• Violation

  R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.

  On 02/03/2021, I received a call from Ms. Karen Roy, the Director of Special Projects with the Mecosta Osceola ISD. Ms. Roy explained that there had been an incident involving program director Ms. Carolyn Miller physically restraining Child A (four-year-old, male). Ms. Miller was terminated as a result of this incident. On 02/02/2021, the general education social worker at Evart Elementary School, Ms. Tiffany Wolak, provided a statement of her observations regarding this incident. Ms. Wolak and two other school staff heard a child screaming very loudly. They were standing directly across from the GSRP classroom and could see into the windows. They observed the lead teacher holding onto Child A's arms. It appeared that he had gotten away from Ms. Miller several times as they could see his arms flailing above a stack of blue cots. Ms. Miller bent down multiple times and was attempting to stand Child A up. It appeared that Child A was attempting to open the door that leads into the other classroom. Ms. Wolak looked away for a moment and when she looked back, the door was open and the screaming had stopped. The screaming started again, and Ms. Wolak saw that Ms. Miller had Child A facing the stack of blue cots. She was standing directly behind him with her arms crossed on his chest. It appeared that she was using the cots to immobilize Child A. Ms. Wolak noted in her statement that children screaming in the classroom had become commonplace recently. On 02/10/2021, I completed an onsite investigation. I interviewed licensee designee Ms. Joanne Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell reported that she was not in the classroom on the day that this incident occurred. The program director Ms. Carolyn Miller struggled from the time she started in this position. She specifically appeared to struggle with children with behavioral issues. There have been multiple people who have come into the classroom to observe and give Ms. Miller guidance. Ms. Miller was unable to successfully implement any of the strategies that were provided to her. I interviewed child care staff member Ms. Melanie Fauble. She reported that she has been working in the classroom for the past year. There have been three program directors this year. Ms. Elsa Pitcel was program director for the first three weeks and Ms. Heather Wilkinson was the program director until Ms. Miller began in the middle of November. Ms. Miller had no control over the children and she did not follow the discipline policy. When the children were out of control, she would say "oh, my" and then do nothing. On the day of this incident, some of the children had displayed behavioral issues all day. While Ms. Fauble was dealing with one child, she heard screaming coming from the gross motor room. When she opened the door, Ms. Miller was down on the floor over the top of Child A. Ms. Fauble yelled, "Let him go," and Child A crawled out from underneath her. Child A ran to Ms. Fauble crying and stated, "I hate Ms. Miller." Ms. Fauble had told Ms. Miller to let go of Child A twice that day. She reported that Ms. Miller had restrained children in the 3 past by holding them in a bear hug hold. The classroom was generally peaceful before Ms. Miller started working there. Ms. Miller appeared to be agitated every day. The classroom has mellowed out since Ms. Wieber took over as program director. On 03/16/2021, I called Ms. Karen Roy. She reported that Ms. Miller had received a significant amount of guidance once it was discovered that she was struggling in her position of program director. Both Ms. Mitchell and program director Ms. Bethany Wieber spent time observing Ms. Miller in the in the classroom and offering suggestions and guidance. Ms. Wieber gave Ms. Miller guidance on handling behaviors in the classroom. Ms. Miller also spent a week in another classroom giving her the opportunity to shadow another program director. Ms. Miller was either unwilling or unable to implement any of the strategies that were offered to her.

Child A (four-year-old, male) was observed to be extremely upset and agitated. The program director was observed to be physically restraining and attempting to immobilize him.

Disposition: Substantiated