Little People Preschool

Last night we celebrated our 2026 graduation and move-up ceremony! It was so special to see every age group reach a new milestone, from our littlest ones in the infant classroom moving up, to our K1, K2, K3, and K4 students stepping into their next exciting chapters.

At Little People Preschool, we imagine a place where children develop empathy and responsibility by caring for our goats, chickens, and ducks. Watching our students interact with our farm animals has been a true highlight of their journey.

We also believe that healthy bodies fuel healthy minds! This year, the kids took a hands-on role in that mission by helping us cook meals using the freshest ingredients. Seeing the children participate in preparing these vibrant, farm-to-table meals has been an incredible way for them to learn where their food comes from.

This ceremony was also a landmark, marking the 10th graduating class since Larry and Shawnonne Pickett purchased the preschool. Reflecting on the past decade, we feel so honored to have been trusted by this community to help shape the earliest years of so many wonderful children.

To our graduates heading to kindergarten and all our students moving up to new classrooms: Always remember to be kind and stay curious!

Congratulations to the kids and their families! 🎓✨

We had a great time at the Angus Barn for our annual Little People Preschool Christmas party and the decorations were amazing as usual! While we missed a few of our teachers who weren't able to make it, it was a night to remember! Are so grateful for our team!

To all our wonderful Little People Preschool families! We have some incredibly humbling and exciting news about Mr. Larry and Mrs. Shawnonne's son, Larry, Jr ("LJ"), and how their story as national heroes is about to be shared on ESPN, and your kids are part of the story!!

Yesterday, we had the honor of hosting ESPN writer, the award-winning Ryan Hockensmith, who was in Raleigh gathering background for a major written feature! The best part? Ryan's visit included our beloved Little People Preschool, and the time he spent with the staff and kids will be featured as part of the story!

This school holds a special place in our hearts: All 3 of our children, LJ, Olivia, and Lauren are all proud graduates of Little People Preschool, and that family foundation is central to his feature story.

The world-class resources ESPN is dedicating are truly amazing! They've split their talent to tell this story:
* Yesterday in Raleigh: Ryan Hockensmith wrote about the family foundation, including the visit to the Preschool.
* Also in New York: The widely recognized ESPN storyteller, Marty Smith (best known for ESPN's College GameDay), was at West Point interviewing LJ for the video feature. (Marty was here with us in Raleigh earlier this week to film our family's portion!)

This is resulting in two powerful features for the world to see:
1. A video story airing on College GameDay on November 8th.
2. A long-form written feature on ESPN.com.

Both stories dive deep into the heart of their journey: what molded LJ, Mr. Larry, and Mrs. Shawnonne into a family who raised a son—and a father-son duo—who are now celebrated as national heroes.

LJ’s story is a testament to the character instilled in him by Mr. Larry and Mrs. Shawnonne; it's the story of a determined student who earned his spot at West Point, the world’s #1 leadership academy and used that solid foundation to become the man who, alongside his father, saved the life of a total stranger.

We are profoundly grateful to ESPN, Ryan Hockensmith, and Marty Smith for recognizing our heroes and sharing their story of character, perseverance, and commitment with the world. We feel so blessed that our Little People family got to be a part of this incredible experience!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July from Little People Preschools!