Teachers accused of vaping, closing kids in closets at Nashville daycare

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - WSMV4 has recently been investigating safety concerns at Mid State daycares — more information has been released about a Nashville facility that was shut down in April when a teacher brought a loaded gun to school.

The Academy of McCrory Lane was put on lockdown and police were called out to the scene, but it wasn’t until she watched the news that night that parent, Whitney Walter, learned a teacher was arrested, accused of bringing a loaded gun and making threats to shoot up her child’s pre-school.

“No organization should operate this way,” said Walter.

Unable to get answers, Walter started a petition on April 24 demanding a town hall with the director. The next day she says her 3-year-old was kicked out.

“She said, ‘that’s right. I’m disenrolling your daughter. I will refund you this week’s daycare. Please come get your daughter, goodbye,’ and she hangs up on me,” said Walter.

It was a sort of blessing in disguise for Walter who got a head start on searching for alternative care because one day later The Academy of McCrory Lane was shut down by the Department of Human Services and more than 100 families were left in the lurch.

“So, as of Friday morning, every parent at that facility had no childcare,” said Walter.

WSMV4 filed an open records request with DHS and found that parents and teachers had concerns for months

Among the complaints that were filed with DHS: were teachers cussing at kids, sleeping on the job and lying about changing diapers when they hadn’t.

With no proof, DHS determined those complaints to be unfounded, but there were also complaints about teachers vaping in classrooms and shutting kids in closets.

DHS investigated and found those things were happening and the daycare implemented safety plans as a result.

“Isn’t someone watching that? Doesn’t someone see that there’s someone putting babies in a closet,” said Walter.

WSMV4 has learned a group called Never Grow Up Inc. owns The Academy of McCrory Lane.

They also own several other facilities all across the Mid State.

WSMV4 called, but before we could ask a question, the person who answered said “No comment, I don’t talk to the news” and hung up.

It’s raising even more concerns for parents like Walter who think their experiences and the documented issues at The Academy of McCrory Lane speak to a larger problem.

“There is not enough childcare for parents,” said Walter.

It means they can’t afford to be picky even though they are shelling out thousands.

Those parents say at a minimum, they want safety, but based on what we’re finding they now question whether they’re getting it.

“Something has to happen and something has to change,” said Walter.

After the gun incident DHS said that for The Academy of McCrory lane to open back up, they had to hire an experienced director and provide training for staff members.

Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.