| Conclusion Summary |
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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Glover conducted an investigation regarding the allegation that Caregiver Alexus Jackson grabbed Child A (3-years-old) by the arm and yanked her away from two other children who were fighting, causing Child A to act scared and upset. After conducting the investigation, CI Glover finds this allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)1. which states: "The provider shall establish simple, understandable rules for children's behavior and shall explain them to the children."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3. which states: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7. which states: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8. which states: "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
On February 14, 2023, CI Glover interviewed reporter/Parent A (Parent of Child A) who stated that Ms. Jackson informed her that she grabbed Child A by the arm and yanked her, causing Child A to be frightened of her for the remainder of the day. Caregiver Imani Thompson stated that even though she did not observe the incident involving Ms. Jackson and Child A, she had observed children often times acting afraid of her, due to her constantly raising her voice towards them in a frightening manning. Ms. Thompson stated that children who had attended the facility regularly started to behave differently, such as crying and screaming during drop-off, stating that they did not want to be with Ms. Jackson. Caregiver Michaela Lindsey stated that she had often times observed Ms. Jackson act verbally abusive towards the children, raising her voice in a threatening and strict manner. She stated that parents started making comments that they were observing changes in their child's behavior but were unsure why. After learning of the incident involving Ms. Jackson and Child A, she asked Child A if she was scared of Ms. Jackson, in which she replied with a yes but could not identify why. She also stated that Ms. Jackson told her that she did not intend to react so harshly towards Child A when she grabbed and yanked her arm.
Even though Director Sarah Starks was not the acting director at the time of the incident, she was informed that Ms. Jackson was placed on administrative leave immediately and later terminated. She also heard that several teachers had concerns with Ms. Jackson prior to the incident involving her and Child A, but the previous director Jessica Shelton did not take any action about it. Ms. Shelton was then terminated as well.
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