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On April 4, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: Child A (15-months-old), moved to the toddler room and the teachers (Makayla and Bella) reported concerns to Parent A about Child A's time in the infant classroom a few months ago. They reported that Casey and Sherry (infant classroom teachers) used their hands to spank Child A. Casey and Sherry would "flip" Child A in the mouth when he would not eat or when he would throw his food on the floor. There was lots of yelling at the children in the infant classroom. Casey and Sherry would lift Child A out of his pack and play by his wrist. They would also "toss" Child A in the pack and play when he was fussy. Child A would have bruises, but staff would just say that Child A fell on a toy or had some other accident -unknown if any of the bruises came from the actions of Casey and Sherry. Makayla and Bella stated they reported these concerns to the director, but nothing was done. 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(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)6., which states: "Firm, positive statements or redirection of behavior shall be used with infants and toddlers."
On April 7, 2025, CI Honea interviewed Parent A who stated that she received a text message from Kacey stating that Child A (15-months-old) threw a fit and Charry tapped Child A on the leg. She had a meeting with Director Nikki about the incident. Nikki stated nothing happened, but Charry was sent home anyway. She did not give permission for Child A to be spanked. Makayla said that Child A was spanked hard by Charry. Bella stated that Charry flicked Child A in the mouth for not eating pineapple. Everything she was told came from caregivers Bella and Makayla.
On April 7, 2025, CI Honea interviewed Makayla Myers who stated that Child A was throwing a fit and Charry picked Child A up, throwing his legs in the air, and Charry spanked Child A one time. Charry and Kacey would grab Child A and throw him in a pack-n-play.
On April 7, 2025, CI Honea observed photos of a faded yellow bruise on Child A's arm. CI Honea observed that Child A did not have bruises on his bottom or legs. CI Honea could not determine where the bruise on Child A's arm came from.
On April 7, 2025, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Nikki Coots and teacher Kacey White. Nikki stated that there are no cameras, but they will be adding the cameras soon. Bella and Makayla were always complaining about other teachers. There is a no hand policy on children and Charry tapping Child A on the leg violated that policy so she was sent home and no longer works at the daycare. Nikki was in the kitchen, which has an opening to the toddler room, the day of the incident. She watched Charry tap Child A on the leg. She has never seen anyone pick a child up by their wrist or throw them into a pack-n-play. No child has been flicked in the mouth for not eating or any other reason.
While on premises CI Honea interviewed teacher Kacey White who stated that she was not in the room when the supposed incident happened. Charry told her about it, so she talked to Parent A. Charry stated that Child A was throwing a fit and Charry tapped Child A on the leg to get his attention so Child A would stop hurting himself. Pack-n-plays are not used for punishment and are not on premises. No child would get flicked on the mouth. She nor Charry would grab Child A, or any other child, by the wrist pulling the children out of the pack-n-plays or thrown into the pack-n-play.
On April 7, 2025, CI Honea observed that the facility does not have any pack-n-plays on the premises.
On April 7, 2025, CI Honea conducted an interview with Charry White who stated that she tapped Child A on the leg to get his attention because he was throwing a fit and she didn't want him to hit his head. She then went to talk with Kacey about what had happened. She did not hit, or spank Child A. Makayla was also in the room at the time and Nikki was in the kitchen observing through the opening to the toddler room. Nikki let her go over the whole situation. She has never flicked Child A or any other child in the mouth for any reason. She has never picked Child A or any other child by the wrist and thrown them into a pack-n-play.
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