Elite Preschool & Learning Center

I feel like me and my son are being personally targeted and retaliated against because I attempted to hold my son’s daycare accountable. Because I refused to accept subpar care for my child. Because I held his daycare to a standard level of care that is outlined in the AZDHS rules and in their own policies. Because I feel like he deserves to be in a SAFE environment. Because I expect to get what I am paying for. Because THEY don’t feel I DESERVE to get what I paid for. Because they thought they were doing me a favor by watching my son. Because I am a young, black, (EDUCATED) single mother.
I enrolled my son at Elite Preschool and Learning Center in Tolleson, AZ and I have never experienced such discriminant, negligent, and -considering it is also a church- unChristian-like behavior. I moved from the East Valley to the Westside in October, and after checking the daycare out I thought it would be a great place to put my son so I placed my name on the waiting list. It was at church so my son could receive a Christian-based foundation, it was close to home, it had a seemingly loving, family atmosphere and it was a decent price. Little did I know I was sadly mistaken.
On his first day at the daycare, one of the classroom teachers gave my son milk, to which he is extremely allergic. IT COULD HAVE KILLED HIM. Not only did she give it to him but the teacher NEVER EVEN KNEW HE WAS ALLERGIC. I outlined this in ALL of his paperwork and told the Director, Karon S[redacted] directly. There is no excuse for the incompetence of the staff other than the fact that the director did not do her job of making sure everyone was educated and aware to ensure my son’s safety. This is CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Additionally, when Karon called me she completely minimized the incident. She mentioned that it was unacceptable but said my son only had a little bit and they had responded to it quickly by giving him Benadryl and his emergency inhaler immediately and that he was fine. She did not sound urgent or make it seem as if he was doing or responding badly to his treatment.
When I arrived at the daycare I spoke to the director, Karon. She informed me she didn’t know that his allergies were really so severe (even though I wrote it down and spoke with her about it. Apparently she needed my son to almost die to believe me or understand the true meaning of the terms severe and life-threatening).
When I went to the classroom my son was sitting on the classroom floor at the feet of a teacher crying. She tells me he has been “crying all day.” What?! At what point is it okay for a child to be crying all day? Why wouldn’t you call me? That is not normal or okay. And, if that is the case, why wouldn’t you be attempting to soothe him? We make it to the car and I realize that he’s not crying because he missed me, he’s crying because HE CAN’T BREATHE. No one cared enough to notice and to tend to this issue by giving his rescue inhaler or contacting me. I felt as a parent I was not given all of the facts or accurate information to make the best decision possible for the health and safety of my son. It is obvious that he was not just given "a little bit" and if he had already broken out in hives it meant that it was not immediately treated and if his breathing was that arrested it meant that the milk had been in his system long enough for his respiratory system to be compromised. Additionally, they did not provide me an incident report, which is required by law, that outlined the actual event and they still to this day claim not to really know what exactly happened. And when they did provide the report 3 days later it had no details about the event and Karon attempted to backdate it as if it had been completed the day of the incident. All night I was up giving him breathing treatments and comforting him due to the negligent act of the daycare. By the next morning I had finally gotten him to a stable condition for school. And the next day I still had to leave work early because his breathing had worsened again.
I completed my enrollment packet, filled it out with all the required information, included multiple documents detailing my sons life-threatening asthma, food allergies to milk/dairy and peanuts, and medications he needs. I paid my tuition. Provided a change of clothes as outlined. AND I went over all of these things with the daycare director when I submitted my documentation. They accepted it, stating that his allergies and asthma would not be a problem. As a mother I did everything to ensure the daycare was in the best position to take care of my son. BUT STILL ON THE FIRST DAY ONE OF THE STAFF ALMOST KILLED MY SON. Then when I asked for some sort of compensation for the events that occurred throughout the week (this wasn’t my only concern) the director had the audacity to tell me that they watched my son for 7 hours that day and she didn’t feel like I warranted a refund. As if my son being there for 7 hours makes up for the fact that he almost died. She literally said if it was that serious to me I should’ve came and picked him up sooner. I have never been so offended. Especially because I was not given all the information I needed to make the best decision for my child. For a director to almost KILL my child by giving him something he was deathly allergic to tell me that her NEGLIGENCE did not warrant ANY sort of refund for the service I PAID for. She even charged me a $25 late fee because I was awaiting this follow up conversation on the discount.
