Incident investigation·February 12, 2025

On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Josiah Gathing and Staff Attorney Adam Bentley met with Director Nicole Moran-Estrada, to follow up on a self-reported Unusual Incident submitted to Licensing on February 10, 2025. According to the Unusual Incident Report (UIR), a child attempted to hit a teacher and the teacher grabbed the child by the arm and sat him down. LPA conducted interviews and reviewed a video record. Staff stated in interview that the teacher was terminated after video of the incident was reviewed. Staff stated in interview that they did not have previous concerns about the teacher's treatment of children. LPA reviewed video footage of the incident. The footage showed a teacher grabbing a child near the wrists and walking him backward after the child attempted to hit the teacher. An administrator entered the room, crouched next to the child, and spoke with the child. The child then attempted to strike the teacher again and when the teacher grabbed the child again the child dropped to the floor and the administrator intervened. Upon reviewing this footage and conducting interviews, LPA determined that the incident violated the personal rights of the child. Therefore, based on record review and interview, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, and the allegation is substantiated. An exit interview was conducted and a notice of site visit provided. Notice of site visit shall remain posted for 30 days. Title 22 deficiencies are cited on the subsequent pages of this report. Director acknowledges, that FOR TYPE A DEFICIENCIES ONLY upon receipt, licensee shall post LIC 809-D with Type A deficiencies for 30 days and provide copies of this licensing report to parents/guardians of children in care at the facility and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. LIC 9224 must be signed by parents/guardians and kept with the children's forms as a receipt whenever any Type A documents are provided by the licensee. LIC 9224 and Appeal Rights were provided. Director's signature on this report acknowledges receipt of these rights. This report was reviewed with the Director. An exit interview was conducted. A Notice of Site Visit was provided and shall remain posted for a period of 30 days. Continued on LIC 809-C... Upon receipt, Director shall post and provide copies of this licensing report to parents/ guardians of children who are currently enrolled as well as parents/ guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility during the next 12 months. Parents/guardians must acknowledge receipt of this report and citation by signing a LIC9224, “ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF LICENSING REPORTS”. A copy of this form should be placed in each child file upon receipt from parent. LPA discussed this report with Director and conducted an exit interview. LPA also provided appeal rights.