Sharing the good news happening in our community

Kathryn Crowell-Grate always knew her life had purpose.

Born in Ocala, she grew up in a large family with 12 siblings

and serving the community and helping others were values

that were instilled in them at an early age. 

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​​Crowell-Grate attended Madison Street Elementary School,

Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary School, and she was part of the

first group of students that integrated Osceola Middle School.

While in high school, she worked in the front office at Forest

High School and was selected to work as a mentor at the Alyce McPherson School for Girls. She left Ocala for a few years after graduating to continue her education. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Sciences, two Bachelor’s Degrees and two Master’s Degrees while working as a Civil Service employee.

 

When she retired, she returned to Ocala and partnered with the Marion County School Board to start a GED program at her church, the Greater Apostolic Outreach Holy Church of God, Inc., to educate adults in the community who did not have a high school diploma.

 

The politics were too much for her so she stopped teaching the GED program and started Contemporary Christian Academy in her home in 2001 because she saw the need to educate parents so they could support their children. The Academy served all grade levels, but was limited to 20 students, 10 attended in the daytime and 10 in the evening.

 

“Parents could not keep a schedule for GED classes that were offered at certain times. Daycare for many struggling parents was often closed the hours they needed daycare to make life better for them,” she said. “I saw a need and sought to fulfill my ministry of meeting parents where they are and helping them move from a system not meant to accommodate shift work.”

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The 24-hour daycare and preschool was started first. It was so successful she had to move from her home to another location because they always had a waiting list. She also needed a place where she could work with parents in a quiet location because they wanted privacy since some of their children did not know they never completed high school.

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“They were having trouble helping their children with homework assignments,” she said. “My ministry became a 24-hour service and   it was as important for me as it was to my clients. My ministry is serving God’s children.”

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“Earning my diploma through Kingdom Christian Academy has opened doors to new opportunities, including further education, career advancement and the confidence to pursue goals that once seemed unattainable,” said Winter Crosby, a former student, who earned her high school diploma. “At the time, I was a single mother with five children living on the system.”

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In 2006, she added a school and changed the name to Kingdom Christian Academy and Precious Children Preschool and Daycare because she wanted the school’s name to stand out from the preschool and the daycare. She added more services at the new facility that was located at 517 S.W. 10th St., including afterschool tutoring and extended care for parents. 

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Now 25 years later, Crowell-Grate, whose passion is education and community service, is still fulfilling her dream of educating the   entire family in one location. On March 2, 2026, family and friends will gather to celebrate her birthday and highlight all of her accomplishments. 

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“I’m a proponent of educating the entire family to

improve living conditions of all people but especially

people of color and those who need a second chance

or a hand up,” said Crowell-Grate, Dean of the National

School of Theology and Kingdom Christian Academy.

“I desire to remove people from public assistance to

become self-sustaining parents who could make future

generations  literate and productive members of the community.”

 

In 2016, to honor her mother, she changed the name to Dr. D.D. Brown Academy of Hope, a private, Christian K-12 school and daycare center that offers a holistic, God-centered curriculum. Fees are based on income and circumstances. Crowell-Grate serves as the principal and is also the Director of the Deliverance Refuge Center, which provides food, clothing, furniture, etc. for needy and elderly persons.

 

                                             We believe success comes when a holistic approach is done                                                    to the entire family, community and the world,” she said.

 

                                              Crowell-Grate said the Academy focuses on improving

                                              economic circumstances for the entire family from the top

                                              down and/or the bottom up, which means every family

                                              member, from the oldest to the youngest or vice versa, can

                                              all be educated and get a high school diploma.

 

                                              Teresa Chappell Grant also earned her high school diploma

                                              from the school. For many years, she said she explored

                                              different paths to complete her education including attempting

                                              to earn a GED when she found out she could actual obtain a

                                              high school diploma through an accredited institution.

 

“Beyond academics, Kingdom Christian Academy emphasized values such as discipline, perseverance and faith,” Grant said. “The Christ-centered environment fostered personal growth, responsibility and a renewed sense of purpose. Through this experience, I not only gained a diploma, but also a deeper belief In my abilities and future potential.”

 

The school, which is accredited by the National Association of Christian Education (NACE) and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS), offers child-centric programs that address essential developmental needs including Physical, Psychosocial, Emotional, Cognitive and Early Language Development, Learning Creative Expressions and Executive Function Development.

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Currently the Academy has six paid staff members and most of their volunteers are retired educators. Crowell-Grate said the criteria to be a volunteer includes; being able to pass a background check, love the Lord and care about making a difference in the lives of children.

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“I want the Academy to continue making families who are educated and can fully participate in society,” she said.

Although Crowell-Grate has spent her life improving the lives of others, life hasn’t always been easy for her. She’s faced setbacks and didn’t always get things right the first time, but she persevered.

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“I want my community to know that I fell down by getting married and pregnant in high school which prevented me from my dream job of going into the Air Force. I want my community to know that no matter how many times you fail, you can get back up and be better,” she said. “God is a forgiver and He will forgive your sins and welcome you as His child.”

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Crowell-Grate believes what we do for the least of God’s children, we do unto God. She said with every challenge she faces in her life, God restores her ten-fold.

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“I want to ensure that I have done all that I could to make a better community and have them become productive members of society,” she said. “The legacy that I leave here is that I gave God and society the best of me.”

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For more information or enrollment inquiries, call (352) 433-2217 or visit https://www.drddbrownchristianacademy.com or http://www.henrycrowelljrkcaofexcellence.org.