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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD - CHILD CARE COMPLIANCE

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION OF SUBSTANTIATED STATUTE OR RULE VIOLATIONS
Facility Information
Date of Report
8/19/2025 12:00:00 AM
DVN
001981280
Facility Name
RADIANT FAITH ACADEMY
Facility Address
2153 MCKELVEY RD
City
MARYLAND HEIGHTS
Zip Code
63043-2309
Phone
(314) 275-7336
County
ST LOUIS
Assigned Specialist
HUGHES, CHRISTINE D
Rule/Statute Violation(s)
ViolationViolation Description
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(D)3. Caregivers shall be alert to various needs of the child such as thirst, hunger,diaper change, fear of or aggression by other children, and the need for attention.
Conclusion Summary
On August 19, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of on August 18, 2025 around 8:55 a.m., Parent A was notified that Child A (12-months-old), had more than 10 scratches on him, including his eye due to another child trying to pull him down. Parent A was concerned about the supervision of the children due to so many scratches on Child A. On August 20, 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)(D)3.,. which states:: " Caregivers shall be alert to various needs of the child such as thirst, hunger, diaper change, fear of or aggression by other children, and the need for attention." On August 20, 2025, CI Hughes conducted an interview via phone with Parent A. She stated that she received a phone call with pictures of Child A but the facility could not tell her what happened. Child A had more than 10 scratches on his face including a scratch on his eye. Child A was on the mini trampoline in the classroom at the time. Child A is 1-years-old and he is in the class with much larger 2-year-olds. She felt that the children were not being supervised by Pastor Lee and did not feel the incident report was accurate. She did not take her child back to the facility after the incident. CI Hughes observed photos showing several scratches on both sides of Child A's face including a scratch on his eye. On August 20, 2025, CI Hughes conducted an in person interview with acting director La Toya Chatman. La Toya stated that she was not in the room when it happened. The children were with Pastor Lee. Pastor Lee was off for the week on vacation. On August 27, 2025, CI Hughes conducted an in person interview with director Pastor Lee Furnace. Pastor Lee stated that he was in the classroom the day the incident took place and he was using his multi step process to change a child's diaper. He did not see what happened but heard Child A crying and saw the injuries. He contacted Parent A and sent her pictures. Parent A picked up Child A at their normal time in the afternoon. He thinks he knows what happened because the other child that was with Child A when the incident happened, was trying to ride on another child's back the day before CI Hughes' visit.so he thinks that was what the other child was trying to do to Child A when Child A was scratched.
Corrective Measures
Corrective MeasureCompleted (Y/N)Completed Date
The facility shall notify all staff members of the violations which were substantiated, and specify the actions to be taken by all staff in order to comply with all violations cited.. A copy of the memo, letter, or staff meeting agenda shall be submitted to the Office of Childhood. Y 11/20/2025 12:00:00 AM
Disposition
SUBSTANTIATED
Disposition Date
10/18/2025 12:00:00 AM
Approving Supervisor
CHRISCO, MARLA L