View Investigation

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD - CHILD CARE COMPLIANCE

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION OF SUBSTANTIATED STATUTE OR RULE VIOLATIONS
Back

Facility Information
Date of Report
8/12/2025 12:00:00 AM
DVN
002990974
Facility Name
JOURNEY WITH ME LEARNING ACADEMY LLC
Facility Address
113 NW 191ST RD
City
WARRENSBURG
Zip Code
64093-7673
Phone
(660) 362-0078
County
JOHNSON
Assigned Specialist
EDDINS, COLE
Rule/Statute Violation(s)
ViolationViolation Description
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A) The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group.
Conclusion Summary
On August 12, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that the facility was out of ratio today in the infant and toddler rooms. One infant room had six children in it, ages 3 months to 11 months, with one worker. The toddler room had five children in it with one staff member. This has happened throughout the day today. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility: 5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(E). Which states: "Mixed Age Groups Two Years (2) and up. Groups composed of mixed ages of children two (2) years of age and older shall have no less than one (1) adult to ten (10) children, with a maximum of four (4) two (2) -year olds. When there are more than four (4) two (2) -year olds in a mixed group, the staff/child ratio shall be no less than one (1) adult to eight (8) children." On August 15, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Brian Rivera, Caregiver Sydney Claiborne, and Caregiver Christina Scott. Brian stated that it could have been possible that when he stepped into Christina's infant classroom to help her, she was out of ratio for longer than 15 to 20 minutes. Christina was supposed to have another caregiver come help her, but the other caregiver called in sick, which left Christina with five or six children alone. He admitted that it might have taken longer than five or ten minutes to help her classroom while she was alone with more than four children. Sydney stated that she observed five to six children alone with Christina in the infant room, but she could not remember which day she observed the ratio violation. Christina was alone with five to six infants all day, either August 13, 2025, or August 14, 2025. Staff have been calling in sick, and it has been hard to get someone to the facility to replace them. Christina stated that she was alone with five or six children for around 30 minutes before Brian stepped into her classroom to help on August 14, 2025. If her classroom has been out of ratio, another caregiver or Brian would step in to help her within five minutes or less, but on August 14, 2025, they had a lot of caregivers call in sick.
Corrective Measures
Corrective MeasureCompleted (Y/N)Completed Date
The facility shall notify all caregivers (paid employees and paid or unpaid volunteers) of the violations which were substantiated and specify the actions to be taken by all caregivers, in order to comply with all violations cited. A copy of the memo, letter, or meeting agenda shall be submitted to the Office of Childhood. Y 1/23/2026 12:00:00 AM
Disposition
SUBSTANTIATED
Disposition Date
10/10/2025 12:00:00 AM
Approving Supervisor
FOX, ROMENA