(photo from VCSC)
Part of Monday’s Vincennes School Board meeting focused on the Little Alice Learning Center and its director, Kelley McCarty.
McCarty, who leads the preschool program, gave a presentation outlining how the center operates and the approach used in early childhood instruction. She told board members the program is built around what the district describes as “purposeful play, powerful learning,” where play is used as the primary way young children learn.
As a licensed preschool program, instruction at the center is aligned with Indiana’s Early Learning Standards and designed to support development across multiple areas, including language, social interaction, and problem-solving.
Teachers use the Creative Curriculum along with other research-based tools to connect classroom activities to kindergarten readiness goals. McCarty explained that each learning area—from literacy and math to science and dramatic play—is structured with specific objectives, while teachers guide and expand learning through observation and interaction.
During the same presentation, two Little Alice staff members were recognized as Vincennes Community School Corporation Employees of the Month.
Eryka Stein, a classroom teacher, was recognized for creating a student-centered environment and integrating early literacy and math skills into daily instruction. She joined the district in 2018 and transitioned to the Little Alice Learning Center when it opened.
Ashlee Fredrick, a classroom assistant, was also recognized for her work supporting daily classroom operations and helping maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for students. She joined the center in 2025.
Meanwhile, the board also approved McCarty’s retirement as part of the consent agenda.
McCarty will step down May 31st, concluding a 39-year career in education. A graduate of the Vincennes school system, she attended Vincennes University and Indiana University before beginning her career at North Knox.
She returned to the Vincennes Community School Corporation in 2000 as principal of Washington School and later served nearly 20 years as principal at Vigo Elementary.
More recently, McCarty was selected to lead the development and launch of the Little Alice Learning Center, guiding the program through its first two years.
McCarty also comes from a family with a long history in education. Her grandfather served as a teacher and principal for more than four decades, and her mother spent 37 years as a classroom teacher within the Vincennes Community School Corporation. Altogether, the Bowman family has contributed more than a century of service to the district.
Her retirement takes effect at the end of May.
