Lil’ Explorers Plymouth child care center, former employee sued by parents

Former Plymouth teacher charged, families hire lawyer

A total of 16 families have hired the same law firm to investigate incidents of a former teacher yelling at and pushing children at Lil' Explorers Child Care Center. FOX 9's Mike Manzoni has the full story.

PLYMOUTH, Minn. (FOX 9) - Parents of the Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center of Plymouth, whose former teacher was caught on video yelling at a child, have banded together to file a lawsuit against both the center’s parent company and the former employee, arguing for damages in its aftermath.

Lil’ Explorers lawsuit

What we know:

Parents representing 21 minor children filed the lawsuit in Hennepin County on March 4, 2026, against Cadence Education, LLC, and former employee Katie Voigt.

The lawsuit alleges that, "Plaintiffs’ worst nightmares came true when they learned that, instead of growing and learning in the environment promised [by Cadence Education, LLC], their children were "daily exposed to abusive behavior from the staff members [including Defendant Katie Ann Voigt]."

The lawsuit alleges that, in turn, the minor children "suffered and continue to suffer lasting injuries, damages, and harms from the recurring physical, mental and emotional abuse at Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center of Plymouth."

The lawsuit seeks $50,000 for each plaintiff (or parent/couple) to cover damages from the effects of "toileting regressions, night terrors, heightened fear responses, new aggression, and anxiety" among other complaints.

A full copy of the lawsuit can be found below:

Fired Plymouth daycare teacher sentenced

Dig deeper:

In July 2025, Voigt pleaded guilty to two counts of malicious punishment of a child after videos surfaced showing her screaming at toddlers and pushing a child into a table.

The videos were secretly recorded by teaching assistant Yanni Thomas, who said she was concerned about what she had witnessed in the classroom on multiple occasions.

The daycare says it fired Voigt within hours of the videos surfacing online, saying, "We do not tolerate behavior of this kind."

Plymouth daycare abuse allegations surface

A daycare in Plymouth, Minnesota, is under investigation after videos have surfaced showing a teacher yelling at and grabbing children.

As part of the plea, Voigt admits that she "intentionally grabbed the victim by the arm and pulled him up from the floor, causing him physical pain" during one incident.

During a second incident, she admits that she "intentionally and forcefully picked up the victim and then put him in a chair, causing physical pain" as part of the plea agreement.

Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center’s Plymouth location was investigated and cited three times in 2024, including twice for the way it disciplined children, according to records from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Cadence Education response

What they're saying:

A spokesperson for Cadence Education, the parent company of Lil Explorers, released the following statement on the incident:

"As we emphasized when we first learned of this incident, the safety and well-being of all of the children in our care is our top priority. At the time the incident occurred, all of our employees had passed mandated state background checks. In addition, we trained our employees extensively on maintaining safety and how to handle difficult situations in classrooms, including asking for help, offering help when it is needed, and immediately notifying management of classroom concerns. 

 "As soon as we learned of the allegations in this case, we took action and cooperated fully with all investigating authorities. The individual in this matter was held responsible for her actions, which conflicted with her training and our values.

 "We are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for our children and families we serve. While we have transitioned this location to another provider, we are thankful to our families for the privilege of caring for their children."