Laura McCracken, our newest intermittent interpreter has recently moved to Brown County. She and her husband, Kevin, have settled on Hickory Hill near Yellowwood State Forest and land where generations of Kevin’s family lived. Laura has been coming to Brown County all her life, she loves outdoor activities, namely hiking, kayaking, exploring back roads, and gardening; and has earned both Indiana Master Naturalist and Indiana Master gardener certifications. She is a full-time English teacher at Northside Middle School in nearby Columbus, an art lover with a deep and abiding drive to make art.
Laura received her M.Ed. from Walden University and her English undergrad degree from IU. She especially loves using art as a writing prompt with her students and looks forward performing a rousing rendition of James Whitcomb Riley’s “When the Frost is On the Punkin”—a yearly tradition for her students after the first frost each fall. Luckily, their three grown children live close enough to visit Hickory Hill often. The McCrackens have a scruffy little Chihuahua-poodle mix named Go, and two black cats, Jinx and Enzo. They also have two hens, Mrs. Bok Bok and Lil’ Red. Laura is excited about contributing to the Brown County community and eager to take her interpretation skills to the next level at T. C. Steele State Historic Site.