NJ Pre-K Administrator Threatened 4-Year-Olds With Knife, Cops Say

PLAINFIELD — A Camden County woman is facing charges after police say she threatened children at a preschool where she worked as an administrator.

Adetokunbo O. Akinnaso, a 64-year-old from the Sicklerville section of Winslow, was working as the administrator of the Dusk to Dawn preschool at the time of the incident, according to acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan.

The school provides services to public school children.

The incident occurred when two 4-year-olds were taken to the woman's office for "disciplinary reasons," according to Monahan. Akinnaso then pulled out a knife and threatened to hurt them if the behavior continued, the prosecutor said.

The children were not injured during the incident, according to the prosecutor. The woman surrendered on Tuesday and was released pending an initial court appearance. She has been charged two counts of fourth-degree cruelty or neglect of children.

Plainfield interim superintendent Ronald E. Bolandi said the district was aware of the incident "and is working collaboratively with the owner of the preschool center." Bolandi said Akinnaso has been removed as the director of the school "and will not be returning to the preschool."

"This requirement was necessary in order for the owner to continue her contract with the district," Bolandi said.

The superintendent said that while the district has a contract with the school it is not involved in the hiring of its staff. He said the "we do provide the resources necessary for our students to attend the centers."

A woman who answered the phone at the school on Wednesday said they had no comment on the matter.