Kerra Bower fulfills dream as she opens preschool
Kerra Bower, owner of Little Scholars Development Center, is continuing her dream of dismantling the preschool-to-prison pipeline as she prepares to open Raze Early Learning and Development Center in the fall of 2025 in Spokane.
Her journey began in 2009 when she opened Pitter Pat Family Home, which later became Little Scholars Development Center. What started in her house with her mother, sister and a relative has since grown into a thriving program with two locations, nearly 30 staff and more than 150 children from ages four weeks to 12 years old, representing cultures from around the world.
"Raze Early Learning and Development Center will be a space where early learning celebrates the shared American experience through the lens of Black American ingenuity, excellence and joy," Kerra said. "Designed as both a culturally affirming preschool and a community hub, the center will offer children an educational foundation rooted in identity, equity and belonging.
"My grandfather instilled in me a love for learning, exploring and discovering at an early age," Kerra reflected. "He was my preschool teacher and my fiercest supporter. Later, when I wanted to be home with my own child, moving into childcare felt natural. Over time, I saw the disparities and wanted to understand how I could better address them.
"Raze will be a safe place for students to explore the beauty of our shared experiences as Americans through the Black American lens," she explained. "We seek to eradicate stereotypes that perpetuate the preschool-to-prison pipeline by centering our program on student identity and uplifting Black history contributions, both locally and nationally."
Kerra believes everything begins in early childhood education.
"Without a strong foundation, children are more likely to struggle academically, face disciplinary referrals and fall behind their peers," she described. "For Black children, the stakes are particularly high: disproportionate discipline practices often push them out of classrooms and onto a harmful trajectory known as the preschool-to-prison pipeline."
This "pipeline" is not a single moment but a series of systemic inequities. Black children—especially boys—are suspended or expelled at four to six times the rate of their peers.
Instead of receiving needed support, they are too often mislabeled, diagnosed or tracked into remedial programs, losing access to core academics. These gaps compound over time, leaving children disengaged and disconnected from school.
"The preschool-to-prison pipeline, while it disproportionately affects Black males, is an educational and social crisis that impacts us all," Kerra said. "It's important that we as Americans know our full and complete history, which grounds us in who we are and honors those who paved the way for us to live full and thriving lives. Raze will be a place that teaches that Black history is American history."
By embedding trauma-informed supports, affirming curriculum and equitable practices, Raze aims to interrupt this cycle—not just for Black children, but for the wellbeing of the entire community.
"I believe that it takes a village to raise a child," Kerra said. "As a Christian, I believe that regardless of your belief system, you are part of my village. Through Little Scholars I've had the privilege of working with families from across the world and systems of belief, and I've found that my ability to love, nurture and educate students is made stronger when honoring the diversity of my village."
Beyond its classrooms, Raze will offer culturally based wraparound services designed to support children, families, and educators alike.
Programs will include before- and after-school care with transportation in District 81, as well as integrated mental and behavioral health supports for both teachers and students through the Childcare Mental Health Program.
Raze will also house The Village Project, a community-facing program that brings resources directly into childcare centers. Families will have access to services such as doulas, physical therapy, art, and behavioral health supports, creating a holistic network of care.
In addition, Raze will be Spokane's only extended-hours early learning facility, open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This extended-hours program will be community-driven and is expected to launch by spring 2026.
For Kerra's vision for change, dismantling the preschool-to-prison pipeline means more than keeping children in classrooms.
It means reimagining what early education can look like. Raze is committed not only to preparing children for kindergarten but also to instilling confidence in who they are and cultivating an appreciation for the cultural contributions that shape their world.
"It's about creating an environment where children are affirmed, where their families feel seen, and where excellence and joy are the standard," she said. "If we can change the beginning of the story, we can change the outcome for generations to come."
The Raze Early Learning & Development Center grand opening is from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, at 6529 N. Lidgerwood. It will include food, face painting and music with Max Daniels, Nu Jack City and choirs.
