NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams Public Schools announced and honors this year's recipient of the Marion B. Kelley Teacher of the Year award, Ms. Emily Moulton.

 

On Tuesday, June 16, Moulton was recognized by Superintendent Timothy Callahan during a Drury High School faculty meeting. She was presented with a commemorative certificate and a gift certificate for $200 for school classroom supplies.

 

This award, named in honor of Marion B. Kelley, a former North Adams teacher and principal, is presented to teachers in recognition of their dedicated, skillful teaching, understanding of children, and exemplification of the "ideal" teacher, stated a press release.

 

Mrs. Kelley taught in the North Adams school system from 1929 until 1936 when she married and had to leave the school system because state law prohibited married women from teaching. She rejoined the school system as a teacher in 1945 and retired in 1978 as principal of Haskins and Johnson schools.

 

Moulton holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from MCLA and a Masters in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. A Drury High School graduate, Moulton was hired as a Special Education Teacher at Drury in September of 2021. In addition to teaching, Moulton has participated in grant-funded teams, basketball coaching, and after-school and summer leadership roles.

 

During the 2025-2026 school year, Moulton launched a new Special Education Transition program at Drury, and according to one colleague: 

 

"she has made amazing strides with the students. She maintains high expectations for every student while pairing those expectations with equally high levels of support." 

 

Other colleagues who nominated Ms. Moulton for the award stated that she is a "a true team player" who is "proactive, collaborative, and consistently positive." 

 

Another colleague noted that she: "brings passion, light, and so much love to our halls." 

 

Another colleague said: "Drury is a better place because of the work [Moulton] does every single day."