RUMFORD – Patricia Drapeau loves geology, geography and traveling to exotic places around the world. When this school year ends, she’ll have more time to explore her interests.

In June, Drapeau, 64, will retire from a 43-year career in education, 25 of those in SAD 43.

“I always said I wanted to do something to help people. My mother and all her friends were teachers,” Drapeau said.

She graduated from State College at Framingham, Mass., in 1966. For 18 years she taught fifth or sixth grade in Massachusetts, before moving to the River Valley area with her husband, Alfred, in 1984. He had retired from a career in the military and wanted to return to his hometown of Mexico. He passed away last January.

For 25 years, Drapeau, who started in the district as a substitute, has worked primarily as an education technician. She has worked in each of the district’s schools supporting classroom teachers.

“This is my second rotation,” she said as she sat in the Mountain Valley High School library. Her office is just off the library this year.

Over the years, she has taught the Wilson reading program, worked with autistic or other special needs children, or tutored high school students who needed a little extra academic support. She has assisted in the library, or worked with classroom teachers helping to keep youngsters on task, and generally provided support wherever she was needed.

Now, she plans to spend more time with her boxer “puppies,” Candy and Shadow, and cats Smokey and Bandit, as well with her two “granddogs,” bulldogs owned by her daughter, Allycia, who graduated from Mountain Valley High School in the 1990s.

Working in the teaching profession has had many positives, she said.

“I like seeing the children grow. You can all of a sudden see the light turn on,” she said of youngsters who understand a concept.

She likes to read, and hopes to continue traveling, something she began before she was married. Perhaps she’ll travel to Scandinavia or explore the volcanoes of Hawaii. In her younger days, she explored many Far Eastern countries, as well as Europe and England. Because her husband was a career military man, she has lots of friends scattered all over the country, some of whom she hopes to visit.

She also won’t completely leave the educational field. She may substitute, or do some volunteer work, such as helping adults who have returned to school.

When August rolls around, she believes she’ll feel the effects of retirement the most.

“It’ll feel really different then when I’ll have no workshops to attend,” she said.

But right now, it just feels like the right time to retire, she said.