A teacher’s aide at an Inglewood daycare was fired after a video surfaced showing her hitting a 5-year-old girl with autism named Beautiful by throwing a shoe at her during naptime, the school confirmed.
The incident occurred on Jan. 9 at Destiny Development Center. Video footage shows Beautiful crawling off her mat in the classroom while the aide removes her shoe and hurls it across the room.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do it,” the aide said in the footage.
Danielle Williams, the center’s director, said the aide claimed she intended only to scare the child, not to hit her.
“The teacher did say she threw the shoe, but it was an accident. Mom said, Why would they be throwing shoes in the school? I said, You’re right. So, as a result, she’s not here,” Williams said.
Williams said she began investigating after Beautiful’s mother requested a review of the incident that occurred at the school. She spoke with other adults in the room, including a second aide and a teacher, who initially did not recall the incident, but in a written statement, their stories changed.
“I said, well, shoes should not have been thrown in the school in the first place. And you guys did not report it to me,” Williams said.
After reviewing footage from the school’s 26 cameras, Williams said all three staff members involved were terminated.
“It’s not a representation of what my school is. It’s not a representation of what we stand for,” Williams said.
In a statement, Beautiful’s mother wrote, “I’m shocked and horrified that my innocent baby was harmed and humiliated in front of everyone. This teacher should not only be fired immediately but criminally prosecuted for child abuse.” She said she wants justice for her daughter.
Williams said she also reported the incident to the relevant licensing agency, as required, and in turn, they received a violation notice.
Beautiful’s family declined an interview, but they are scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday afternoon outside the school.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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