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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that yesterday (August 18, 2025) in the classroom, staff Elwyn had Child A on the changing table and slapped his hand. She did this again and stated that Parent A told her she could pop his hand if he hit her. She then told Child A if he hit her, she was going to hit him back. This was after his hand was slapped twice. Unknown force but the sound could be heard even not facing them. Elwyn is also very aggressive with the children. She puts them down roughly and picks them up roughly. She picks them up by the sides of their arms instead of under the armpit. She sits them down hard enough to jostle them. She refused to give Child A seconds on food until he said the word more. She yells at the children to sit down. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)2., which states: "Expectations for a child's behavior shall be appropriate for the developmental level of that child."
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."
AND
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."
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 August 21, 2025, director Sarah Hermann said that she spoke with Elwyn, caregiver, after hearing about the incident. She also spoke with Parent A. Elwyn told her that she did not hit Child A but therapist Nicole Herber had told her that she heard a smacking sound and Elwyn had smacked Child A's hand. Video footage does not show the diapering table where this supposedly took place.
Cora Miller, caregiver said she didn't have any concerns with Elwyn. She spoke with Parent A and she said that she never told Elwyn that she could hit Child A.
Kai Hite is Elwyns' co teacher and sister. She has never seen Elwyn hit or smack anyone and did not hear a smacking sound on August 18, 2025, when she was with Child A. She said Parent A did not tell them to smack Child A. Elwyn is not rough with the children and there are never complaints about Elwyn.
Elwyn Hite said that Child A was running around and hitting. She picked him up and put him on the diapering table. Parent A had told her that they smack Child A at home for his behaviors but she told her that they could not do that at the center. She was pushing Child A's hand away from her because he was hitting her. She never hit or smacked him and would never be rough.
On August 25, 2025, Parent A said that she has never given Elwyn permission to hit Child A. She was told about some concerns with Elwyn by Cora. She was told that Elwyn has autism and they are working with her on her aggressive behaviors and temper. She spoke with Sarah about the incident with Child A and Sarah said that she reviewed camera footage but the changing table area was blocked on screen and nothing could be seen. She said Child A would be moved out of Elwyn's classroom because they were worried about repercussions with Elwyn towards Child A. Child A was only out of the room for one day and then Sarah moved him back saying that nothing happened.
On August 25, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham received a text message screenshot from Parent A with a text that Sarah Hermann, director, had sent out the caregivers on January 21, 2025. The message read as follows:
Narma-cleaning as you go and letting it pile up and over whelm you. Or time management
Bri- take pride in cleaning all rooms not just yours.
Elwyn-control your anger/frustration and let it out in a way that doesn't mean blowing up on others or putting a burden on others.
Michaela-being present with your kids and engaged while on the clock (leave baggage at home)
Tori-control anger/frustration and professionalism as a teacher and employee
Nikki-be able to work through behaviors with children that are struggling
Kai-
Avery-volume (sometimes)
Shannon-don't have cancer
Cassy-stay on task and stop leaving the kitchen unless doing a potty break or handing out food. Work on cleaning the kitchen and staying organized
On August 25, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham received a text message screenshot from Parent A of a text from Sarah Hermann, director to Cora Miller, caregiver dated June 27, 2025. The message read as follows:
"can you tell Elwyn to me less harsh with the kids. I just watched the way they grabbed Child A and sit him down when he threw a toy"
On August 26, 2025, therapist Nicole Herber said that she has worked with children in classrooms with Elwyn and she seems to get frustrated with the children and will scream at them them and talk demeaning towards them. She feels like Elwyn's behaviors have gotten worse lately. On August 18, 2025, the class was coloring. Elywn had put paper on the table and was telling the children to get their hand off and to not touch. That was not a developmentally appropriate activity for children that age. She then let the children pick out a color and started yelling at them for putting them in their mouths. During this time Child A needed a diaper change so Elwyn told him to go to the stairs at the diaper table. Child A said no and Ewlyn was playing and chasing him around. Child A fell down laughing and Ewlyn picked him up. She took him to the diaper table and that is when she heard a smack. Elwyn then said "Your mom told me if you hit I can slap your hand" and she heard Elwyn smack Child A again. After that incident she felt the need to call Parent A and report the incident.
On August 27, 2025, therapist Kasey McMullen said she has observed Elwyn aggressively putting children in chairs and saying inappropriate comments to children. Elwyn has withheld water from children for not listening. She has not reported anything to the director because she does not feel comfortable with how things are handled. She feels like everyone turns their heads.
On August 28, 2025, Cora Miller stated that she does have concerns with Elwyn but didn't feel comfortable talking about them in front of Sarah because she will play favorites towards Elwyn. She has mentioned concerns about Elwyn before to Sarah. Elwyn is aggressive with how she picks up the children.
On September 3, 2025, caregiver Coren Grab said that she has heard Elwyn get loud with the children but not cussing. She feels like Elwyn is a little handsy with Child A and there is little redirection or developmental planning in that classroom.
Kaitlin Gentry, caregiver, said she does not feel like Elwyn handles things with children appropriately. She does a lot of yelling and will move the children around aggressively. She has never mentioned anything about this to Sarah because she does not feel like it would do any good.
Brianna Whitehorn, caregiver, said that Elwyn can get over stimulated and loud. She can hear Elwyn yelling through the classroom door. She has seen Elwyn being forceful with the children at nap time.
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