I work too hard to pay someone to neglect my child. I am middle teacher in a low-income area, by choice, and a part-time college professor with a Master’s Degree in Education. I choose to work in low-income communities because that is where I received my education and I want to give students a positive role model that they can relate to. I have dedicated my professional career to helping people, to helping children, to helping underserved populations. If I were to neglect a child in any way I would be held accountable. Why did she feel they could neglect my child and it would be okay? Do they do this to other children? Is this how everyone at this church is? Why is it that I make it my mission to be the best teacher I can: I bring food for children who can’t afford to eat, I buy clothes, I give time, I give money, but, most importantly, I DO MY JOB. And I can’t get the people I PAY to provide me the service I AM PAYING FOR? 1/3 of my income goes to childcare. And worse than that, I was hospitalized for pneumonia and out of work for the last 3 weeks with no pay. The day they almost killed my child was my first day back to work. AND I just started working nights part time so that I could try to recover from being off for 3 weeks with no pay; which means 3 days a week I see other people’s kids more than I see my own; my son’s daycare sees my son more than I do and they CHOOSE to mistreat him?
I filed a complaint with the Department of Health about this matter and THE VERY NEXT DAY, my son is neglected again, almost dies, and gets KICKED OUT of the daycare. Apparently he had some reaction to “something” and his asthma flared up. They called me at work and by the time I get there my son’s breathing is so arrested that I instantly take him the ER. I video recorded his breathing and the doctor said he’s glad I brought him in right away because he could’ve almost died. Why wouldn’t they send him by ambulance and tell me to meet him at the hospital? It took me an hour to find a substitute (because I can’t leave a class unattended; if so, then I would be held accountable for not doing my job) and rush back to the daycare. He could’ve stopped breathing. He could’ve had low oxygen saturation and wasn’t getting enough oxygen to his brain. He could’ve been brain damaged. This is child endangerment.
While I’m dealing with my son’s health, the director calls me and tells me that “It’s in Noah’s and their best interest that I do not bring him back anymore”… While I am on my way from the ER… After they almost let my son die... They have the audacity to call me and kick him out of daycare!?! The excuse they gave was “We don’t feel like we are able to take care of Noah the way he needs” - I 100% agree- Then they tell me they are only going to refund me for the remaining days of the week. Unacceptable. When I pay for the beginning of the week I cannot prorate the time he’s going to be there and pay you only a portion, so I don’t only want a portion of my money back. Not only is this unfair and wrong, but I have no notice and I need to find a new daycare, pay a new enrollment fee, a new tuition, in addition to the fact that NOW he is so sick that I have to take days off of work to again clean up the mess the daycare has made. Who’s going to pay for that? My job is still docking me for being out for 3 weeks with pneumonia. All I asked was to have back the money I paid for a service I did not receive. After reading in her own policy handbook and, realizing that she has to give me prior notice, she tells me I can bring my kid back Thursday and Friday. As if she was doing me a favor. I paid for those days. You’re not doing me any favors. BUT I will ABSOLUTELY NOT be bringing my child back here when they just said they don’t feel like their daycare is not equipped to can take care of him. What type of mother would I be to continue to put my son in negligent situations? Especially when you explicitly said you are unable to do it?
Furthermore, the director maintained an extremely prideful and nonchalant disposition throughout my dealings with her, being terribly stubborn, inconsiderate, and cold. Nothing about her response to this situation was that of a true leader or any person that should be in the customer service industry.
When I enrolled I outlined my son’s medical history, they accepted his application, and my payment and now are saying they cannot take care of him -and have not taken care of him- but will not refund my money.
That is not a resolution. That is not a compromise. That is not consideration. That is not Christian. This is retaliation. This is wrong. If I were white it would be a different story. If my son’s father came into the daycare, this would be a different conversation. But I am a young, black, single mother and they felt that for some reason I didn’t warrant what they promised to provide my child. What I PAID them to provide my son. What I work so hard for every day. They felt they didn’t have to see me as a person. That they were above being held accountable. That ultimately my son’s life doesn’t matter. That my son’s wellbeing is somehow worth less or costs more than everyone else’s child. Who do my son and I have to be to get what I PAID for? To not have NEAR DEATH experiences every week? Obviously, my son can’t be who he is: a thriving, vibrant, articulate, young black boy whose mother works day and night trying to be productive in the world so that it can be a better place while he’s in it.
I am looking for a lawyer and I plan to sue; possibly press charges. But I also want to make sure that other people know how this daycare conducts business. Especially since their primary interest is not the health and safety of the children they service.

