Kindergarten Teacher Accused of Locking Girl in Closet and Going Home

A kindergarten teacher in Memphis, Tenn., is being accused of locking a student in a closet and forgetting about her after she went home sick.

Kristin Ohsfeldt teaches at A.B. Hill Elementary and allegedly punished 5 year old, Akeelah Joseph on Tuesday by locking her in a closet as punishment.

Deanna Williams, whose granddaughter is also in Ohsfeldt’s class, said

“[My granddaughter] also said that the teacher is a nice teacher but when the teacher puts them in there for time out that she gives them a book, she gives them beads to count and it’s just a time-out, but my concern was why we weren’t informed,” Williams told WAFB-TV.

In Akeelah’s case, it was more than a time-out. It seems Ohsfeldt went home sick andforgot to let Akeelah out or inform her fellow employees

A substitute teacher finally found the girl and released her.

Akeelah’s mother, Wanda Joseph and the school’s principal filed a police report about the incident.

Ohsfeldt was suspended with pay. The Shelby County School system, Memphis police and the state Department of Children’s Services are all investigating the incident