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Daycare worker arrested for child neglect in Cocoa

A Cocoa daycare worker was arrested on child neglect charges Tuesday after surveillance footage showed her abusing children at M&M Community Academy. “I thought she was checking on her. Maybe she got a little frustrated and did it by accident or something, but when she came back, she just moved a chair. She wasn't trying to check on her at all,” said Sammisha Anderson, the mother of 2-year-old Malani Cunningham and aunt of 3-year-old Journi Smith, as she expressed her frustration and anger over the incident. “It makes me frustrated and angry. Children are our future,” she added. “They can't get more than you give them. To see them get upset over a child who can only get what you give them, it makes me angry. Really.” According to an affidavit, the incident happened Monday at M&M Community Academy. The daycare teacher, identified as 24-year-old Marlissa Rozzier, was seen on surveillance video hitting a child in the head with papers, grabbing another child by the arm and dragging him across the floor. Rozzier later picked up the child and forcefully carried him to a corner, where she nearly threw him to the floor. Anderson says all of this happened to her daughter and niece on a Monday, but she wasn't told about it until the next day. Shortly after Rozzier abused the children, another teacher came in and confronted her. According to court documents, the teacher heard a “thud” and went into the classroom to see what had happened. Rozzier told the teacher the “victim had fallen and everything was OK.” Daycare administrators reviewed the camera footage and notified authorities the next day. “I'm very grateful to her considering they didn't have to report it at all, but they did,” Anderson said. Anderson fears the abuse may have been going on for some time, as she is now noticing changes in the girls' behavior. She hopes the children are getting the support they need at school and urges parents to be more vigilant. “If you have children who go to daycare, interview them. Ask them how their day was. Ask how their teacher treated them. Just ask them questions. Your child could be a victim of abuse and we don't know,” Anderson said. Rozzier is charged with child neglect with aggravated assault. The investigation is ongoing.

COCOA, Florida –

A Cocoa daycare worker was arrested Tuesday on child neglect charges after surveillance footage showed her abusing children at M&M Community Academy.

“I thought she was checking on her. Maybe she got a little frustrated and did it by accident or something, but when she came back, she just moved a chair. She wasn't trying to check on her at all,” said Sammisha Anderson, mother of 2-year-old Malani Cunningham and aunt of 3-year-old Journi Smith, as she expressed her frustration and anger over the incident.

“It makes me frustrated and angry. Children are our future,” she added. “They can't get more than you give them. To see them get upset about a child who can only get what you give him makes me angry. Really.”

According to an affidavit, the incident occurred Monday at M & M Community Academy.

The kindergarten teacher, identified as 24-year-old Marlissa Rozzier, was seen on surveillance video hitting a child on the head with papers, grabbing another child by the arm and dragging him across the floor. Rozzier later picked up the child and forcibly carried him to a corner, where he was nearly thrown to the floor.

Anderson says it all happened to her daughter and niece on a Monday, but she wasn't told about it until the next day.

Shortly after Rozzier abused the children, another teacher came in and confronted her. According to court documents, the teacher heard a “bang” and went into the classroom to see what had happened.

Rozzier told the teacher that the “victim had fallen and everything was fine.”

The daycare center's directors reviewed the camera footage and notified the authorities the next day.

“I'm very grateful to her considering they didn't have to report it at all, but they did,” Anderson said.

Anderson fears the abuse has been going on for some time, as she is now noticing changes in the girls' behavior. She hopes the children in the class are getting the support they need and is urging parents to be more vigilant.

“If you have children who go to day care, interview them. Ask them how their day was. Ask how their teacher treated them. Just ask them questions. Your child could be a victim of abuse and we don't know it,” Anderson said.

Rozzier is facing charges of child neglect with serious bodily harm. The investigation is ongoing.

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