I am seeking urgent help in bringing my story to the public to raise awareness among parents about the deeply troubling treatment I received from a daycare in my community. Despite my efforts to address these concerns directly with the daycare, the board and reporting to OCFS, I have been met with complete disregard and a lack of any apology or accountability.

As a parent, I cannot and will not sweep this matter under the rug. It is crucial that other families know how this establishment handles parents who voice concerns or ask important questions. I am determined to ensure my experience serves as a warning to others and sparks a conversation about the standards we should expect from those entrusted with our children's care.

I hope my story resonates with those who share my values and believe in the importance of holding these institutions accountable. I strongly feel that publishing this in the paper or online could help protect other parents and their children from experiencing the same mistreatment.

 
I am writing to share a distressing series of events that took place at First Step Daycare. I have repeatedly encountered negligence, unprofessional behavior, and mistreatment from the daycare staff, and after exhausting all options with the daycare’s Board, I feel compelled to bring this to the public’s attention unless appropriate accountability and action are taken.Apart from other series of events that have taken place this situation has left ne deeply trouble and unsettled.
Yesterday, around 4:30 PM, after picking my son up from daycare, I discovered that two of his belongings were missing and for the second time, money I had provided for him was gone. When I brought this to the staff's attention, I was brushed off and gaslit, with staff insisting that I never provided money despite having photographic evidence. Marsha then pulled money from an unknown source and aggressively handed it to me, rudely saying “good-bye.” When I explained that it was not about the money but the principle of my son’s money missing twice while everyone else’s envelopes were accounted for, I was further insulted by a teacher named Kymera Phillipus. She loudly expressed in front of my son and Anais Bigelow the primary teacher in my son's class “we don’t have time for an immature ass adult.” This confrontation was voice recorded.
To make matters worse, two keepsake pictures and my son's first worksheet, which I had specifically asked Savaun Frankson to preserve months ago before my son moved to the Pre-K class, were discarded without my knowledge. I had been assured that these items would be moved to the Pre-K room and retrieved on his last day. Savaun Frankson later denied that I had requested these items and claimed they were thrown away, despite my clear communication about their importance.
Despite reaching out to the daycare’s Board regarding previous issues, I have received no solutions or accountability. This ongoing situation has been both stressful and traumatizing for me and my son.
My son’s last day of daycare was set for Friday, August 23rd. However, after the incident where I was gaslit and insulted for advocating for my child, Ms. Jackson terminated his enrollment effective August 22nd. This felt like a personal attack and a subtle punishment, depriving him of the opportunity to spend his last day with his friends before transitioning to his new daycare. It also affected my ability to work effectively the following day.
I am sharing my story in hopes that it will prompt an appropriate response and prevent other families from experiencing similar mistreatment.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Below is the first letter submitted to the President of Board Karrie Mccollouch who has not responded to me with any explanation of how this has been addressed or handled. No apology has been made for traumatic experience this has caused me.

