Highland mom says teacher shoved soap in son’s mouth at daycare as state moves to shut facility
The mother said a witness reported the incident at Stepping Stones at the Park, a Highland Central School District UPK provider that the state is trying to shut down.
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A Highland mother says she was stunned when Child Protective Services told her a daycare worker allegedly forced soap into her young son’s mouth while he attended a Universal Pre-K daycare.
Julianna Norris says her son attended Stepping Stones at the Park through Highland Central School District’s UPK program from September until December 2025. She says her son, who has ADHD and an individualized education program, began exhibiting out-of-character behaviors she had never seen at home before he was eventually removed from the program in December.
Norris says a CPS caseworker came to her home on June 17 and told her that a witness reported in April seeing a teacher put soap into her son’s mouth, causing him to vomit before he allegedly licked the floor to get the taste out of his mouth. She says the daycare never notified her about the alleged incident.
“I was just appalled. There were so many things triggering in my mind. Is this why he was acting this way? Is this why he came home so many days crying and upset?” Norris said.
Online records from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services show the agency is now moving to take away Stepping Stones’ childcare license.
State records show the facility was cited in April for violations involving supervision, child-to-staff ratios, failure to report abuse and failure to notify parents following a serious incident—violations listed by OCFS as substantiated complaints. Records also show the daycare has received an additional 19 violations dating back to 2024.
News 12 also found Stepping Stones remains listed as an approved UPK provider for Highland Central School District. The district says it is aware of the investigation and is looking into the allegations.
State Education Department officials told News 12 that school districts choose their own UPK partners and can end those partnerships if needed.
The daycare owner tells News 12 she is working with state regulators to review the allegations and ensure compliance, and says some information circulating publicly is inaccurate, but declined to answer specific questions, citing an ongoing review.
Norris says she hopes speaking out encourages other parents to research childcare providers before enrolling their children.
“I thought going into the UPK program would be something good for him,” she said. “It just seems like it was the complete opposite.”
