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On September 17, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging an unknown staff member verbally threatened to hit Child A (3 years old). Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer conducted an investigation and found the allegation to be substantiated based on the following information:
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 September 18, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Parent A (Parent of Child A), who stated a new teacher threatened to punch Child A (3 years old).
On September 24, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Assistant Director Chelsea Butler, Teacher Mackenna Marble, Teacher Aubrey Sherman, and Teacher Ashley Pointer. Chelsea stated on September 3, 2025, Teacher Faythe Applegate was on the playground. She was present with Child A (3 years old), Teacher Aubrey Sherman, and Teacher Mackenna Marble. Aubrey and Mackenna heard Faythe say to Child A, "Today is my last day on probation. I'll be alone with you tomorrow. I can hit you and no one will know." Ashley stated Child A told her about the conversation with Faythe. Faythe told Child A that she could beat him up tomorrow and no one could stop it. Mackenna stated she was present on the playground on September 3, 2025, with Child A and Teacher Aubrey Sherman. She heard Faythe say to Child A, "Tomorrow I get to be alone with you guys. I'll get to beat you, and no one will know." Aubrey stated she was on the playground with Faythe, Mackenna, and Child A on September 3, 2025. Faythe said to Child A, "It's my last day on probation. I'll be alone with you tomorrow and I can hit you and no one will ever know."
On September 24, 2025, CI Greer reviewed a letter of termination for Faythe Applegate and observed that Faythe Applegate was terminated for indicating to a child, on September 3, 2025, that she would be punching them on the following day when she was no longer on training supervision.
On November 3, 2025, CI Greer interviewed Managing Member Terri Blachford, who stated on September 3, 2025, Aubrey told her that Faythe had threatened Child A. There were two staff witnesses and she believes both staff members were telling the truth.
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