The Scots School Albury science laboratory technician is retiring this week, having worked in education for nearly 40 years - but not in the way she had intended.

"When I left school, I was going to be a teacher, but the course I specifically wanted to get into took minimal candidates and I missed out," she said.

"My Dad talked me into going for a panel interview ... as a lab assistant at a local milk factory. I got the job."

Mrs Beasley worked at Petersville's Warragul dairy production plant for three years, testing products, before moving into education.

"It's always been learning on my feet to a degree, testing to make sure that the product comes up to standard," she said.

"And then when I came into teaching it became a far broader job; you've got the five sciences ... you must have an understanding across all those different areas."

Mrs Beasley's husband Rob was head-hunted to work at the Boral factory in Jindera in 1986, and so the couple moved from Orange with the agreement they would stay in Albury while their daughters completed school.

When enrolling one of her daughters, Mrs Beasley learned of a lab technician job at Scots; she landed the role in 1988 and never left.

"I prepare all the projects that the teachers want ... help if I'm needed, and then it all comes back to me for the clean-up," she said.

"It's great fun to think of ideas and to help make the kids have those lightbulb moments.

"It was the best thing I ever did; I've never regretted one moment of not following the path that I had in my mind."

A major highlight was researching for the design of Scots' Science building, completed in 2004.

Mrs Beasley said it was encouraging to see STEM rising on the national education agenda but raised the tightly packed national curriculum and the number of concepts students are taught.

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"They really need to take a step back," she said.

"It's better to have a good skeleton on which you can build than having a osteoporosis skeleton."

Mrs Beasley and her husband Rob will be enjoying their new home and some travel in retirement.

"The staff here are amazing - I know they will keep putting their energy into educating the kids," she said.