4yr old suffers burns during after-school program
Posted/updated on: October 5, 2025 at 4:59 pm
WHITEHOUSE — A mother’s trust was shattered when she discovered her 4-year-old son, a high-functioning autistic child, had suffered second-degree burns while under the care of an after-school program. According to our news partner KETK, on Sept. 18, Marcella Boles, a mother from Whitehouse ISD, reported that she picked up her 4-year-old son from the Mentoring Alliance after-school program at Brown Elementary, finding burns on his arm.
She mentioned that her son, who is high-functioning autistic student, had been placed in a janitor’s closet by a staff member from Mentoring Alliance due to misbehavior. She has seen video evidence showing that Emma Souder took her son to the closet multiple times, locking him in there alone.
Whitehouse ISD has confirmed the incident occurred on school grounds and are cooperating with the investigation. Mentoring Alliance uses the district’s facility but does not work directly with them.
Upon discovering the situation, Boles took her son to the ER, where doctors diagnosed him with second-degree burns extending from his wrist to his shoulder.
“There are multiple abrasions where he got a hold of what’s called an easy trap that has a sticky substance and multiple disinfectants. He stuck it to his arm, tried to pull it off, and ended up pulling his skin off,” Boles detailed.
Boles is pursuing charges against the staff member for child neglect, child abuse and emotional and mental abuse.
In a statement to KETK News, Mentoring Alliance announced that the staff member involved was immediately terminated following an internal review, and the incident was reported to Child Protective Services in collaboration with the school district.
In response to the incident, Mentoring Alliance is implementing additional measures to enhance staff experience, reduce group sizes, and improve training. The nonprofit operates after-school programs in seven East Texas school districts.
[Marcella Boles]
Boles noted that her child had attended the after-school program for a month, and she would typically receive phone calls if her son was experiencing difficulties.
“They’ve called me and said, ‘Hey, this is what we’re seeing. These are the actions that we’re seeing with him. How would you handle this? That’s what I’m looking for, and I’ll let them know and he has a great rest of the day. She didn’t do that,” Boles said.
Determined to protect her child, Boles expressed her hope that such an incident does not happen to anyone else. “My job as a mother is to protect my kids, and I’m going to protect anyone else’s that I can too,” Boles said.
Read the full statement from Mentoring Alliance:
“Recently, a safety violation occurred in one of our after-school program locations in Whitehouse, Texas. One of our part-time staff members responded to a challenging behavioral situation in a way that did not align with our policies or standards. When Mentoring Alliance became aware of the situation, we conducted a careful internal review, immediately terminated the employment of the staff member involved, and filed a report with Child Protective Services in partnership with the school district.
We recognize that some of what has been shared publicly does not reflect the full facts of the situation. We are currently working with district leaders and the family to clear up misunderstandings and remain committed to open communication with both.
At Mentoring Alliance, we currently serve over 2,000 kids and families daily, and our top priority is always to ensure the success and well-being of each child entrusted to our care. We have taken additional steps by adding experienced staff, reducing group sizes, and strengthening training so our team is better equipped to respond to safety needs and behavioral challenges.
We are grateful that the family involved has continued to entrust us with their child and that they continue to thrive in our program today. Just as with every family in our programs, we are committed to walking alongside them with care, humility, and our very best efforts to ensure each child experiences a safe, supportive, and life-giving environment.”
Mentoring Alliance
