Maple Avenue School Principal Marc Boyd is a real character.

He has entertained many children with story hours, dressing the part of various storybook characters, including Harry Potter, Hogulla and Captain Underpants, to name a few.

“If I get a good story, I get into character with it,” said Boyd.

Now, after 21 years at the Goffstown elementary school, and numerous costumes later, the 60-year-old principal is retiring at the end of the school year.

“Age is really a state of mind,” said Boyd. “You can be a young 60, you can be an old 60. It’s all how you deal with it.

“And if you stay at an elementary school, you can stay a kid forever!” laughed Boyd. “An elementary school is like the fountain of youth. It’s one of the perks!”

It is obvious Boyd enjoys working with children. Seven or eight years ago, he organized story hours throughout the state for the New Hampshire Association of School Principals at Barnes and Noble, and took part in this for five years.

“I feel good about that. We got administrators being good role models for children,” said Boyd. “Children were able to watch adults read and enjoy it!”

In the last few years, Boyd has been giving story hours at McDonald’s on Mast Road in Pinardville three or four times each year. His farewell reading was on Tuesday, June 16.

“He’s a big kid,” said Boyd’s secretary Chris Lambert, who has worked with him for five years. “That’s what impressed me the most. He’s full of energy and enthusiasm, and truly adores the children.”

Lambert’s daughter also spent two years as a student at Maple Avenue under Boyd’s leadership. “She loved him!” said Lambert. “He makes learning fun, and he has a big heart. And when he walks down the hallway, kids call out, ‘Mr. Boyd, Mr. Boyd!”

“He was so great with the kids,” said Carol Tremblay, who drives a school bus in Goffstown and whose children attended Maple Avenue Elementary School. “My kids haven’t been in the school for a long time, but they loved him. He’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. When the kids got off my bus on the first day of school, he was always there, taking their hand and walking them into the school, making them feel at ease, especially the first-graders.”

Boyd has spent the last 37 years as an educator. He began as a teacher and assistant principal at Fred C. Underhill School in Hooksett. Four years later, he was hired as principal, where he stayed for the next nine years.

After leaving Hooksett, he took a job for three years as principal of Harold Martin and Maple Street schools in Hopkinton.

“Being any kind of principal, every day brings different challenges and experiences. You have no control of what’s going to happen when you walk into the building,” said Boyd.

The majority of his career, however, has been spent at Maple Avenue in Goffstown. “And boy, has (time) flown by!” said Boyd.

Boyd said the best part of the job is when former students come back to visit.

“The best part is when they say, ‘Do you remember me, Mr. Boyd?’ when they have two children in tow.”

Boyd said Goffstown is a community that cares about their children.

“For 20 consecutive years, the school has been acknowledged as a blue-ribbon school for its exemplary volunteer program. Our parent group is there when you need them at the drop of a hat,” said Boyd. “We wouldn’t be doing the things we do at this school if it weren’t for such supportive parents and guardians.”

“I want to thank Goffstown for giving me the opportunity to work here for 21 years.”

Suzanne Pyszka, Maple Avenue’s current assistant principal, will take over as principal in the fall.

Boyd currently lives in Bow with his wife, Linda, who is a principal in Londonderry. Boyd decided to retire as an educator in New Hampshire this year to be able to retian his health benefits. This is the last year educators in the state have the option to do this.

“If they economy weren’t so bad, there would be a mass exodus, but people aren’t taking the risk,” said Boyd.

“I’m hoping I’ll still be a principal in September, but just in another state. I still think I’ve got another 10 years.”