09-09 · Child Discipline Group: Sec. 7-34, Ordinance, DCF Handbook, and Sec. 402.305, Florida

Director self reported that on 1/28/2025 around 5:00 PM, an aftercare child did a side kick to a teacher and the teacher reacted by stomping the childs foot. This incident was reported to Ms. Tonya by a staff member that witnessed it, and Ms. Tonya confirmed it by watching the incident on a recorded video. Ms. Tonya immediately terminated the teacher that stomped the childs foot and a staff member that witnessed the incident, but did not report it. Ms. Tonya stated to the childcare licensing specialist that she reported this incident to the childs parents, the Child Abuse Hotline, and Sunrise Police Department. A complaint inspection was conducted on 1/30/2025 and a statement from the Director (T. Ricker) was received and video reviewed. Findings: Video footage- Three teachers were observed walking down a hallway. One of the teachers was holding the child's hand and the child was bending her foot to kick the teacher. After the child made contact with the teacher's leg by kicking her, the teacher then is seen making a stomping movement toward the child's foot. They continued walking and turned the curve at the end of the hallway, out of camera view. Per the Director, she became aware of the incident at around 7PM, past closing time on 1/28/2025. The next morning, she initiated her investigation by reviewing video footages and collecting a statement from one of the 3 staff members. After reviewing the footage and completing her investigation on 1/29/2025, the director and another staff member contacted the teacher in question and terminated her employment along with the second teacher that provided a false statement. The teachers were terminated prior to returning to work and did not have contact with any of the children after the incident. the The director reported the abuse to the parent, the abuse hotline and child care licensing. See attached timeline provided by Director for further details