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On November 7, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that teacher Yolanda Long-Langston stated that Future Geniuses Enterprises, Inc. staff had consistent inappropriate behavior issues with Child B (6-years-old), so much that director Sabrena Lewis, who is a relative of Child B, has had to "whoop" Child B. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7., which states the following: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On November 8, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted a phone interview with Parent A, who stated that Ms. Long-Langston informed him that Child B had severe behavioral problems. Ms. Long-Langston said that Child B had been "whooped" several times by Ms. Lewis. Parent A did not know when or how many times Child B had been "whooped."
On November 8, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and conducted interviews with Ms. Long-Langston and Child B. Ms. Long-Langston denied ever telling Parent A that Child B had behavioral problems. Ms. Long-Langston denied ever telling Parent A that Child B was "whooped." Ms. Long-Langston affirmed that Child B had behavior problems and was regularly put in time-out. Time-out consisted of sitting on a chair in the administrative office for five minutes. Ms. Long-Langston denied that Child B or any other child was physically punished.
Child B stated that Ms. Lewis spanked him in her office. The spanks did not hurt, and he did not know why he was spanked.
On November 15, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an interview with Ms. Lewis, who denied ever spanking Child B or any other child. Ms. Lewis stated that she had smacked Child B on each hand several times to prevent him from doing things that he should not. Ms. Lewis affirmed that she knew children should not be susceptible to physical punishment while at the facility. Ms. Lewis stated that the were not hard and were just meant to redirect Child B. Ms. Lewis stated that Child B was her extended relative and neighbor. Child B attended the facility for free and she often drove him to and from the facility in her personal vehicle.
On November 18, 2024, CI O'Malley attempted to contact Parent B (parent of Child B) via phone; the line had been disconnected.
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