Preschool teacher accused of making kids stand naked in closet as punishment

A teacher at an Illinois preschool is accused of disciplining 4- and 5-year-old children by making them take off their clothes and stand in a closet.

According to KMOV-TV, police said the 26-year-old teacher, who works for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Head Start program at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis, would order the children to stay in the closet, naked, for up to 10 minutes.

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Authorities believe the teacher used the punishment on four boys, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Officials placed the instructor and a 41-year-old assistant, who allegedly saw but failed to report the teacher's behavior, on paid administrative leave, the Post-Dispatch reported.

University police Chief Kevin Schmoll said charges could be filed in the case, according to KMOV.