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On January 6, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of on October 22, 2024, teacher Abby unknown grabbed Child A (age 3-years-old) and twisted and squeezed her arm and then Child A ran out of the room. On January 8, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
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."
On January 8, 2025, (CI) Hughes conducted in person interviews with Director Sara Oswalt and caregivers Brianna Potter and Brittany Fudge. Sara stated that she was aware of the situation that occurred on October 22, 2024. Ms Brianna reported that Ms Abby was aggressive with Child A, and she watched the video. On the video she observed Ms. Abby pulling Child A into the building by her arm from outside and that Child A looked upset. She immediately reported this information to her Regional Manager and that her Regional Manager informed her she would take it from there. She then contacted Parent A to inform her of the situation. She sent Ms. Abby on her break while she waited to hear back from upper management and that upper management instructed her to terminate Ms. Abby which she did. Parent A came to check on Child A and took her home for the day. The video footage is no longer able to be reviewed.
Caregiver Brianna Potter stated that Ms. Abby was bringing her children inside and Child A did not want to come in so Ms. Abby grabbed Child A by the arm and drug her into the building. Child A was visibly upset and at one point Child A's arm came out of her sleeve while Ms Abby was still dragging her causing her coat to move up around her neck. She went to the office to inform her director Sara Oswalt of the situation. She stated that Ms. Abby was sent on her break and was terminated when she returned.
On January 8, 2025, (CI Hughes) conducted in person interviews with Parent A and Child A. Parent A stated that she received a call from the center stating that something inappropriate happened with Child A and she was told there were no injuries. She was told that the staff member had been released from the center. She stated that she went to the center to check on Child A and she asked who the staff member was, but the director would not tell her. Parent A was told that the center had watched the video and that another staff member had reported to the office that a teacher had grabbed Child A's arm inappropriately while bringing her inside. She stated that she questioned Child A and Child A told her "Ms Abby pulled my arm."
Child A stated that Ms Abby was her teacher and that Ms Abby hurt her arm.
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