Another Grovetown day-care worker charged over treatment of child

GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Big Blue Marble Academy, a day-care center in Grovetown that came up in the news almost two months ago, is at the center of attention again.

A terminated employee was arrested and charged over her treatment of a 3-year-old – something that comes just a little over a week after a worker at another Grovetown day-care center was charged with simple battery.

In the latest incident, the Grovetown Police Department was ed by a concerned parent who reported that their child had been injured Monday by an employee at Big Blue Marble, 1001 Grove Landing Way, according to Police Chief Jamey Kitchens.

The parent said they had arrived to pick up their 3-year-old, who was visibly upset and stated that she had been “hurt” by a teacher.

The parent then spoke with the director of the day-care center, who advised that an “incident” had taken place earlier between the child and the teacher, Tieasha Stokes, 33.

The director then allowed the parent to watch a video, which depicted Stokes approaching the child from behind and picking her up by her right arm/armpit area and walking her to a chair, according to Kitchens.

Stokes then picked the child up with two hands under the armpits and forcibly sat her down into a chair, Kitchens said.

The child suffered minor abrasions.

Officers met with the director, Holly Mullins, of Big Blue Marble on Thursday, and watched the footage, according to Kitchens.

Mullins confirmed that Stokes had been fired on the date of the incident.

A warrant for second-degree cruelty to children was secured for Stokes and she was taken into custody Friday morning at her residence in Martinez and then transported to the Columbia County Detention Center, according to Kitchens.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information concerning this event, or others, is encouraged to the Grovetown Police Department at 706-863-1212.

The business made the news in early March when we reported that Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning reported there had been numerous violations reported since July.

The violations range from cleanliness to inappropriate discipline.

Between July 2023 and March 2024, said the day-care center had seen 18 different violations with Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning.

Officials say a number this high is rare. The state average within these eight months is normally two violations.

And last week, an employee at Next Generation Learning Center in Grovetown was accused of pushing a 1-year-old down with her foot. Lataya Regine-Monae Davis, 26, of Grovetown, was charged with simple battery.

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