South Ga. daycare teacher arrested, police investigating an incident involving 3-year-old and child with autism

NASHVILLE, Ga. (WALB) — A daycare teacher at Small World Education Center has been arrested and charged with one count of cruelty to children.

According to Berrien County jail records, Debora Schlueter, was arrested on Thursday, July 16, and charged with first degree causing excessive physical or mental pain.

A woman posted on Facebook, Thursday, July 16, stating that she is the mother of the two children seen in two videos that she shared on social media.

She said in that post, “last night I got two videos. One video of *older son* being restrained by *teacher’s name* and then she proceeds to slap him in the face and another video of *middle son* where she’s grabbing him and pulling him by his arms. I thought daycare was supposed to be a safe place for kids for any other parents who has kids that goes to small world education and possibly was blinded by how nice they are at times.”

The mother shared that her older son is a 4-year-old with autism and her middle son is 3 years old. According to her, a police report was filed on Wednesday, July 15, and an arrest was made on Thursday, July 16.

Nashville Police Department said this is an active and ongoing investigation; no records were able to be provided at this time.

WALB spoke with a representative for the Georgia Department of Early Childcare and Learning (DECAL) who shared, “at this time, Child Care Services has no information in our system regarding this alleged incident.”

Following the original publication, WALB received information from parents whose children attend Small World Education Center that the daycare has been closed. We are working to confirm if this is a temporary or permanent closure.

This is a developing story. Stay with WALB on-air and online for updates.

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