AFTER a 28-year teaching career including an international stint in Cambodia and five years on Palm Island, Proserpine State School's deputy principal Alison Bradford will be hanging up her teacher's hat.

Ms Bradford was a significant contributor to the success of the school in the past four years and introduced explicit teaching at the school in her first year which was later supported by incoming principal Rob Templeton.

Ms Bradford's passion for teaching began at a young age when she used to play teacher with her friends in school.

"All my life, even as a child, I just knew I was going to be a teacher right down to playing teacher with my friends in primary school years,” she said.

"My parents bought me a blackboard and I had all my friends sitting on the floor in front of me and it kind of just went from there!”

Ms Bradford took up teaching in her mid-twenties which led her on a series of colourful adventures from New Zealand to Cairns and on to Mount Isa.

Among her action-packed ventures, Ms Bradford was acting principal on Palm Island during the 2004 riots.

Alongside her husband, Doug Bradford, who was also a teacher, she also taught internationally in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for two years before returning to North Queensland and eventually bringing her teaching career to a close at Proserpine State School.

Ms Bradford said she is confident that she has achieved everything she set out to do career-wise.

"I have loved being a teacher. I've had such a varied career and had the opportunity to do such a variety of things and so many different places,” she said.

"Each place I've been to has enriched my teaching in a different way. I've learnt different things everywhere I've been.”

Principal Rob Templeton said he felt very fortunate to have worked with Ms Bradford since 2015.

"Her experience and skills and leadership qualities have had a real impact on developing and enhancing the culture at Proserpine State School,” Mr Templeton said.

"She will be very much missed by the staff, students, parents and the community.”

Locals in the community who would like to farewell Ms Bradford can do so at the Proserpine State School assembly today, July 29 from 2pm.