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On October 3, 2025, the Office of Childhood received allegations that on October 1, 2025, Leah Waters forcefully pushed the head of Child A (4-years-old) into his cot and smacked the back of his head. Leah stated to another coworker who witnessed it, "It is not like he can tell anyone." The witness stated that Child A has speech problems and does not talk very well. After completing an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jackie Ruth found these allegations to be substantiated based on the following rule violations:
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."
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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."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)9. which states: "Punishment or threat of punishment shall not be associated with food, rest, or toilet training."
On October 8, 2025, CI Ruth conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and held in person interviews with the assistant director, Tailor Adams, caregivers, Samantha Hammer and Anna Kirk, and Child B (age 3-years-old), and Child C (age 3-years-old).
Tailor, Samantha, and Anna all stated that these allegations are accurate. On October 1, 2025, Tailor was informed by Samantha and Anna that they witnessed Leah Waters push Child A's (4-years-old), head down into the cot while telling him to go to sleep. She contacted her HR department and reported it to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Tailor stated that Leah was let go and did not return to the facility after Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Samantha stated that she saw Leah push Child A's head down continually and say, "Child A, go to sleep." Samantha said she asked Leah to stop, and her response was, "it is not like he can tell anyone." She told Leah to stop privately and said something to her about it in front of Anna. She said that Leah did not hold his head down or smack him, it was more like a pat on his head. She stated that they have noticed a decline in Leah's mental health lately and she seemed burnt out. She was using a more aggressive tone than she used to when talking to the kids.
Anna stated that she witnessed Leah smack the top of Child A's head. She did not confront Leah and told the assistant director, Tailor, the next day. She believes the situation was handled appropriately because Leah was fired.
Child B stated that she remembers Ms. Leah and she was not nice. She said at nap time she goes to sleep on her own, but the teachers sit by other kids and pat their back.
Child C stated that she likes school and plays with her friends. She said at nap time they sleep on cots and teachers pat their backs to help them got to sleep.
On October 10, 2025, CI Ruth conducted interviews via phone with Parent A, and the director, Devyn Schaeffer.
Parent A stated that when she picked up Child A on October 1, 2025, Tailor, the assistant director, told her that she was informed that day that a teacher had pushed Child A's head down forcefully into the cot during nap time. She was told the incident occurred the day before on September 30, 2025, but the teachers who witnessed it did not come forward that day. She asked Child A if someone pushed his head down on the cot and he said, "yes mommy, Ms. Leah pushed my head down in the cot." He told her he was scared and crying. She asked him to show her what happened, and she laid down and he pushed her head down forcefully. She immediately went to the police and filed a report and made a hotline call herself. She said the teachers should be providing a quiet activity if a child is having trouble going to sleep, and this incident was not ok. Child A has now been having trouble going to sleep at home for about two weeks and was unsure why he was suddenly having trouble. He wakes up screaming and crying and he punches and kicks the walls and ends up coming into her bed. She wonders if this incident with Leah during nap time has been ongoing and not just one time.
Devyn stated that she was absent on October 1, 2025, and Tailor was told about the incident involving Child A and Leah. She said that Tailor contacted HR, made a hotline call, and talked to Child A's parents. She said they noticed a change in Leah's behavior about a week prior to this incident and many staff members had come to her with concerns about Leah's tone of voice. She said she and the staff recognized that Leah was more irritable than normal. Leah was overwhelmed, but she did not think that she would ever harm a child. She does not have concerns about any other teachers and said that the energy at the facility has been much calmer since Leah has left. They have a professional development day on October 13, 2025, and the company is requiring that all staff take the mandated reporter training.
On October 23, 2025, CI Ruth attempted to interview Leah Waters via phone. Leah refused to answer questions or discuss the allegations.
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