Kandi Alvey knew from a young age she wanted to own a childcare center. In 2004, Alvey did just that, opening Bluegrass Academy Childcare Center alongside her longtime friend, Beckie
Hoffman.
The duo has grown Bluegrass Academy to four total locations over the years, providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can grow and learn.
Alvey, a teacher for 10 years in the Bullitt County School System, saw firsthand how impactful early education is on children.
“When I saw children come through the school system who weren’t prepared for school socially and emotionally, that was something that just continued to spark me,” Alvey says. “I wanted to prepare the younger children for school and this was the perfect opportunity for us to do that.”
After opening its flagship academy in Jeffersontown on Ruckreigel Parkway, Bluegrass Academy expanded into the Mount Washington area in 2011. Two more centers were added over the years, with a third located on Hurstbourne Park Blvd. coming in 2015 and a second center in the Mount Washington area opening in 2020. With the additions, Bluegrass Academy has partnered with local and state governments to provide equitable care for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
“(The expansions) just organically happened,” Hoffman says. “We had opportunities that came up and we took them and ran.”
Bluegrass Academy offers a variety of services and resources to keep kids learning and progressing. Welcoming children from six weeks old to 5-years-old, each age range receives specialized programs that focus on appropriate development and kindergarten readiness.
Bluegrass Academy uses the Ages & Stages Questionnaire to help determine the developmental and social-emotional progress in young children, and can refer towards different services such as behavior specialists, disability consultants, physical therapy, a nurse, family advocate and others as needed. They also keep ratios lower than what the state law mandates, with a 1:4 teacher-to-student population.
“That’s such a key piece,” Hoffman adds. “With fewer students you can offer so much more quality for children to have the pieces to be school ready.”
Staffing is a crucial piece for Bluegrass Academy. With more than 100 teachers who are trained and specialized in early education, the staff ensures each child receives the attention and care they deserve. By offering wages way above minimum wage and other benefits not always available to childcare workers, Alvey and Hoffman ensure they are hiring the right people.
“People see the value that we offer,” Alvey says. “It affords us the opportunity to bring more kids in on a regular basis. The childcare industry as a whole is struggling across the country. Parents are trying to get their money’s worth. Behind the parents being the children’s first teacher, we are next in line.”
In addition to their Jeffersontown location, Bluegrass Academy also serves Mt. Wasthington with a 2nd location.
Bluegrass Academy is open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit them online at bluegrassacademychildcare.com or call the Jeffersontown location at 502-297-8812 or 502-491-3134 for the Hurstbourne location.