I feel like me and my son are being personally targeted and retaliated against because I attempted to hold my son’s daycare accountable. Because I refused to accept subpar care for my child. Because I held his daycare to a standard level of care that is outlined in the AZDHS rules and in their own policies. Because I feel like he deserves to be in a SAFE environment. Because I expect to get what I am paying for. Because THEY don’t feel I DESERVE to get what I paid for. Because they thought they were doing me a favor by watching my son. Because I am a young, black, (EDUCATED) single mother.

I enrolled my son at Elite Preschool and Learning Center in Tolleson, AZ and I have never experienced such discriminant, negligent, and -considering it is also a church- unChristian-like behavior. I moved from the East Valley to the Westside in October, and after checking the daycare out I thought it would be a great place to put my son so I placed my name on the waiting list. It was at church so my son could receive a Christian-based foundation, it was close to home, it had a seemingly loving, family atmosphere and it was a decent price. Little did I know I was sadly mistaken.

On his first day at the daycare, one of the classroom teachers gave my son milk, to which he is extremely allergic. IT COULD HAVE KILLED HIM. Not only did she give it to him but the teacher NEVER EVEN KNEW HE WAS ALLERGIC. I outlined this in ALL of his paperwork and told the Director, Karon S[redacted] directly. There is no excuse for the incompetence of the staff other than the fact that the director did not do her job of making sure everyone was educated and aware to ensure my son’s safety. This is CHILD ENDANGERMENT. Additionally, when Karon called me she completely minimized the incident. She mentioned that it was unacceptable but said my son only had a little bit and they had responded to it quickly by giving him Benadryl and his emergency inhaler immediately and that he was fine. She did not sound urgent or make it seem as if he was doing or responding badly to his treatment.

When I arrived at the daycare I spoke to the director, Karon. She informed me she didn’t know that his allergies were really so severe (even though I wrote it down and spoke with her about it. Apparently she needed my son to almost die to believe me or understand the true meaning of the terms severe and life-threatening).

When I went to the classroom my son was sitting on the classroom floor at the feet of a teacher crying. She tells me he has been “crying all day.” What?! At what point is it okay for a child to be crying all day? Why wouldn’t you call me? That is not normal or okay. And, if that is the case, why wouldn’t you be attempting to soothe him? We make it to the car and I realize that he’s not crying because he missed me, he’s crying because HE CAN’T BREATHE. No one cared enough to notice and to tend to this issue by giving his rescue inhaler or contacting me. I felt as a parent I was not given all of the facts or accurate information to make the best decision possible for the health and safety of my son. It is obvious that he was not just given "a little bit" and if he had already broken out in hives it meant that it was not immediately treated and if his breathing was that arrested it meant that the milk had been in his system long enough for his respiratory system to be compromised. Additionally, they did not provide me an incident report, which is required by law, that outlined the actual event and they still to this day claim not to really know what exactly happened. And when they did provide the report 3 days later it had no details about the event and Karon attempted to backdate it as if it had been completed the day of the incident. All night I was up giving him breathing treatments and comforting him due to the negligent act of the daycare. By the next morning I had finally gotten him to a stable condition for school. And the next day I still had to leave work early because his breathing had worsened again.

I completed my enrollment packet, filled it out with all the required information, included multiple documents detailing my sons life-threatening asthma, food allergies to milk/dairy and peanuts, and medications he needs. I paid my tuition. Provided a change of clothes as outlined. AND I went over all of these things with the daycare director when I submitted my documentation. They accepted it, stating that his allergies and asthma would not be a problem. As a mother I did everything to ensure the daycare was in the best position to take care of my son. BUT STILL ON THE FIRST DAY ONE OF THE STAFF ALMOST KILLED MY SON. Then when I asked for some sort of compensation for the events that occurred throughout the week (this wasn’t my only concern) the director had the audacity to tell me that they watched my son for 7 hours that day and she didn’t feel like I warranted a refund. As if my son being there for 7 hours makes up for the fact that he almost died. She literally said if it was that serious to me I should’ve came and picked him up sooner. I have never been so offended. Especially because I was not given all the information I needed to make the best decision for my child. For a director to almost KILL my child by giving him something he was deathly allergic to tell me that her NEGLIGENCE did not warrant ANY sort of refund for the service I PAID for. She even charged me a $25 late fee because I was awaiting this follow up conversation on the discount.

