SAUGUS — The bell rang and Principal Kelly Moss hugged his students goodbye at the Waybright Elementary School Friday.
Moss has been an administrator with the Saugus Public Schools for the past decade and was a teacher in Everett for 28 years before that. He retired Friday afternoon after an early-release day at the school.
“It’s like Winnie the Pooh told Tigger, ‘I didn’t know that we were making memories, I thought we were just having fun,'” said Moss. “And I had fun every day.”
Moss studied elementary education and art education at Salem State College. He started his career at Everett Public Schools as an internal suspension teacher before spending a dozen years as an elementary art teacher.
In 2008, he took a job as a vice principal of Veterans Elementary School in Saugus. Six years later, he became principal at Waybright.
“I can’t believe how fast the 38 years have gone by, especially these last 10 years,” he said. “I blinked and they were gone.”
Moss said he loves and will miss each one of his students. He and his wife, Laureen, never had children of their own.
“The children of Saugus were my children and I loved each and every one of them,” he said.
In retirement, Moss said he plans to spend time working on his two antique Ford pickup trucks. He and his wife also have a home in Moody, Maine, where he hopes to spend a lot of time.
“I would like to wish him well on his retirement,” said Jeannie Meredith, chairwoman of the School Committee. “All the kids and parents in town love him. He always has a smile on his face. I can say that I, personally, will miss him.”
Patricia Romana, the assistant principal at Veterans Memorial Elementary School, will fill Moss’ shoes.
