McCracken settling in as new LMS principal

Lydia McCracken has taken the reins as the new principal of Lovell Middle School and has hit the school year running.

McCracken was an elementary school teacher at Rocky Mountain Elementary School prior to earning the principal position at LMS. She had applied and interviewed for multiple positions at Big Horn County School District No. 2, and she said that, out of all of them, she hoped to be at the middle school level the most.

“It’s going great so far,” she said. “We have all just been settling into the steps and trying to learn everything that needs to get done.”

She credits the staff and says they have been tremendous at helping bring those bridges together and make the transition easier for her here.

This year, LMS staff is focusing on tier one instruction and what is going on in each classroom during that time.

“We want to make sure that the students know what they are learning and why they are learning it,” she said. “Then we get immediate feedback as to whether or not they understood it.”

She said that the middle school is also emphasizing growth in student learning and being able to gather data to measure each child’s growth throughout the year.

McCracken said her philosophy is based on creating positive staff relationships and relationships with students in order to get them to want to participate 100 percent in the classroom.

“I think it is crucial to get to know the kids and learn who they are and things they like,” she said. “It is the same with the staff. It is hard to know how to help someone if you don’t get to know more about them first.”

She explained that building those relationships is huge at the beginning of the year so that students understand the process and set the tone for the rest of the year.

“We are making sure that our kids feel loved and supported in the classroom and the building,” she said. “I think that will definitely build our path to growth as we build those positive relationships.”

As of now, the building administration and teachers are working on hallway behavior and tardies. When asked what the most difficult part of the transition from the classroom into administration has been, she said she misses the daily interaction with the students the most.

“As principal, you don’t have the energy that you get from the kids in the classroom,” she said. “They give me energy, and I find myself hustling through administration work so that I have the opportunities to step into a classroom for a little bit and soak it in.”

She believes that LMS has a tradition of success and hopes to continue to learn and grow along with the students and staff in the position and build upon the successful things going on in the district.