Christine Lajoie-Cameron wants to ignite the imaginations of her students at Wales Central School, where she has been named principal.

Look no further than her office to find her outlook on education.

A magnet near her door has this William Butler Yeats quote: “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”

“Our job is to get (students) excited about learning so they’re going to (keep) doing it themselves,” Lajoie-Cameron said.

The Augusta native said she realized early on she wanted to become an educator.

“I think I always knew I was going to be in education. I admired teachers so much.”

Lajoie-Cameron got selected from a pool of 25 applicants for the job, said Superintendent Paul Malinski. “I’m really very pleased. I think she was an excellent choice. She’ll be very good for Wales and what they need to continue to move forward.”

The 44-year-old Lajoie-Cameron has been in education for 18 years. She started out teaching special education before spending the last 12 years as a second-grade teacher. She comes to Wales Central School from Farrington Elementary School in Augusta.

“It’s just amazing the impact that a teacher has in a child’s life,” Lajoie-Cameron said. “There’s such an ability to make a difference. Our job is to give kids the best education we can.”

The principal said students deserve respect in a friendly environment. She views the mentor/student relationship as a special one.

“I had a lot of teachers who took me under their wing and did special things for me,” Lajoie-Cameron said. “And I’ll never forget it.”

She views a good school experience as vital to success in the real world.

“Your experiences in school are really going to set the tone for your experiences everywhere,” she said.

She said she wants to take it slow before even considering making any changes at the school. “This is a very veteran talented staff. This is a school that has been running and working well,” she added. “I just want to stand back and watch things for awhile.”

Lajoie-Cameron has a bachelor of science degree in rehabilitation and education from the University of Maine at Farmington and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine.

She said she likes the bucolic beauty of Wales and enjoys its rustic rural landscape.

“This is such a pleasant community,” Lajoie-Cameron said. “I have been so warmly welcomed here.”

The leaders said she has a two-year goal of knowing every one of her approximately 175 students by name. “I would love to mentor some kids in this building, too,” she said.

She said she wants a positive environment at her school.

“I think the hope for both kids and adults is to go to work where people appreciate you,” Lajoie-Cameron said. “It gives you something to get up for in the morning.”