A mother in northeast El Paso is demanding answers after alleging that her 4-year-old daughter was physically abused by a teacher at the Isaac Camacho Head Start Center. Valentina Aguilar claims her daughter, Marilyn, returned home with bruises on her arm, stating that the teacher grabbed and dragged her. The incident prompted an investigation by both the El Paso Police Department and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). The Head Start program has since stated that the employee involved is no longer with the program and that corrective actions have been taken, including staff training and increased internal monitoring.
A mother in northeast El Paso has launched an investigation after alleging that her 4-year-old daughter was physically abused by a teacher at the Isaac Camacho Head Start Center. Valentina Aguilar said her daughter, Marilyn, came home with bruises on her arm, claiming her teacher had grabbed and dragged her. Aguilar said, 'I picked her up from school, and immediately in the parking lot, I saw that she had some purple marks on her arm.
' She provided photos taken on August 26 of last year, showing bruising on Marilyn’s forearm and upper arm. Aguilar took Marilyn to William Beaumont Army Medical Center for a medical exam conducted three days later. A medical report provided by Aguilar stated bruises were consistent with forceful grabbing and described the marks as 'bruising in the shape of 2 fingers of the left forearm with approximately 5 to 10% color change remaining with slight yellowish character and is otherwise resolved.'\Aguilar reported the incident to the El Paso Police Department and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). According to documentation she provided, DFPS found 'reason to believe' that physical abuse may have occurred, a formal determination in their investigative process. On that same document she provided, another finding states a second physical abuse allegation was 'ruled out'. The case was later referred to the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to the school's location on military property. Aguilar said, 'My daughter, throughout the course of this, didn't change the story. And she clearly tells the investigator, ‘The teacher grabbed me like this.’\The Head Start program released a statement saying, 'Our top priority is the safety and well-being of the children and families we serve. We take every incident seriously and adhere to strict protocols to ensure a safe learning environment. After being notified by a parent about the incident, we promptly reported it to Child Care Regulations and fully complied with all required investigation and reporting procedures. A thorough internal review followed, and we took appropriate personnel actions in accordance with our policies. The employee directly involved in the incident is no longer with our program. In situations like this, our procedures include immediately ensuring the safety of the child, notifying the appropriate authorities, conducting an internal review, and taking corrective actions. Corrective actions include: 1) Staff Training and Development—All teachers and staff received additional training on classroom practices, child safety, and program policies to reinforce expectations and prevent future incidents. 2) Parent and Guardian Communication—The program informed the Parents and guardians of children attending the center about the incident per Child Care Regulations protocols. 3) Increased Internal Monitoring—The program has implemented enhanced internal monitoring procedures, including regular classroom observations and compliance checks. We appreciate the parent who immediately brought this matter to our attention, as their vigilance reflects our shared commitment to ensuring every child's safety and well-being as we continue to uphold the highest standards of care, transparency, and accountability to provide a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for every child and family.'\Aguilar expressed frustration with the handling of the situation, stating that she received no apology or explanation from the Head Start program. 'If I hadn't pushed, I would have never found out what happened to my daughter,' she said. Aguilar continues to seek justice for her daughter and hopes for accountability from the agencies involved. 'No child deserves something like this anywhere, specifically from a place where everybody is a professional,' she said.
Physical Abuse Head Start El Paso Child Abuse Investigation Teacher School DFPS Army Criminal Investigation Division
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