VALDOSTA — Kiddie Korral Child Development Center has a new owner.
Jessica McCarthy-Warren, certified teacher, assumed ownership of the daycare center on Sept. 21. She said she always looked forward to working with kids.
Kiddie Korral Child Development Center used to be owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
When McCarthy-Warren found out the center was available, she embraced the opportunity and decided to make the best out of it.
“I'm not taking it over in the best condition, but I'm making sure that we are building it up,” she said.
She is working with great enthusiasm to improve the place. It is one of the oldest ones in Valdosta — over 35 years old. Her mother, Marry McCarthy, is now the director, and some of the staff members have been there for 10 years already, so keeping the family atmosphere and taking good care of the kids is her priority.
“When the parents walk in, they feel almost at home. They feel safe about their children because they know we will take care of them,” McCarthy-Warren said.
Currently, Kiddie Korral has 30 kids and eight employees. The kids have breakfast, lunch and snack while there. They start with curriculum in the morning, followed by nap time in the afternoon. Their favorite activity is when they go outside to play at the playground, said McCarthy-Warren. The center provides pick-up and drop-off services as well.
Kiddie Korral Child Development Center is open Monday through Friday from 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. It’s located at 1611 Slater St. and can be reached by calling (229) 244-7101.
Q: What improvements are you working on?
A: I changed the menu that was previously vegetarian. I added chicken nuggets. It was owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and since they are vegetarian, they didn’t offer meat here before. I’m also working on updates to the security — we have fully functioning security ... The curriculum is being updated as well.
Q: What else have you planned for Kiddie Korral?
A: I want to make it a learning center which is different than the regular daycare center. It'll be a little more structured and that way the children will be prepared for the school environment, so it won't be such a cultural shock for them.
Q: How did the staff and the parents react to the transition and the fact that the center has a new owner?
A: It’s great. The parents are amazing. They trusted me enough to keep their children here and let me take care of them. We also have a great staff, they chose to stay and they love the kids. They are also very capable of what they are doing because they have been here for years.
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Related Photos
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Kiddie Korral Child Development Center owner Jessica McCarthy-Warren, right, in a 3- to 5-year-old classroom with teacher Latonya Arnold.
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Kiddie Korral Child Developement Center is located at 1611 Slater St. in Valdosta.
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