Virginia preschool teacher fired after CCTV shows tying toddler to chair, school says no harm found

A Virginia preschool teacher has been fired after a security camera captured an unidentified staff member tying a 21-month-old child to a chair with a blanket in a VINCI School Alexandria North classroom, officials confirmed.

The incident occurred Aug. 13, 2025, during lunch, and the report indicates the child was bound to the chair for about 22 minutes beginning around 11:40 a.m. The footage shows the chair restraint unfold while another adult entered the room but did not untie the child, according to the report verified by local outlets.

The school defended its actions as a serious mistake but said no harm occurred. In a statement to WUSA9, VINCI School Alexandria North principal Dr. Dan Yang said, "In child care there are many things that are not black and white. However, we are a very firm believer that regulations and rules must be followed regardless of our feelings to the person in question." He added that the staff member had violated regulations, but there was no evidence of abuse or harm.

The staff member’s actions drew scrutiny from VINCI School’s leadership and state regulators. Kristina Milam, the school’s regional director of operations, told WUSA9 that while the employee was with the school for more than four years and was well regarded by families, accountability remains paramount: “While we appreciate her past contributions, every individual must be accountable for their actions, and maintaining a safe, compliant environment cannot be traded off.”

The Virginia Department of Social Services opened an investigation after receiving a tip from the day care licensing office about questionable actions at VINCI School Alexandria North. The department’s review found that VINCI’s policy prohibits physical restraint of children, including tying them to chairs, as a form of discipline or as a substitute for supervision. Restraint is permitted only as a last resort if a child is in danger of harming themselves or others. Local police told reporters they were notified of the incident by Child Protective Services and found no criminal activity involved.

According to the report obtained by AXLNOW, the teacher stated she did not tie the blanket tightly around the child. The report also notes that the child was not untied by the other adult in the room and that the incident occurred during lunch, a time when supervision and behavior-management practices are typically under added scrutiny. VINCI School Alexandria North, which described the action as a mistake, said it would cooperate with investigators and review its policies to ensure compliance with state standards.

As authorities assess the incident, the school emphasized that child safety remains its paramount concern and that it depends on rigorous adherence to regulations rather than discretionary judgments. NIL

The case underscores ongoing concerns about behavior-management practices in early-childhood settings and the role of surveillance in evaluating classroom safety. While the incident is not framed as criminal by authorities, it has prompted questions about training, supervision, and the adequacy of current policies to prevent restraint practices that could be misused or misinterpreted in a classroom context.