SUFFOLK, Va. — A couple is speaking out after they said an employee at the Children’s Center in Suffolk physically abused their two-year-old non-verbal daughter, Aviana Colbert.
Aviana Colbert’s mother, Asiya Ruley, said her daughter Aviana lives with sensory and a developmental delay. She learned about the possible abuse after an employee from the Children’s Center notified her about it on March 28, 2024.
“Why would you do this to her? What possess you to do this to Aviana,” said Ruley.
Ruley said she reached out to Child Protective Services (CPS). She said CPS informed her that a teacher, Sherita Branch, had allegedly abused her child on four different occasions throughout March.
Ruley said she learned from CPS that Branch withheld food from Aviana, dropped her on the ground for swinging her arms, forced food down her throat and on one occasion, she learned Brown allegedly picked up her daughter by her arm and threw her on the couch.
“[I] can’t even think of the words right now, but betrayal. It’s almost covered up the fact that they befriended me while abusing my daughter,” said father Brandon Colbert.
A spokesman with the Children’s Center wrote a statement:
“The safety of every child is our highest priority at The Children’s Center, and we take any negative reports about the care of our infants and toddlers very seriously. When we became aware of allegations surrounding the treatment of a two-year girl at our 300 Executive Court location in Suffolk, we commenced an internal investigation. The child was not physically injured, but we determined that the teacher’s conduct was not in alignment with our standards. That teacher is no longer employed by The Children’s Center.
The Office of Head Start, the Virginia Department of Education, and Virginia Child Protective Services are conducting their own reviews. We are fully cooperating with these agencies, and we await their findings.
On March 29, we had an in-person meeting with the child’s mother and other close family members to review their concerns about classroom interactions and respond to their questions. Additionally, video camera footage of the interactions has been provided to the oversight agencies.
In addition:
· We are aware that the family has filed misdemeanor charges against the teacher, and we will assist Suffolk police if requested to do so.
· The Children’s Center performs background checks on all employees and did so in this case.
To all the families who entrust their children to us, please be assured that we are committed to nurturing and educating them in a highly professional environment. To that end, we are conducting additional staff instruction on safety and reporting protocols.”
Suffolk Police said Sherita Branch faces assault and battery charges. She has a hearing scheduled for April 9, 2024.