Daycare Workers Charged With Not Reporting Abuse

Originally published at 2:00 p.m., May 5, 2008
Updated at 9:03 a.m., May 6, 2008

Three employees of an Ashburn daycare facility have been charged with failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

Linda E. Smith, 53, of Reston, Estrella Levy, 35, of Dumfries, and Adrienna Ballato, 28, were charged with the unclassified misdemeanor on April 28, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said today. All three are managers at the KinderCare Learning Center on Waxpool Road.

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Authorities said Smith, Levy and Ballato allegedly had knowledge of possible child abuse that took place at KinderCare on Jan. 15. A third-party witness told authorities that a teacher was seen shaking a toddler, and the three KinderCare managers were informed of the incident but didn't report it.

“We hold the safety and welfare of our children in the highest regard, and we expect our caregivers to do the same,” sheriff's spokesman Kraig Troxell said.

The charge is punishable by a fine up to $500.

Correction: This story was changed to reflect an error in the originally published version. The sheriff's office initially said the incident occurred Jan. 22, but corrected the date on Tuesday to Jan. 15.

Comments:

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I was a former employee at this center of whom with other colleagues had stressed to the management that there were serious concerns of child abuse in this center - none of which were taken seriously until we got KLC Corporate involved. The children involved - parents should seek legal advice against KLCm as Corporate KNEW about this incident as well.

It is sad and disgusting to me that any person would abuse a child - especially at a daycare center where our primary responsibility is the welfare of the children in our care.

Good Riddance to this horrible employees.

Posted by reese.oreo (anonymous) on May 5, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My wife and visited this center 14 years ago when our first child was born. During our visit, one of the employees, who was rocking a child in the infant/toddler room, rocked over a crawling childs hand (rockers instead of gliders instead of rockers in a room with crawling infants -- red flag #1!). If that wasn't upsetting enough to my wife and I, her reaction to the screaming child ("Oh, you're gonna be fine!") made us IMMEDIATELY turn and leave the building while the director was in mid-sentence. My wife cried all the way home and we ended up hiring a nanny.

Posted by whatpartofillegaldontyouunderstand (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by wassy2 (anonymous) on May 7, 2008 at 9 a.m.

Wassy,

Same thing happened at our center off Waxpool (the one in the news article), once those teachers began to unite and threatened the management for not filing reports two of my colleagues were placed on suspension and one removed from her job. WHILE the teachers who were committing the abuse were left in the center, and suspended for 1-2 days "pending the investigation".... The Director at that time went as far as to tell parents not to listen to these claims and that the teachers being suspended were not creditable.

I am sure this will not be the last we hear about in the news concerting this center. And i am happy that the management's "cover up" is now coming to light.

Posted by reese.oreo (anonymous) on May 7, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess my only commetn here would be for the 2 previous KinderCare employees...Do you not realize that if YOU knew (and both os you said you did know) about something going on at these centers or any other place and you did not report it to CPS that you are just as gulity? Telling a manger does not alleviate your responsibility in telling the authorites..WOW... how dumb can you be?

Posted by angelgyrl (anonymous) on May 7, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not sure that name calling is needed - seems a little immature to be honest.

AND a social services case was opened and social services was contacted by my colleagues and parents of some of the center children after the initial report. So Yes. Authorities were notified. As was KLC Corporation Regional & District Managers (you can go to the social services website yourself to see the claims in writing by Susan Smith).

Loudon County Sheriff's Department CAME to the center and interviewed employees and management.

So please. unless you know the story in its entirety. Lets not assume that you are anyone to be calling people "dumb".

Posted by reese.oreo (anonymous) on May 7, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

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