Pupils at the school held a special assembly for Mrs Pill, which was followed by afternoon tea with parents yesterday, and staff will farewell her tomorrow night.

``It will be very sad and I've got a tissue up my sleeve, hoping that I will be able to save myself and be ever present for them at this very emotional time - 40 years in one job and in a job that I've loved,'' she said.

Despite the pressures of the job, Mrs Pill said there had never been a day when she didn't want to go to work.

``I think what a privilege to have been able to work with these young people, and what a privilege to have been able to work with their parents and to work with the community,'' she said.

Mrs Pill's teaching career began in the late 1970s at Zeehan Primary School and she worked her way up to be principal at three schools: the former Ravenswood High School before it became Ravenswood Heights Primary School, then Queechy High School and East Launceston.

She also worked for a period in the Education Department as a principal leader.

Mrs Pill said one of the most significant changes she had witnessed in her time was the use of technology, which had changed not only the way staff taught but how children learnt.

In retirement, Mrs Pill said she intended to spend more time with her five children and seven grandchildren in Tasmania and interstate.