ATLANTA — A daycare in West End Atlanta is facing a state investigation due to alarming hiring practices that left one mother shocked and concerned for children’s safety.
The incident occurred at Angel’s Paradise Higher Learning Academy, where the mother claims she was hired on the spot without undergoing any necessary background checks or providing identification.
Speaking exclusively to 11Alive, the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous for her safety, described how she entered the daycare for a job interview on a Monday and was quickly put in a classroom full of infants and toddlers.
“I’m disgusted, and I’m disgusted as a parent,” she expressed, highlighting the trust the facility placed in her without requiring any documentation.
When she offered her ID during the hiring process, staff reportedly reassured her that it wasn’t needed at that moment.
“I asked them, ‘Do you want to take a copy of this license?’ They said, ‘No, we’ll get that later when we do the paperwork,’” she recounted.
The mother raised serious concerns, questioning how the daycare could verify that she was not a criminal or had any ill intentions.
She was assigned to a room that housed both infants and one-year-olds, describing a chaotic scene where most of the children were crying.
“I had a set of twin boys I was holding. They cannot speak, they cannot crawl, they cannot feed themselves,” she shared, emphasizing her unease about the situation.
The woman stated that her only prior interaction with the facility was filling out a brief application minutes before entering the classroom, with no fingerprints or documentation provided.
After returning the following day to discuss her employment status and salary, she was informed by a staff member that she did not work there.
When she insisted on being compensated for her time the previous day, she received only a $180 check, further heightening her suspicion regarding the daycare’s operation.
“It’s already very sketchy that you would have me in here without a background check, without a fingerprint, without any information,” the mother lamented.
Despite the questionable hiring process, she felt compelled to stay and observe the daycare due to her instincts as a mother.
“I always hear about facilities that don’t meet codes or provide proper care,” she explained.
“I’m a mother before anything. When something goes wrong, the first question people ask is, ‘What did you do?’ So I stuck around to see what was really going on.”
Records from Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) indicate that a previous inspection of the daycare on May 21 revealed no violations related to criminal background checks for the 13 staff members present at that time.
However, in light of this new complaint, DECAL has initiated a formal inquiry and has 10 days to complete the investigation.
In a statement released by officials on Thursday, they acknowledged the complaint regarding unverified staff members and categorized it as a category 3 complaint, emphasizing their commitment to thorough investigation.
“We are taking immediate steps to address this issue to ensure the well-being of everyone at the center,” the statement noted.
The investigation will involve a review of records and interviewing relevant staff members, as well as the complaining individual.
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