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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
3/25/2026 12:00:00 AM
DVN
002909517
Facility Name
JOY & GLADNESS CHILDREN ACADEMY LLC
Facility Address
2500 COUNTRY CLUB DR STE B
City
JEFFERSON CITY
Zip Code
65109-1190
Phone
(573) 353-8323
County
COLE
Assigned Specialist
HONEA, MICHELLE J
Rule/Statute Violation(s)
ViolationViolation Description
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)6. Firm, positive statements or redirection of behavior shall be used with infants and toddlers.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8. 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.
Conclusion Summary
On March 25, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: Staff member Chanel Fitch can be heard from the lobby yelling at children. Chanel Fitch is constantly yelling at the children and on her phone. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence: 5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)6. which states: "Firm, positive statements or redirection of behavior shall be used with infants and toddlers." 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." On March 31, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent A who stated that she walked into the facility and could hear teacher Channelle Fitch screaming at a child, "I'm not doing this all day". Channelle is her child, Child A's (age 16-months-old) teacher. On March 31, 2026, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Lakisha McCaleb, teacher Arlesa Mason, and Channelle Fitch. Director Lakisha McCaleb stated that she does not know about Channelle yelling at Child A or the children in her class. She just came back to the facility as the director. CI Honea interviewed teacher Arlesa Mason who stated that she heard teacher Channelle Fitch yell at the children in her class and she has a big mouth. CI Honea interviewed teacher Channelle Fitch who stated that she is the toddler teacher and is very loud at times and that can be mistaken as yelling. She does not think she yells at the children.
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 6/3/2026 12:00:00 AM
Disposition
SUBSTANTIATED
Disposition Date
5/22/2026 12:00:00 AM
Approving Supervisor
CHRISCO, MARLA L