A Los Angeles father says his 6-year-old daughter was struck across the face by a teacher's aide at a local charter school in December, leaving a visible ring-shaped mark and a lot of unanswered questions about how the school handled it. The family says the aide stayed on campus after the incident and that school leaders tried to play the whole thing down. They have scheduled a press conference for Monday, March 23, at 12:30 p.m., and the father says he has already reported the case to child-welfare authorities and wants a full investigation.
Allegations from the family
In a statement, Malik Brinston said his daughter Amina, a first-grade student, was "backhanded across the face" by an aide identified as Ms. Friarson in December 2025, leaving a distinct impression from the aide's ring, according to 2 Urban Girls. Brinston told the outlet that a staff member named Mrs. Cunningham saw the strike and reported it to the school principal, the superintendent, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
He says DCFS visited the campus and spoke with Amina in December, and that the family now wants both law enforcement and district officials to take action. Brinston maintains that the school did not treat the allegation with the urgency it deserved and that his daughter was left shaken by what happened.
School response and whistleblower claims
Brinston alleges the school principal brushed off the report, describing the allegation as the work of a "disgruntled former employee," and that the staffer who reported the incident was later fired, according to statements released by Project Islamic Hope and reported by 2 Urban Girls. Local activist Najee Ali and Project Islamic Hope circulated the family's statements, accusing the school of trying to cover up the incident and breaking faith with parents who expect their kids to be safe at school.
The family is calling for an independent review of how the charter handled the allegation, from the initial report to the treatment of the staff member who spoke up, and wants clearer accountability from campus leadership.
About the school
ISANA Nascent Academy is listed by the Los Angeles Unified School District as a K-8 independent charter school in Los Angeles, according to the LAUSD school directory. The school serves grades K-8 and operates as an independent charter within LAUSD's network.
The family's allegations have put a spotlight on how much oversight exists at the campus level and how charter operators, along with the district, respond when parents say staff have crossed the line with students.
What happens next
The family scheduled a press conference for Monday at 12:30 p.m. to push for answers, potential disciplinary action, and a public explanation of how the incident was handled. Public reports did not immediately make clear whether law enforcement has opened a criminal investigation or whether the school has issued any formal public statement in response.
The family says it plans to keep pressing the school, the district, and child-welfare authorities until it gets a fuller accounting. We will continue to watch for developments from the press event and any subsequent statements from officials.
