Texas daycare accused of operating toddler 'fight club'

A daycare in Fort Worth, Texas, is facing a lawsuit seeking more than $1 million after a substitute teacher allegedly encouraged two 4-year-old children to fight and threw one child to the floor.

Heather and Richard Harris filed the lawsuit against Arka Montessori Academy of Risinger, following an April 27 incident involving their 4-year-old son. According to the lawsuit and findings from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the incident occurred toward the end of the school day after the child was moved into a combined classroom.

At around 4:30 p.m., the child was placed in teacher Jacqueline De Luna’s classroom as classes were combined. While De Luna’s back was turned, another boy approached the child and struck him in the back, prompting a brief fight between two children. 

De Luna separated the children and picked up the other boy, who was the son of substitute teacher Chynia Johnson. Johnson entered the classroom to provide coverage while De Luna used the restroom, and Johnson’s son subsequently pushed the other child in the chest.

At one point, Johnson allegedly grabbed the 4-year-old by the arm and dragged him toward her son while encouraging the boy to kick and hit him. Johnson then threw the child, causing him to fall onto the hard floor. Surveillance footage captured the incident.

According to Fox 4, the child faced bruising and scratches on his arms, post-traumatic headaches, and anxiety that has made it difficult to attend daycare.

“Their trust was violated when the safe environment they were promised turned into a child fight club," the complaint stated.

The incident prompted an investigation by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s Child-Care Licensing Division. The agency cited Arka Montessori for multiple violations, including prohibited disciplinary methods and failing to ensure caregivers were protecting children properly. The lawsuit also noted that the daycare accumulated 16 citations since it opened in January 2024.

The Harris family is seeking over $1 million in monetary damages. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident.