Carrie Cupit is ready to celebrate, and not just because she’s the new principal at West Primary School.

&uot;We want to celebrate children here this year,&uot; said the 25-year veteran of the Natchez-Adams School District.

&uot;I believe in creating an atmosphere where people want to work,&uot; she said.

And she’ll have that opportunity as she oversees 26 teachers and other district staff at West. Cupit said she stresses positive attitudes and team work among her staff.

&uot;I think teaching is a gift that is one of the most important gifts in life, because in order to start anywhere you have to be taught,&uot; she said.

Cupit was selected as principal this year but began working for the district 25 years ago as a kindergarten teacher.

She has also worked as a Title 1 resource teacher, an assistant principal at McLaurin Elementary and became the principal at Morgantown Elementary last December.

But it has always been her goal to be the principal of a primary school.

&uot;I consider it a pleasure and a privilege to be the administrative-leader at West Primary School,&uot; she said. &uot;I felt that I could help others and lead others to create school-wide success.&uot;

And her favorite teaching memories stem from the 12-years she spent teaching kindergarten.

Cupit thinks children need to develop a love of learning and a feeling of success as soon as they begin school.

&uot;A child’s first experience of school always forms their views of what school is all about,&uot; Cupit said. &uot;I think that all children should experience school success,&uot; she said.

Cupit wants to instill in the faculty the need to help children love learning. And Cupit said she will always talk to the child, the teacher and the parents when dealing with discipline problems.

Cupit replaces former principal Kate Cole who retired last year but is still doing consulting work for the district. About 450 students from pre-kindergarten through first-grade will attend West Primary School this year.