Teacher Faces Suspension Over Soiled Diaper

A longtime teacher faces suspension for using a garden hose to wash a young student with soiled pants.

The pre-kindergarten student (age 3 or 4) reportedly had a toilet-training accident during outdoor playtime Oct. 28, school officials report.

Stephanie Wilson, 53, the child's teacher, reportedly asked a plant operator at the school for gloves and a water hose. The group then went to the side of the building, where Wilson removed the child’s pants and dirty diaper. She hosed the child off with a gentle amount of pressure, and the plant operator used a towel as a privacy screen, according to a report signed by Wilson. She then put the pants back on the child and went to the classroom, where she changed the child into a fresh diaper.

Teachers are encouraged to have a toilet training schedule in their classrooms, and many of the young students are self-sufficient when given supplies, said Pinellas County Schools spokeswoman Andrea Zahn. All rooms are equipped with gloves, wipes, diaper pails and diaper liners.

Part of the pre-K curriculum, Zahn stressed, "is teaching self-care and hygiene."

"If a child has an accident, most classrooms have bathrooms, and the teacher, assistant or child development associate will assist the child with changing and help with the clean-up if necessary," Zahn said in an email.

Wilson, formerly a second-grade teacher at Dunedin, has been at the school since October 1981. This is her first year teaching pre-K, according to school officials.

"This teacher used poor judgment in this incident and regrets it terribly," Principal Kathy Brickley said in a statement to Dunedin Patch. "This is not a typical occurrence. We have an incredible pre-K department at our school. The staff members are very caring and supportive."

Wilson faces a 10-day suspension without pay, pending Pinellas County School Board approval at its meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The school board finds Wilson in violation of:

• Failure to perform the duties of the position (3140 A [9a])
• Inappropriate or disparaging remarks to or about students or exposing a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement (3140 A [13])
• Conduct unbecoming a board employee that brings the district disrepute or that disrupts the orderly processes of the district (3140 A [21])
• Misconduct or misconduct in office (3140 A [22])
• Failure to comply with board policy, state law or appropriate contractual agreement (3140 A [24])