On July 25th, Sasha Jackson, Executive Director of First Step Day Care, Inc., informed me that my son had two incident reports. We discussed these reports, and while she initially seemed concerned and understanding, she also mentioned that my son had experienced two other incidents two months ago and had shown behavioral changes. I expressed my frustration, explaining that I always ask his teachers about his day when I pick him up, regularly message on ClassDojo, and visit Ms. Jackson’s office almost daily to discuss my son's progress and concerns. Despite my efforts, the staff consistently reassured me, telling me my son was doing very well or that he was just a typical three-year-old.
On July 26th, I dropped my son off at daycare around 8:30 AM. I spoke with one of the first teachers I encountered  Kyler's Phillipus and expressed to her that I would like her to keep an eye on my son and ensure he has a good day. I then went to the second teacher, Samantha Murdock, who was in the classroom, and asked if she made the incident report from the previous day. She said no, and I said, "No worries, it may have been one of the other teachers. Please keep a close eye on my son and make sure he has a good day."
Approximately ten minutes later, Sasha called me and said, “I heard you were accusatory toward my staff.” With grave concern and nearly in tears, I explained, “No, Sasha, I calmly asked Samantha if she had made a report," reiterating exactly what I told Samantha to Sasha. When dropping off my son, I was visibly upset due to the previous day’s conversation and the incident reports. My intention was to gain more perspective from the teacher since Sasha is not frequently in the classrooms.
Sasha dismissed my explanation entirely and responded, “Hm, okay, because Samantha was upset and said you were accusing her of reporting you.” I reiterated, almost crying and feeling intimidated for asking about my three-year-old son, “Sasha, I do not want any issues. The last thing I want to do is create problems with the people who work at my son’s daycare. I’m just a concerned mother trying to understand what happened. If Samantha didn’t write the incident report, then it’s fine. I wasn’t angry or anything, I promise.” Sasha ended the call abruptly. This exchange made me feel that I wasn’t supposed to ask questions or understand what was happening with the incident reports. Such pushback from an Executive Director when inquiring about a child’s welfare is concerning. Staff like Sasha Jackson should not be working at First Step Daycare if they are perceived to be abusing their authority.
On Monday, July 29th at 9:44 AM, after dropping off my son, I met with Sasha Jackson to discuss the incidents from Thursday, July 25, 2024. My primary concern was to review the camera footage to get a clear perspective on what happened, as written reports can sometimes be inaccurate or incomplete. Additionally, I wanted to address the lack of documentation and transparency regarding other incidents that occurred without my knowledge. I am seeking to understand why certain situations, which may have seemed minor to the teachers, were not recorded or communicated to me until my son had two incident reports. This situation raises concerns for me about the possibility of other undocumented incidents occurring while my child is in the care of First Step Daycare. The lack of documentation, regardless of how minor, suggests that there could be other situations that I am unaware of. I came to Sasha on Monday in need of clarification on why these issues were not brought to my attention sooner.
During our conversation, I was shocked by Sasha’s response to her staff’s failure to keep me informed about the incidents from two months ago. Ms. Jackson stated that she is not her "staff’s babysitter" and cannot control their actions. She also disclaimed any responsibility for her staff’s failure to report incidents, which left me feeling unsupported and dismissed. As the Executive Director, she is responsible for her staff, and their failures reflect on her and the educational system. Admitting her inability to control or direct her staff is very alarming. Additionally, I am concerned about the staff at First Step Daycare, as one of the teachers in my son's class frequently dresses inappropriately, wearing clothes that would be deemed unsuitable for even high school students. I do not want my son to be exposed to this kind of attire, which can be distracting and unprofessional.
When I expressed my concerns, Ms. Jackson abruptly cut me off, saying, (quote from our recorded conversation) “I think you need to sit there and listen to what you're saying because your son has to be here all year round. I’m not saying my staff will mistreat your son, but you need to listen to what you’re accusing my staff of doing. No one is going to want to watch your son or be around your son if you’re accusing us.”
This response was both unprofessional and deeply troubling. This unveiled threat from the Executive Director of a daycare that my three-year-old attends leaves me unsettled and in fear of what type of treatment he will experience in daycare. Instead of addressing my concerns with empathy or providing a plan to resolve the issues, Ms. Jackson became defensive and aggressive. She offered no solutions or apologies on behalf of her staff.
This lack of accountability and care has severely impacted my trust in receiving honest and accurate feedback about my son's day-to-day experiences at this daycare.
I am very frustrated by this situation and feel there is a severe lack of professionalism and concern from the Executive Director. As a parent, I expect transparent communication and a supportive approach to addressing any issues involving my child.

While changes have been made and my son has successfully transitioned to a new daycare, I feel it is imperative to share my experience with First Step Day Care in Watertown, NY. My goal is to ensure that no one at this establishment believes that situations like mine can be easily dismissed.