Former teacher at Jacksonville day care facing child abuse charges

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A now-former day care teacher is facing charges “in relation to an injury sustained by a child,” in the program, according to a statement from the day care’s owners.

Aaryanna Gilmore, 21, of Ponte Vedra, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated child abuse and child abuse - personal/special weapon, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

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The details of the arrest report are heavily redacted, but did state that JSO was called to the Wolfson Children’s ER on Town Center Parkway.

An officer met with a representative from the Florida Department of Children and Families who said they were investigating an assault with injuries.

An X-ray was also done on the victim, but the details of the injuries were redacted in the report.

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Action News Jax confirmed that the incident that led to Gilmore’s arrest involved Kiddie Academy of St. Johns, which is located in Jacksonville. Owners Joe & Rita Geronimo sent us the following statement:

“On March 13, 2023, in relation to an injury sustained by a child in our program, we became aware that a staff member acted in a manner contrary to operational procedures and our core values. The matter was reported and investigated by the appropriate authorities. As a result of their investigation, the supervising teacher was formally charged in the matter. The teacher is no longer employed at the academy.

“We are a local, family-owned independent business and care deeply about the children in our care and our community. There is nothing more important than creating a nurturing and safe environment for the children in our care, and their families – it is our life’s commitment.

“Our team is dedicated to sound leadership decisions, swiftly addressing concerns, aligning with local licensing bodies and ensuring that the trust of each family is earned and maintained. We will continue to fully cooperate with local authorities during their ongoing investigation.”

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