KinderCare Learning Center

R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On 2/15/2023, I conducted an unannounced inspection at the child care center. On 2/8/2023, program director, Dawn Richardson stated that she was not present, but was notified by CCSM 2 of the incident. Child A found a Tylenol pill and put it in her mouth. CCSM 1 asked what was in her mouth and saw the pill. Child B (2-year-old female) brought a purse over to her with another pill in it. CCSM 1 notified CCSM 2 of the incident. Poison control was contacted and told CCSM 2 to contact Child A's parents so they could take her to the hospital to be examined. Child A's Mother was notified immediately. She was emotional because she was already at the hospital with her other child. Child A was picked up and taken to the hospital where she stayed for two hours until she was cleared to leave. Child A's parents were understanding but more concerned as to how she got the pill. The purses were removed from the dress up area and the entire room was checked for more pills. Ms. Richardson stated the purses in the dress up area have been in the classroom for years. Parents have not donated anything to the center besides books. CCSM's were asked to not share medication with each other inside the classrooms. All parents were made aware of the incident. Child A has returned to the center with no restrictions. 2 On 2/15/2023, I interviewed CCSM 2. On 2/8/2023, the day of the incident, CCSM 1 was not the regular teacher in the classroom. CCSM 2 was informed of the incident and notified Ms. Richardson by phone. She was told the children were playing with the purses near the breakfast table. CCSM 1 observed something in Child A's mouth but at the time did not know what it was. Child A showed her the pill in her mouth and Child B brought a purse over that contained another pill in it. Poison control was contacted and Child A's Mother. Child A was picked up and taken to the hospital to be examined. On 2/15/2023, I interviewed CCSM 1. On 2/8/2023, around 8:10 a.m., the children were in pre-kindergarten room when she brought them over to the preschool room. She was sitting at the table with two children who were eating breakfast. Child B came over to her and handed her a white pill with the words, Tylenol, on it in red. She asked Child B where she got the pill, and she showed the purse to her. CCSM 1 checked the purse but did not find any more pills. She put all the purses away and informed CCSM 2 so she could inspect the purses as well. Child A was at the Lego table and CCSM 1 saw that she had something in her mouth. She asked what was in her mouth and Child A spit the pill out of her mouth. CCSM 2 was notified of the incident. The children were taken back to the pre-kindergarten room so a thorough check could be done of the entire room.

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

On 01/13/2021, I conducted a telephone interview with the complainant. The complainant said Child A went home and told her father that Ms. Armour hit her on her arm. She described the hit by saying "wham, wham, wham". The complainant spoke with Ms. Armour and she denied the allegations. Additionally, staff who work with Ms. Armour were interviewed and no one reported ever witnessing the behavior. A complaint was made to the Department of Health and Human Services Child Protective Services, however, that complaint was rejected. Ms. Armour has been suspended pending the results of this investigation. On 01/13/2021, I conducted a telephone interview with Child Care Staff Member, Tracy Armour. Ms. Armour denied that the allegations are true. She said Child A is a pretty good child and does not require much re-direction. Ms. Armour said the only time she and Child A had any one-on-one interaction on that day was when she helped her put her bedding on the cot. On 01/13/2021, I conducted a telephone interview with Child A's Mother and Child A's Father. Both parents said on 01/06/2021, Child A's Father picked Child A up from the facility and when she got home, she reported that Ms. Armour hit her on her arm. Both parents described the incidents as such; when Child A's Father arrived at the facility Child A seemed "aloof and stand offish". When they arrived home, Child A's Father gave her a bath and Child A said she was not happy because she got hit at school today. Child A's Father asked her to show him how she was hit, and Child A hit her arm three times saying, "wham, wham, wham". Both parents said Child A has been in the program since July on 2020. Child A's Mother said there were a few red flags that gave her cause for some concern, but she never spoke with the director about it. Child A's Mother said once she dropped Child A off at the center with Ms. Armour and Child A was not receptive to going into the center. However, there was a second time when another teacher was at the door and Child A was happy to go with her. Child A's Mother and Child A's Father said that Child A has come home and said that Mr. Armour yelled or got mad at her. She has said that Ms. Armour is mean and that she does not like her. Child A's Mother said no one at the center has ever brought any concerns to her regarding Child A's behavior, therefore, she wonders why Child A's would continue to say these types of things. Child A's Mother provided me with permission to interview Child A during my visit at the center. On 01/14/2021, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection at the facility. I interviewed child care staff members; Iman Warrick and Jeannine Immonen, Child A; program director, Dawn Richardson and assistant director, LaTonya Dozier A forensic interview was attempted with Child A; however, she was unable to tell truth from lie. Child A was very pleasant and talkative during the interview. She said she liked coming to the center and she was able to name all the caregivers in her classroom. Child A said Ms. Armour was not present because she was at home for the day. Child A said that Ms. Armour is not really nice. She said if she or other 3 classmates get in trouble, they must hold Ms. Armour's hand and walk with her. Child A also said that if she gets in trouble she must sit down. Child A than said, "Ms. Armour hit me on my arm, pointing to her wrist, and it hurt." She was not able to describe the events that lead to the hit or explain what she was doing when the incident occurred. Ms. Dozier said she has never witness Ms. Armour hit Child A or any child. She has no concerns with the way Ms. Armour treats the children at the center. Ms. Dozier said it is not uncommon for Child A to describe a staff member as mean, as when she does not get her way, she will say things like, "your being mean or I'm mad". Ms. Warrick is a caregiver in the classroom with Ms. Armour. She said Ms. Armour is good teacher and she does not believe that she would do anyth

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