PARIS — After a 32-year-run, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Ted Moccia is heading out of the hills into retirement at the end of the school year.

“I’m retiring,” Moccia said during a zoom interview after the announcement was made in December. “Thirty-eight years (in education) is a pretty good run.

“My wife (Sue) and I are very excited to start the next phase of our lives,” he said. “We’re looking forward to it, to be totally honest. We’d been looking at 38-39-40 years and what we could make work. It’s the right time for me.”

Moccia began his tenure in Maine School Administrative District 17 in 1990 as physical education instructor. His profile was high from the start, coaching varsity football, freshman boys basketball and spring track and field.

High school athlete Molly Ware was there to benefit.

“I was in high school from 1987-1991,” Ware said. “During that time he was one of our track coaches and the football coach. It’s amazing how much time has passed but his name always conjures images of his huge smile, his easy-going nature, and his never ending support of all students.

“Coach is one of those people who always seemed to be around at the right time. He cheered when we did well and encouraged when we didn’t. But he always pushed us as athletes, students and people. I think as a teenager, many of us may not have appreciated what a special mentor we had. But I definitely do now.  My top two adjectives to describe coach are enthusiastic and kind.”

STUDENTS’ PRINCIPAL

It was 1998 when Moccia was asked to serve as an assistant principal midway through the year.

“I said no at first,” Moccia said. “I saw myself as a lifelong coach and teacher. That was my plan. But after talking to the then-superintendent, Mark Eastman, he got me to do it. I loved it. I felt like I was working with different kids at different things.

“In 2005 when the principal left at the end of the year, I applied for the position. And they hired me. It kind of shocked me that they took me. I’ve been here, 17 years as the high school principal,” he said.

Fast forward to 2021, the decision to retire was not an easy one for Moccia and his wife. But there are also personal factors that make it the right one.

“Men in my family typically don’t live very long,” Moccia said. “I’ve done a lot of family tree work and I have two men who lived into their 60s, and every other male has passed away before then.

“Obviously, I take care of myself and I want to break that trend,” he said. “But those are things that are important to look at. You work your life for something and do the best you can and there’s the idea of retirement and what that looks like. Spending quality time with my wife, my daughter and grandbaby. And friends too.”

His wife has been an art teacher at Oxford Hills since 2002.

What Moccia will miss in his retirement chapter is, pretty much everything.

“I love this community,” he said. “I consider myself so lucky to work in a place where I have always been supported by the school board, central office, my school staff. But more than that, it’s the kids and community. They have always supported me and my family and for that I am eternally grateful.

“That doesn’t come easy. Over the years I’ve had opportunities to look at other things, but I’m not interested. I love this place, the kids, and I love being a Viking,” he said.

Former student Matt Delamater is one of those ‘kids.’ Now an actor, Delamater recalls that possibly his first role was during a homecoming ceremony his senior year, playing his football coach, Moccia.

“I played Ted and … of course I was an awful actor,” Delamater said. “And he was the very humble beneficiary of some pretty lame high school jokes performed in front of the whole school. Despite our weak attempt to ‘roast’ him, he did nothing but laugh at himself with the crowd and took it all with such grace and joy.

“Looking back, seeing that form of confidence and strong sense of self as a young man always stuck with me,” Delamater said. “To not to take yourself too seriously is a kind of bravery that is so powerful, especially when you are young. That is Ted – full of grace and confidence – always teaching. He is one of the best role models you could ever ask for and I feel so lucky to consider him one of mine.”

Hard times, new beginnings.

The world has changed dramatically since Moccia came to Oxford Hills. Zoom is the norm, smartphones are indispensable, and, of course, social media. He said it’s important that school gives them a place to find their own pathways and passions.

“Our kids are good, hardworking, honest kids,” he said. “That has not changed. Technology and being on or connected nonstop is really tough.”

“I am a big face-to-face person and we need more of that,” Moccia said. “We need more time with our kids in the buildings. More kids involved with clubs and activities and sports.

“I want all my kids to find what they feel passion for,” he said. “If they’re passionate about something they’re going to feel a lot better about life and their journey.”

Moccia acknowledged that some students have more basic challenges to overcome before they see opportunities to live their passion.

“The hardest thing is the socio-economic circumstances that a lot of our families and kids find themselves in,” he said. “I’ve tried to be a champion for those kids my whole career.

“And now what’s happening with mental health and well-being. It’s not just with the kids, it’s the staff, how they pour their hearts into what they’re doing. Yet they may not see their results because of what’s happening.”

Moccia grew emotional as he talked about the connections he has worked to build with a generation’s worth of students and what it means to him.

“Seeing those kids is what makes me the happiest,” he said. “It’s what gets me up in the morning.”

The pandemic “has been difficult, I’m not going to say it’s not. But that’s not what’s driving me out,” he said. “It’s like I tell kids when they tell me they want to go for early graduation. I say to them, ‘is it because you’re running from something, from school? Or towards new opportunity?

“That’s what I’m doing now. I’m running towards something new, whatever I’m going to,” he said.

Once a Viking, always a Viking.

The Moccias have already mapped out the retirement they will run toward. They will move to Charleston, South Carolina, where they own a home and are established in the community. They will make frequent visits to Maine to spend time with their daughter and her family.

“When I wake up on July 1, I will still be a Viking,” he said. “I will just be a retired Viking … I will be a vacationing Viking.

“I always thought that I’d coach after retiring,” he said. “But honestly, now that I’m at this age and stage of my life, I’m one of the lucky guys. I love my wife and I’m looking forward to spending lots of time with her. We were middle school sweethearts.”

He said he believes that although times are tough now, the high school will continue to make him proud as he watches from afar.

“With the staff and the students we have here, Oxford Hills is going to find our way to the other side,” he said.

“I’ve had the privilege to work for and with many amazing educators. There have been so many great people I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” he said.

Added high school alum Delamater, “Though I’m truly sad to see him leave education, I wish him the very best in his next chapter and know he’ll have that same passion and kindness to whatever the next adventure brings.”

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