Latest news with #BrightfromtheStart
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Georgia testing workplace bonuses to address early learning educator shortages
Across the United States, schools are dealing with a teacher shortage. The State of Georgia is investing $17 million to reward, and keep, the best teachers. The initiative, which comes from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, gives $500 workforce bonuses for childcare teachers and staff. Officials say they think the program is the first of its kind in the nation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] For students at the Quadralingual Academy in Smyrna, young students are soaking up the sounds and words of a science lesson. Except it's sometimes in French. TRENDING STORIES: Man pretending to make DoorDash delivery tries breaking into woman's apartment Mother describes horrifying moments as she watched her SUV burst into flames along GA 400 DeKalb BBQ restaurant manager's house burns down while rushing son to ER They also learn English vocabulary everyday, as well as Spanish and Chinese. 'By the end of the year, students are able to connect words and make simple phrases,' Zena Hadjaz, a teacher there, said. 'It's a rewarding job.' She told Channel 2's Linda Stouffer she loves teaching the preschoolers. Jessa Depew is the founder of the Quadrilingual Academy, a private school in Smyrna. Depew told Channel 2 Action News that beyond the teacher support, DECAL connects more than a dozen families with tuition assistance 'For the state to be abel to support all families who pay taxes, it's really helpful to our mission,' Depew said. Hadjaz said she does it so the kids can 'open their minds to the different cultures.' Click here to learn more about Georgia DECAL's Bright from the Start for Pre-K. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia day care worker allegedly dosed toddlers with Benadryl for nap time
FORSYTH, Ga. (WJW) — A Georgia day care worker is charged with giving toddlers in her care Benadryl to make them sleepy for nap time. 4 charged in death of 5-year-old boy in hyperbaric chamber explosion The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said the incident allegedly happened on March 5 at the Forsyth Methodist Church day care, but wasn't reported to authorities until March 9. A news release on the sheriff's office Facebook page said the children given the drugs were about 2 1/2 years old. According to the dosing chart on Benadryl's website, the medication is not to be given to kids under 2 and should only be given to kids ages 2 to 5 with the guidance of a doctor. The news release states that a co-teacher at the day care allegedly saw Kendasia Hugley give the toddlers Benadryl. The co-teacher then reported it to the day care director. 'The Director did not report the incident to the Bright from the Start program until March 9, 2025 at 8:00 pm. This was after Facebook postings were made about this incident,' the news release reads. Texas man accused of murdering fiancé searches, 'Can I kill an illegal human' Video footage from the day care and witness accounts backed up the claims, the sheriff's office said, and warrants were then issued for Hugley's arrest. She turned herself in to police on March 10 and has been charged with reckless conduct. According to the sheriff's office, more charges could be filed. Additional suspects could also be charged. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
Metro Atlanta preschool teacher pinched, locked children in bathroom for misbehavior, parents say
A beloved preschool teacher in Decatur is under investigation after multiple parents accused her of getting physical with their children and locking them in a bathroom when they misbehaved. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The allegations came from parents with children at East Lake Early Learning Academy, which has a partnership with the YMCA and serves as a feeder school to Drew Charter School. Multiple sources told Channel 2′s Michael Seiden that the accused teacher 'grabbed' and 'pinched' their arms and locked them in a bathroom when they didn't listen to her. Channel 2 Action News isn't identifying the teacher because she hasn't been charged with a crime. A spokesman for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning confirmed that the academy filed a report with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services on Tuesday. 'The center just entered a required report to DFCS about an email from a parent in the 3-year-old classroom,' wrote Reg Griffin, Chief Communications Officer for DECAL. 'The parent advised the program that her child had a scratch on her arm and that her child advised her that the teacher grabbed her child by the arm, causing a scratch.' Griffin added that the report will be screened by DFCS and it will follow through to determine if an investigation by DECAL is warranted. TRENDING STORIES: Caught on video: Man accused of murder attacked in court by victim's family members GA care home employee knocked down 82-year-old patient who later died in the hospital Conservative groups hold own 'Latino Day' at State Capitol, support ICE operations around GA Channel 2 Action News reached out to the YMCA of Metro Atlanta and it issued the following statement: 'Yesterday, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta was made aware of a potential situation involving a teacher at the East Lake Early Learning Academy. As soon as we were informed, we followed standard protocols by promptly contacting the Bright from the Start state agency overseeing the program to ensure the matter was reviewed appropriately. Child safety remains our top priority at the Y, and we are committed to providing the East Lake community youth with a safe and supportive environment to learn.' Channel 2 Action News reviewed state records that show the school is in 'good standing.' But there have been problems in the past. Records show that the school was ordered to pay fines to the state following investigations in 2020, 2021 and 2022, which were all self-reported. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] On January 16, 2020, an investigation revealed that a two-year-old child was strapped into a wooden chair while crying. 'The teacher was observed to place a knee on the back of the chair, causing the child's chest to be pressed against the table,' wrote the investigator. 'The staff member asked the child,' Want to go cry in the bathroom?' The child was then locked in the restroom while being strapped to the chair for 26 minutes. The child was allowed out of the restroom, but remained strapped in the chair.' Investigators also reviewed video footage from a Jan. 17 incident that showed another staff member's misconduct. 'A staff member took another child's open hand and hit a two-year-old child in the face twice and on the back multiple times,' wrote the investigator.' The current director was not in charge of the school when it was investigated in 2020.
