Terry Moss: Exceptional Alumni, Phy-Ed Graduate, Teacher, Principal, and Outdoor Enthusiast

An Exceptional Alumni Award winner, a National Championship winning varsity basketball player, and now a successful Physical Education teacher and elementary school Principal… meet Terry Moss. I had the privilege of interviewing Terry Moss, and getting to know what shaped her into the successful student, athlete, teacher and principal she has become. Growing up and living in Sudbury, Terry sparked an instant love for the outdoors and being physically active. She was involved in many sports growing up, and still is today. Terry attended Laurentian University on a basketball scholarship, and graduated after four years with a Physical Education Degree. She then attended teachers college at Queen’s University, and after graduating Terry got a job right away teaching for the Rainbow District School Board in Sudbury for a total of 34 years. She spent her first 19 years as a high school Physical Education teacher. She then became a Vice-principal for 8 years, and an elementary school Principal for 7 years.

So what has shaped Terry into the successful women she is? Well it took hard work and persistence. Terry didn’t necessarily know what she wanted to do career wise when she enrolled at Laurentian University; however, she knew that she did not want a sedentary job where she sat all day, but rather wanted to work with people in a physically active environment where she felt herself. So Terry ended up taking the path to become a Physical Education teacher.

Throughout Terry’s four years at Laurentian University she experienced highs and low’s. Being on the varsity basketball team while being a full time student provided many more challenges than the average student would take on. Between the school work, early morning practices, late night games, and constant travel, she had a lot on her plate. However, it provided her with many victories and life-long memories. In Terry’s last year at Laurentian, she even became the team manager for the basketball team, which came with even more responsibilities. During my interview with her, Terry told me, “My role was to make all the players play to their potential.” Terry showed teamwork, dedication and commitment to her team during all four years. When I asked Terry how she balanced school and being an athlete, she told me, “You have to be organized, do things ahed of time, and be able to concentrate with distractions.” These are all skills that Terry uses in her everyday life, that have helped her become the successful lady she is.

Terry’s time at Laurentian wasn't all about hard work and being a varsity athlete. She experienced and gained a lot of great memories with her friends she made throughout her fours years. One experience that Terry is particularly fond about was her Outdoor School canoe trip. While talking about this experience her face lit up and she couldn’t help but laugh about her awesome memories from that trip. She explained that her and her classmates called themselves the “mud sharks” because it rained constantly throughout the whole trip. They even got lost at one point, and ended up staying in a cabin of someone that the leader on their trip knew. She explained that even though it rained the whole time, her favourite memory was that everyone pulled together as a team, and their leader would continuously make everyone laugh, even at their lowest points.

Regarding Terry’s career, she had a successful 34 years teaching for the Rainbow District School Board. During those years, she came across challenges, learning curves, and lot’s of good memories. I asked Terry if her job was what she expected it to be, and she replied yes. She said, “It was a lot of hard wok, long hours and a lot of coaching.” Nonetheless, she knew what she was getting herself into ahead of time. Along with hard work came many positive memories and experiences. Terry loved her job, and all the different roles she experienced. From being a Physical Education teacher and coach, to a Vice-principal, and ending her career off being a Principal, she had a passion for every role she took on. Terry is the perfect representation of a striving student athlete, successful teacher, and an Exceptional Alumni of Laurentian University.