On November 8, 2024, second grade students at Denman Elementary School in Quincy Illinois had floor marking tape, a thick plastic material with adhesive designed to stay affixed to hard surfaces such as gym floors, put over their mouths by their P.E. instructors, Kim Kirby and Jennifer Oitker. The instructors wrote “No Talking” on the tape and told the students that they had to keep the tape across their mouths for the rest of the school day. Some students had the tape over their mouths for at least two hours. This incident prompted an investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The DCFS report indicates “about 40 children” were known to have had tape put over their faces. At least some of the students involved are known to have various diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum. At least one student had a diagnosis of asthma, and taping over an asthmatic student's mouth could be potentially life-threatening.

Again, DCFS reports approximately 40 children were thought to have been involved in the 11/08/2024 mouth-taping incident, however, it appears there is only an interview from one student included in the report, and that interview does not indicate the mouth-taping incident was even discussed; that student's interview revolves around a spanking incident. That student was interviewed on November 13, five days after the taping incident occurred.

If DCFS did not see any of the students until five days after the event, what is their basis for concluding the tape did not leave any marks, bruises, or other injuries and did not cause pain? How would they conclude that if they didn’t interview virtually any of the students involved?

It’s also reported Kirby and Oitker were spanking elementary school students in their P.E. classes. It is documented these instructors have confirmed both the taping and the spanking have occurred. Kirby admitted that “birthday spankings are a tradition that she has done for a long time.” When asked about the tape being placed on the students' mouths, Oitker stated “this has been done for ‘a couple of years.’” The DCFS documentation also notes “it was reported that several staff members reported the concerns to the prior principal, but nothing was being done about it.”

They say the students have been allowed to also spank these adults. It has been reported that on or about October 22, 2024, multiple students were allowed to spank Kim Kirby fifty times for her birthday, in front of two classrooms of students. Jennifer Oitker reported, “[the students] whack us all the time.” Multiple students have been too afraid to celebrate their birthdays at school because they do not want to be spanked. It has occurred that some students have not told these staff members it was their birthday, but the staff found out and spanked them anyway. 

The present principal of Denman Elementary, Amber Whicker, has been aware of the taping and spanking reports. The past principal, Chrissy Cox, was aware. The Quincy Public School’s Superintendent, Todd Pettit, is aware. The parties that were never made aware are most the parents of the students involved. Many parents did not know about the taping incident or spankings until Muddy River News released an article on May 27, 2025 - six months later. 

Since that time, QPS has performed their own investigation process with parents and students who have come forward, although there was at no point any effort made by QPS to encourage families to be aware of the situation or come forward. The interviews were performed internally by QPS staff, not by any impartial or professional third party. Per the QPS District 172 website, the Complaint Manager for QPS is Ryan Whicker, husband of Amber Whicker. No documentation of the interviews was provided to the parties who were interviewed.

After their own investigation, QPS released a statement to the Quincy community stating although the November 8 incident did occur, it is their opinion that no incidents have occurred since that date, so they consider this “problem solved” and are not planning to take any further action in the matter. Kirby and Oitker remain employed in Quincy Public School District 172. 

We are not satisfied with the QPS District 172’s inaction.

Todd Pettit writes, “We stand firmly behind our staff and reject baseless accusations that harm their reputation and integrity.” What about the integrity of the staff members who have been reporting these incidences for years? Additionally, why does he think of this as “a personnel matter” and prioritize the reputation of the adults involved instead of first and foremost the students, and their parents - who on top of being to whom the most ethically imperative duty is owed, are also the sole basis of why a public school district exists at all?  

We don’t think the incidents stopped in November, as it is believed on or about May 23, 2025, many students were spanked on the last day of school. One day prior to the release of QPS’s statement, the QPS School Board heard a parent relay her child had tape put over her mouth around Easter 2025. Even if it were the case all these unwanted behaviors did cease in November 2024, per the educators’ own statements, these behaviors had been their common practices for years.

We don’t care if it was “all in good fun,” or who thought it was a “joke,” or a “game,” or how many of the students “were asking for it” - any adults who cannot be trusted to not threaten children with putting tape over their mouths, who actually do tape kids’ mouths, who spanks kids and encourages kids to spank adults in a “reciprocal turn-based play” method, who uses disparaging remarks towards children who do not wish to “play” with them, or in any way manipulate or coerce children into misunderstanding their own bodily autonomy, personal boundaries, and self-esteem should not be entrusted to care for minor children. 

We ask that for the safety, reputation, and integrity of the students and families involved, these two staff members are terminated from Quincy Public Schools. We further would seek to have their Educator Licensure revoked. We want a full investigation into how long these taping and spanking incidents have been documented, which members of QPS staff have known, and all courses of action be taken by any agencies available to root out who has been minimizing and dismissing these abuses. We allege that insofar, QPS IL-Dist 172 is complicit and guilty of administrative misconduct.

PLEASE HELP US KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE BY SIGNING AND SHARING THIS PETITION. 


Related content:

DCFS report: Denman Elementary physical education teachers gave ‘birthday spankings’, taped students mouths shut - Muddy River News

Parents address Quincy School Board about Denman debacle - Muddy River News

QPS responds to “misinformation” tied to Denman staff conduct - Quincy Herald-Whig

Letter to the Editor: “Do better, QPS” - Muddy River News

Letter to the Editor: Grooming often starts subtly - Muddy River News

Video: Quincy Public School District 172, Statement