A DECADE ago Ian Rathmell was walking through the gates of the Yangan State School for the first time.

On Friday, the long-serving school principal will walk out for the last time.

Mr Rathmell is off on an exciting new adventure in 2016, joining Education Queensland's school improvement unit.

It is a bittersweet move for the passionate educator, who said he would miss being his combined teacher-principal role.

"I'll miss the day-to-day smiling faces," he said.

"We have a very supportive community and a P&C who are very supportive of the school."

In his time at the helm of Yangan State School, Mr Rathmell has overseen a period of great change.

During the past decade there's been a change of curriculum, the addition of a playgroup and a new library. "We've tried to maintain very high standards - achieving some great results," Mr Rathmell said.

"We started with 60 students and we now have 84 students in the school."

While he may be changing roles, Mr Rathmell won't be a stranger, remaining in Warwick.

It's a sad time for the Yangan State School community, who will also lose one a long serving teacher

Much-loved Yangan State School teacher Rebecca Hart has mixed emotions as she prepares to say goodbye to her beloved students.

The Year 3 and 4 teacher is swapping her small country class for a new adventure in a metropolitan school.

While it's a big, exciting move for her career, Miss Hart said it was not an easy decision.

"I have loved my time here - working with amazing supportive staff and beautiful children," she said.

"I'm excited about my new role but also a little bit nervous."

Miss Hart moved to Yangan six years ago, after spending nine years working in remote and small schools in northern and western Queensland.

Outgoing principal Ian Rathmell said Miss Hart was a much-loved member of the school community.

"She's very dedicated, very passionate - a very special teacher," he said.

"When we told the parents she was leaving they were very upset."

Sunshine Coast teacher Lisa Holden will join the Yangan State School team in 2016.