The owner of The Goddard School in Edwardsville plead guilty to willfully failing to report suspected child abuse.
Barbara A. Burrows was charged on Nov. 17 by State’s Attorney Thomas Gibbons. She plead guilty that same day.
According to the criminal complaint, Burrows willfully failed to report suspected child abuse on July 1, 2015. She was required to make a report when there was reasonable cause to believe a child may be abused or neglected.
Burrows’ bail was originally set at $5,000 before she was granted one year of court supervision as part of her plea agreement. No other charges will be sought.
She also must “provide internal training to staff as a condition of the supervision related to the requirements for reporting under DCFS guidelines.”
Burrows is the owner of The Goddard School in Edwardsville.
Her online profile states that she is “committed to providing an environment that is safe, loving, nurturing and enjoyable for learning.”
Burrows has more than 15 years of human resources experience. She previously worked in the Chicago area for companies such as ConAgra, Ecolab, Kohler and GE Osmonics before she moved to Edwardsville.
According to a business profile in the Illinois Business Journal, Burrows worked as director at AFB International in Wentzville, Mo., before opening The Goddard School franchise in Edwardsville in 2008.
Burrows manages sales, marketing, finances and daily operations for the Edwardsville location. The school has approximately 35 employees and more than 170 students.
The Goddard School’s website describes the program as a school for infants and toddlers that teaches children through “play-based activities.”
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-CM-2787