Principal Ted Moccia knows where he stands with them. Or perhaps, all the places in the school where his face stands.

OHCHS secretaries Meagan Marcoux and Deb Ladner and the tech school’s graphic design instructor Virginia Valdes have plastered the school with Principal Moccia’s image.

Kayla McGee, health teacher at OHCHS displays the school’s appreciation for Principal Ted Moccia.

Monday morning, Moccia was greeted by a procession of students and staff parading the halls carrying 1,000 copies of their leader, all affixed to sticks and waved around.

Marcoux, who is a relatively new hire at the school, wanted to make sure her boss is aware of how he is appreciated throughout the school, came up with the “Mr. Moccia on a stick” celebration. From there Valdes tapped a student designer Lucy Tardiff to help design a t-shirt honoring him. The three had 130 shirts printed for staff to wear for yet another surprise Wednesday (pictures were not available by the Advertiser Democrat’s press time).

“Mr. Moccia’s wife was extremely helpful in getting us some pictures to work with,” said Marcoux. “We chose this particular picture because it’s a perfect display of Ted’s character. From there I spoke with V.V. (Virginia), who came up with the idea of having one of our graphic design students create an illustration of the picture. Lucy Tardif did an incredible job and I absolutely love how great the shirts came out!”

Marcoux came up with the plan over the summer as she built the school calendar. She was looking for National Boss Day to honor Moccia on, but discovered that school principals are feted with an entire month of recognition. She decided to coincide a school-wide thank you with Homecoming festivities going on this week. Faculty and staff jumped on board immediately.

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“Ted genuinely cares about his staff and students,” Marcoux said in an email statement. “He makes it a priority to have conversations with the students every morning, during the changing of classes, lunch and after school. He is the first person both students and staff will go to when needing some guidance, a good laugh or anything for that matter. He truly makes this school an amazing place to be and the atmosphere around here proves that! We are so thankful to have him leading all of us!”

Meagan Marcoux, left, gives OHCHS Principal Ted Moccia his very own “Mr. Moccia on a stick” to celebrate National Principals’ Month.

“Meagan joined us at OHCHS in March,” Ladner added. “She wanted to honor Ted …. and Virginia and I came on board to help her. Ted is a very involved principal. He is out in the hallway during passing periods to say “hi’ to the students. If the students need to talk with someone, he is the first one they go to. He always loves to share his card tricks with the students. Ted also tries to get to all the games and events that the students take part in.”

Ladner points to milestone events that Moccia made sure students could experience despite the pandemic.

“I think being able to have graduation at a drive-in and prom at the Field of Dreams during a pandemic were big accomplishments,” Ladner said. “It wasn’t the usual celebration but the students all got to celebrate with their friends and family. Ted led a team of staff and administrators to pull those off.”

Happy National Principals Month, Mr. Moccia! Your school loves you.

Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Secretary Meagan Marcoux (left) and Graphic Design Instructor Virginia Valdes model t-shirts celebrating Principal Ted Moccia during Homecoming week and National Principals’ Month.

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