BELLEVILLE — A former employee at a daycare/preschool claims she was harassed and fired for reporting alleged child abuse to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Katrina Sharpe filed a complaint July 9 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Shelton TCB Inc., doing business as My Little School, alleging whistle blower retaliation.
According to the complaint, Sharpe began working as a teacher's assistant at the My Little School daycare and preschool in July 2019. She alleges in her complaint that on May 5, she saw a young child being "physically abused" by a teacher. On the same day, Sharpe reported the alleged abuse to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She claims that the next day a representative from the state followed up with the complaint, and she was "demoted" to housekeeper.
Sharpe also claims that she had a medical note from her doctor for her work absence on May 11, but the school "would not accept" the note and gave her a 10-day suspension. She alleges she was "constructively discharged" on June 4 when she was supposed to return from her suspension. Sharpe claims in her suit that her firing and harassment was "a direct and proximate result" of her reporting the school to the state's Department of Children and Family Services.
Sharpe seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000 and all other proper relief. She is represented by Matthew Young of Kuehn, Beasley & Young PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-524