That's when retirement often takes the place of lesson plans, faculty meetings and parent conferences.

But not to Helen Martin, who is about to start her 40th year as an educator.

"I'm as excited as I was the first day I walked into my first classroom 39 years ago," said Martin, who will teach fifth grade this year at Fair Street Elementary School in Gainesville.

She already is gearing up for the school year, which begins Friday. She is planning a "pioneer experience" that will feature demonstrations of old-time skills for her class and other fifth-graders at the school.

Such lessons "keep me excited and they keep the kids excited," Martin said.

Merrianne Dyer, Fair Street's principal, calls Martin a legend.

"I probably have never met someone with such an art of teaching, and it really is an art for her," Dyer said. "Every year, she reinvents her teaching. Plus, her personal interest in history and this community has all been infused in her teaching."

Martin, 59, said she believes she was "born a teacher."

"I've worked with children in church. I've always been involved with children," said the Hall County native.

She received her bachelor's degree from Brenau University, then she went on to teach reading for four years at Lanier Elementary School in Hall County. She then taught at the old Miller Park Elementary School in Gainesville for 10 years.

Martin spent 11 years as an assistant principal at Gainesville Middle School, then returned to teaching.

"I have a teacher's heart," she said.

She said her favorite subject is social studies.

"We're teaching future citizens and you can teach all your subjects through social studies," she said.

Martin has seen a flood of changes through her years, including the racial integration of schools.

"The greatest change I've seen is the blending of cultures," she said, referring to the ongoing arrival of Latinos in the area.

And there have been great strides in identifying and working with special-needs children. In the early years of her career, "we tried to educate all the children, but there were children falling through the cracks." She said public education calls for working with every student, "whether they are multi-handicapped or extremely gifted."

Martin keeps busy taking staff-development courses to stay abreast of changes in education. In addition, she has received her master's degree and two specialist degrees from the University of Georgia.

She is seeing another big change, as the Gainesville City Schools moves to programs of choice.

The city has created specialized areas of learning at Gainesville Middle School and plans to do the same thing at the elementary schools in 2003-04. Fair Street Elementary School will feature an international baccalaureate program.

"I'm appreciative of the fact that this system doesn't stay status quo," she said.

Martin said she has no problem changing her attitudes or concepts, as long as the change is based on research.

"If I feel it's a novelty or a flash in the pan, I'm not interested."

As far as her teaching future is concerned, "When I feel I can no longer make a contribution to children, that's when I retire and walk away."

But with few regrets.

"It's been a wonderful ride," she said. "I wish I had a lot more years to teach."