Alex & Koi Spreier are the owners of Little Seba’s Preschool in Bend, Or. Opened in 2023, the business has given the community a major resource as they serve students with high needs. Working as a team, Alex and Koi strive to support and treat every student in their program as if this was a home away from home.
Little Seba’s Preschool
With a delightfully charming home away from home energy, Little Seba’s Preschool is a warm and inviting space for students to spend their day. Aptly named after a friend’s child, Sebastian (Seba) that was diagnosed with Lowe Syndrome and passed away at 15 months, Alex and Koi wanted to provide a safe, understanding and capable preschool for children with high needs. They began their program in 2023 by “embrac[ing] the dynamic nature of education, recognizing that each child is unique and learns in their own distinct manner.” With regular outside time, play with the household animals (2 cats and a rabbit,) and constant practice in emotional regulation, they have an additional employee, Danielle Stell, to maintain a low student/teacher ratio. An active backyard with lots of open area for students to enjoy while still safely visible to the teachers, each area offers a new and exciting activity. Indoors, each area is open, giving easy access to activities, such as a kitchen set up and doctor kits.
Alex and Koi Spreier
When COVID threw a wrench in Alex’s 7 year career path as an elementary school teacher, he migrated towards an afterschool program through REACH. While establishing a new path as a preschool teacher through REACH, Alex and Koi had a son and soon after was laid off again due to more covid shutdowns. During this time, Koi was a nanny for years and, after their son was born and the untimely covid shutdowns, Alex and Koi decided to take this opportunity to begin their own child care program while harnessing their knowledge and skills together.
Quick Facts!
- Open 7:30am-5pm
- Serving students ages 0-5 years
- Child-centered learning
- Inclusivity
- Animals: 1 rabbit, 2 cats (fully vaxxed)
- Accepts ERDC
OCCA Membership
The benefits that Little Seba’s Preschool has been able to gain from being part of the OCCA have been a major support for their new business. Their OCCA coach, Heidi, has been a great resource, offering them a spot in the SBCD program to gain business knowledge and build a strong business foundation. Alex and Koi have utilized many of the resources that OCCA has to offer their members, such as the WonderSchool platform to manage the day-to-day check-ins, photos and activity logs to parents, and managing the billing/invoicing has helped them establish a baseline to tracking and streamlining their processes. This has given them time back to spend with their students during the work hours and proactively address their own needs on their time off, such as decompressing with a crocheting project, taking a bubble bath, running, or practicing martial arts. The hours of operation are strict as Koi and Alex are conscious of their mental load and want to continue to grow their business based on the needs of their students. When their own child is older, they hope to move towards a homeschool co-op that envelopes the same ideals and objectives.
Alex and Koi have worked hard to ensure that their students feel at home in their care and the parents get the support they need for their children. Recognizing the need in their community for the kind of support these students (and parents!) are looking for as well as their own skills as educators, Alex and Koi are an inspiration to educators. Embracing inclusivity and acceptance, Little Seba’s Preschool is a welcome relief for parents and students looking for an accepting early education program.
To learn more about Alex and Koi and register your child to Little Seba’s Preschool visit their website and other platforms below!
