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On April 4, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on April 3, 2025, at Kids Academy Inc., a parent witnessed Child A (5-years-old) sitting at a table throwing a fit, his teacher was talking to him. Director Patti Nipper came into the classroom and grabbed him by his forearm. The child screamed "no" and the director put the child into an empty office with the lights off and held the door from the outside as the child was screaming in there to be let out. 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)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 April 8, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and conducted interviews with director Patti Nipper, staff Marisa McDonald, Tammy Scott, Colleen Tamaj-Perez, Parent A (parent of Child A and staff member), and Child A.
Ms. McDonald stated that on the afternoon of Thursday, April 3, 2025, Child A was being disruptive and violent. Child A often became violent when he was told "no" or asked to do something he did not want to do. Ms. Tamaj-Perez asked Child A to separate themselves from the group and read a book until he was ready to return to the group. Ms. Nipper entered the classroom and told Child A to go to board chairperson Daniel Trimble's office. Child A was sent to Mr. Trimble's office regularly as a precaution; he could become violent and hurt himself and others. Child A entered Mr. Trimble's office and Ms. Nipper closed the office door behind him; Ms. Nipper did not enter the office herself. Ms. Nipper stood at the office's window to watch Child A. Child A cried and asked repeatedly to be let out. Ms. Nipper let Child A out of the office after less than two minutes. Ms. McDonald denied that Ms. Nipper locked or held the door shut and she denied that the office's lights were off. Parent A was aware of the arrangement but there was no plan in writing.
Ms. Scott stated that on April 3, 2025, Child A was being disruptive. Child A was asked to read a book until he could listen and rejoin the group. Ms. Nipper exited her office and told Child A to go to Mr. Trimble's office. Child A entered Mr. Trimble's office, which was empty, and Ms. Nipper closed the office door behind him. Ms. Nipper watched Child A through the office window. Ms. Nipper did not lock the door or turn off the office light. Child A cried and screamed. Child A was in the office for less than five minutes. Ms. Scott had been working at the facility since October 2024, and this was the first time she had seen Child A sent to Mr. Trimble's office.
Ms. Nipper stated that on April 3, 2025, Ms. Tamaj-Perez asked her for help with Child A, who was violently kicking a table. Ms. Nipper asked Child A to go to Mr. Trimble's office. Ms. Nipper denied grabbing Child A by the forearm. Child A cannot go anywhere there are objects, or he will throw them. Ms. Nipper denied that she locked the office door, held the door closed, or turned off the office lights. Child A was in the office for a couple of minutes by himself and she watched him through her office window. Ms. Nipper denied that Child A cried or asked to be let out. Parent A was aware of Child A being placed in the office and she met Child A when he came out. Ms. Nipper denied that the office was used as a punishment, just that it was used to separate violent children from their groups. Child A was the only child she had separated using the office. Ms. Nipper denied that the office was used as a threat.
Ms. Tamaj-Perez stated that Child A was placed in the office three or four times by Ms. Nipper over the last eight months. Child A always cried and screamed to be let out. Ms. Nipper never locked the door or held it shut, but sometimes the office light was off. Ms. Tamaj-Perez denied asking Ms. Nipper for help on April 3, 2025; she had the situation under control when Ms. Nipper intervened. Ms. Tamaj-Perez denied that Child A was a danger to anyone.
Parent A stated that she was aware that Child A was placed in Mr. Trimble's office when he became upset and uncontrollable. Ms. Nipper had her permission to place Child A in the office by himself. Ms. Nipper always contacted her when Child A was put in the office, even when Parent A was not present at the facility. Child A was tall enough to turn the light in the office on and off by himself. Child A always felt sad when he was left alone by himself in the office.
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