First Circle Learning Center

80 Maple Street has been the home to childcare centers
serving families in the Lexington area for well
over 30 years. From 1986-1997, it was known as
Care-a-Lot Child Care Center and Lexington International
Preschool, which reflected the diversity of the
community and the multicultural educational goals of
the program. When the program became available for
sale, it came to the attention of Karina (Charlie) Marcotty
and Marcella Smith Lee, two professional education
administrators who had worked together for
nearly a decade in the management of non-profit educational
programs. Both children of teachers, and both
starting families of their own, Marcy and Charlie decided
to create an organization that could foster their
educational goals and provide more time for family.
Idris, Inc. is the corporation they formed in 1997 to
operate their new enterprise. Named for the classical
word for knowledge, wisdom and experience, Idris, Inc.
is a Massachusetts-based corporation established with
education as its principal goal. In 1998, they renamed
the facility First Circle Learning Center and completed
extensive renovations, including wide-scale physical
updates and changes in philosophy and policies from
the previous management. Marcy and Charlie continue
to be actively involved in the administration of First
Circle and each have had two children go through the
program from infancy until they left for kindergarten.