Miami Mother Outraged After Teacher Allegedly Tapes Child’s Mouth Shut

MIAMI — A Miami mother is demanding answers after an alleged classroom incident involving her 5-year-old daughter. According to the mother, a preschool teacher placed tape over the child's mouth—a claim the teacher insists is a misunderstanding.

Lationa Sterling, the child's mother, expressed her anger and concern over the situation.

“It bothers me because, you know, that’s my child,” Sterling said.

Sterling alleges that the incident took place at Laura Park Elementary, where her daughter, Treasure, is enrolled. The situation came to light when Sterling’s niece, Jeniya, who is in the same class, told her mother what had happened.

“She had a complaint that the teacher put tape over her cousin’s mouth, and she witnessed it,” said Natasha Clay, Jeniya’s mother.

Clay explained that her daughter even reenacted the moment at home, demonstrating how the teacher retrieved the tape from a drawer before placing it on Treasure’s mouth.

“She got up, she put the drawer, the tape out of the drawer. She turned the tape and she put it over her mouth,” Clay recalled.

According to Jeniya, Treasure attempted to protest but could only make muffled sounds.

Following the complaint, the mothers say they received a text message from the teacher apologizing for the incident.

“‘I apologize 1,000 times. It won’t happen again,’” Clay said, reading the message aloud.

In the message, the teacher denied the tape was used as a punishment, claiming she first placed it on her own mouth as part of a playful interaction.

“‘Nor will I play with them again this way, but it’s because they asked for it,’” the message stated.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools confirmed that the teacher has been reassigned pending an investigation.

“The employee has been reassigned from the school setting pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations,” the district’s statement read.

Parents at the school voiced their concerns over the incident.

“It’s very scary for the child,” said Alona Rolle, a concerned parent.

Sterling and Clay have since made arrangements to transfer Treasure and Jeniya to another school.