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On June 1, 2023, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: On May 31, 2023, Parent A walked into the classroom and saw teacher Miranda swinging Child A (age 2) around and forcibly trying to sit him down. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(E)., which states: "Caregivers shall have knowledge of the needs of children and shall be sensitive to the capabilities, interests, and problems of children in care."
On June 2, 2023, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Lashunda Lane-Glasgow. Lashunda stated that she was not aware there was any issues with teacher Miranda Newton until Parent A, who saw the incident, brought it to her attention. Parent A stated that she witnessed Miranda swinging Child A into the air and dropping Child A onto the floor in a rough manner. Lashunda watched the classroom video then spoke with Miranda about the incident. Miranda denied swinging Child A around or forcibly sitting him down or being rough with him. Child A was out of camera view so the incident was not able to be observed but the video does show Miranda pushing Child A's cot out of the way with her foot with Child A still on the cot and Child A is heard on the video screaming and crying. Miranda Newton was placed on suspension until further notice.
On June 2, 2023, CI Honea observed the classroom video that also has sound, which showed teacher Miranda Newton walking around the room trying to get children toileted and returned to the center of the classroom while Child A laid on the cot screaming and crying. CI Honea observed teacher Miranda Newton use her foot and shove the cot Child A was on across the floor three to four feet. Five minutes later, she picked up the end of the cot near Child A's head and pulled the cot out of the camera's view. CI Honea never observed Miranda check on Child A to see what was wrong or to console him. CI Honea heard Child A crying throughout the video which lasted ten minutes. The video did not show teacher Miranda Newton swinging Child A until Child A was seated on the floor and no longer on his cot. She swung his legs around and tried to get his shoes on.
On June 6, 2023, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent A. Parent A stated that she walked into the classroom and saw teacher Miranda Newton pick Child A up swinging his legs and forcibly put him down trying to get Child A to sit. Miranda swung Child A's legs again and sat down with Child A trying to get his shoes on. Child A is autistic and non-verbal. Parent A asked Child A what was wrong because he was crying, and Miranda said Child A woke up that way. She went to the director the next morning to explain what happened. She pulled Child A from the facility.
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