I work too hard to pay someone to neglect my child. I am middle teacher in a low-income area, by choice, and a part-time college professor with a Master’s Degree in Education. I choose to work in low-income communities because that is where I received my education and I want to give students a positive role model that they can relate to. I have dedicated my professional career to helping people, to helping children, to helping underserved populations. If I were to neglect a child in any way I would be held accountable. Why did she feel they could neglect my child and it would be okay? Do they do this to other children? Is this how everyone at this church is? Why is it that I make it my mission to be the best teacher I can: I bring food for children who can’t afford to eat, I buy clothes, I give time, I give money, but, most importantly, I DO MY JOB. And I can’t get the people I PAY to provide me the service I AM PAYING FOR? 1/3 of my income goes to childcare. And worse than that, I was hospitalized for pneumonia and out of work for the last 3 weeks with no pay. The day they almost killed my child was my first day back to work. AND I just started working nights part time so that I could try to recover from being off for 3 weeks with no pay; which means 3 days a week I see other people’s kids more than I see my own; my son’s daycare sees my son more than I do and they CHOOSE to mistreat him?

I filed a complaint with the Department of Health about this matter and THE VERY NEXT DAY, my son is neglected again, almost dies, and gets KICKED OUT of the daycare. Apparently he had some reaction to “something” and his asthma flared up. They called me at work and by the time I get there my son’s breathing is so arrested that I instantly take him the ER. I video recorded his breathing and the doctor said he’s glad I brought him in right away because he could’ve almost died. Why wouldn’t they send him by ambulance and tell me to meet him at the hospital? It took me an hour to find a substitute (because I can’t leave a class unattended; if so, then I would be held accountable for not doing my job) and rush back to the daycare. He could’ve stopped breathing. He could’ve had low oxygen saturation and wasn’t getting enough oxygen to his brain. He could’ve been brain damaged. This is child endangerment.

While I’m dealing with my son’s health, the director calls me and tells me that “It’s in Noah’s and their best interest that I do not bring him back anymore”… While I am on my way from the ER… After they almost let my son die... They have the audacity to call me and kick him out of daycare!?! The excuse they gave was “We don’t feel like we are able to take care of Noah the way he needs” - I 100% agree- Then they tell me they are only going to refund me for the remaining days of the week. Unacceptable. When I pay for the beginning of the week I cannot prorate the time he’s going to be there and pay you only a portion, so I don’t only want a portion of my money back. Not only is this unfair and wrong, but I have no notice and I need to find a new daycare, pay a new enrollment fee, a new tuition, in addition to the fact that NOW he is so sick that I have to take days off of work to again clean up the mess the daycare has made. Who’s going to pay for that? My job is still docking me for being out for 3 weeks with pneumonia. All I asked was to have back the money I paid for a service I did not receive. After reading in her own policy handbook and, realizing that she has to give me prior notice, she tells me I can bring my kid back Thursday and Friday. As if she was doing me a favor. I paid for those days. You’re not doing me any favors. BUT I will ABSOLUTELY NOT be bringing my child back here when they just said they don’t feel like their daycare is not equipped to can take care of him. What type of mother would I be to continue to put my son in negligent situations? Especially when you explicitly said you are unable to do it?

Furthermore, the director maintained an extremely prideful and nonchalant disposition throughout my dealings with her, being terribly stubborn, inconsiderate, and cold. Nothing about her response to this situation was that of a true leader or any person that should be in the customer service industry.

When I enrolled I outlined my son’s medical history, they accepted his application, and my payment and now are saying they cannot take care of him -and have not taken care of him- but will not refund my money.

That is not a resolution. That is not a compromise. That is not consideration. That is not Christian. This is retaliation. This is wrong. If I were white it would be a different story. If my son’s father came into the daycare, this would be a different conversation. But I am a young, black, single mother and they felt that for some reason I didn’t warrant what they promised to provide my child. What I PAID them to provide my son. What I work so hard for every day. They felt they didn’t have to see me as a person. That they were above being held accountable. That ultimately my son’s life doesn’t matter. That my son’s wellbeing is somehow worth less or costs more than everyone else’s child. Who do my son and I have to be to get what I PAID for? To not have NEAR DEATH experiences every week? Obviously, my son can’t be who he is: a thriving, vibrant, articulate, young black boy whose mother works day and night trying to be productive in the world so that it can be a better place while he’s in it.

I am looking for a lawyer and I plan to sue; possibly press charges. But I also want to make sure that other people know how this daycare conducts business. Especially since their primary interest is not the health and safety of the children they service.