McCracken named new LMS principal

The Big Horn County School District No. 2 school board on Monday night approved Lydia McCracken as the new principal of Lovell Middle School beginning the 2025-26 school year.

McCracken is currently a fifth grade teacher at Rocky Mountain Elementary School. The other candidates in the final interview process were Chris Edwards (AD/teacher, Lovell) and Autumn Tempany (K-12 principal, Burlington).

McCracken grew up on a ranch in northern Montana, where her mother was a schoolteacher and her father was a rancher, and she credits them for raising her in an atmosphere of hard work and support, she said at a public forum Thursday.

“It was modeled to us every day,” she said. “We spent a lot of time in the school buildings with my mom, and both of my parents supported education. My parents taught us to be good people, work through hard things and to work with people and to build leadership in others.”

McCracken has more than 20 years of experience in education, a lot of which were in middle school settings. She began in very rural schools where she taught multi-grade levels from preschool through eighth grade.

She then got her first job teaching eighth grade, and she emphasized that her mentor teacher taught her how to track essentials, love kids, and build strong relationships, and how those things are what gets students to love school.

“The relationships we develop with the students by valuing and respecting them are crucial,” she said. “I value creating an atmosphere of positivity and plan to build on the great things that are already going on at Lovell Middle School.”

McCracken said she plans to model her expectations of respect, responsibility and strong character for the students and staff of LMS. She also recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration with parents, teachers, and the community.

“Opening the line of communication is huge,” she said. “Parents need to feel comfortable communicating with us because they need to be able to trust us with their children, and we all want them to be successful.”

“I am a firm believer that, if you expect a behavior, you’d better take the time to teach the behavior,” she added on the topic of discipline. “We need to listen to the students and have compassion for them, while at the same time working with them to teach them the skill set, not only to make better choices but also how to be able to tolerate behaviors and situations.”

Rocky Mountain Elementary School principal Eric Honeyman said that McCracken has served as their head teacher over the past couple of years, and her impact was immeasurable. 

“Her departure is truly a loss for us but without a doubt a win for Lovell,” Honeyman said. “She brings a contagious energy and a deep love for both students and staff. She has been a staple in our school district, someone others look to for guidance, encouragement and inspiration.”

He added that she has mentored countless teachers, and thanks to her support, many of them have grown into outstanding educators.

“Her influence stretches far beyond her classroom,” Honeyman said. “She’s shaped the culture of our building in lasting ways. Her leadership, heart and dedication will be deeply missed. As a school and district, we are proud of her and excited for her next journey.”