Mom Alleges Preschool Teacher Struck Her 3-Year-Old Autistic Son

Maricopa resident Kyanna Long expressed her distress following an alarming incident involving her three-year-old son, Dakeyes Mootherly, at Sunrise Preschool. The incident, which took place on September 10, reportedly involved a teacher slapping the boy, who has autism. Long’s mother, who picked up Dakeyes that day, recounted how he demonstrated what transpired by slapping himself on the face.

Despite the child’s alarming revelation, the family initially received no notification from the preschool regarding the event. However, the following day, a message from a relative of a preschool employee confirmed their fears, stating, “Yesterday, the lady there slapped your grandson in the face.” This prompted Long to seek further clarity.

A witness, identified as Vanessa Robinson, came forward, stating her niece, an employee at Sunrise Preschool, had witnessed the incident. Robinson shared that her niece had reported various troubling behaviors at the preschool but feared retaliation for speaking out. According to Robinson, the employee described incidents including pinching children and inappropriate disciplinary methods, such as soaking children’s hands in vinegar to deter nose-picking.

Following the alleged slapping incident, Robinson encouraged her niece to report what she had witnessed. However, the niece claimed Sunrise asked her to keep the matter confidential and pressured her to submit a written statement regarding the slap. “My boss told me it doesn’t leave the daycare,” she recounted, expressing her shock at the situation.

In response to the incident, Long visited the preschool on September 11 to seek answers. She inquired about video surveillance and requested information on why she had not been informed of the incident sooner. According to Long, the director was dismissive, admitting only, “I’m sorry I dropped the ball.”

Frustrated by the lack of accountability, Long took her concerns online to warn other parents. Her post detailing the incident rapidly gained traction, being shared over 800 times as other parents recounted negative experiences at the same preschool, including children returning home with unexplained bruises.

The distressing event has left Dakeyes feeling fearful about returning to school. “He’s on the autism spectrum and he’s nonverbal,” Long explained, emphasizing the struggle for her son to communicate his feelings. “He’s telling us he doesn’t want to go to school because he’s scared.”

While Long recognizes that there may be dedicated educators at the preschool, she insists on the necessity for changes in staff and management. As a proactive measure, she is now looking for alternative preschool options for her son. “He’s so innocent and sweet and he loved school until this happened,” she lamented, sharing her guilt over placing him in an environment she believed to be safe.