Roshanne Mark accused of violence against children at Way to Grow daycare in Patchogue

A former East Patchogue kindergarten teacher became violent with the toddlers in her care, dragging two 3-year-olds by their arms and hitting a third in the back of the head, authorities said Saturday.

Suffolk County police said they arrested Roshanne Mark, 33, of Bohemia, around 9:30 a.m. after a weeklong investigation into the alleged Oct. 17 incident at the Way to grow daycare center at 655 Montauk Highway.

She was charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

The daycare was closed Saturday and a left message left on the voicemail service was not immediately returned.

Way to Grow, owned and operated by The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk Inc., according to their website: has failed an inspection from the state Office of Children and Family Services, which oversees child care facilities, the day after the alleged incident.

The child welfare organization cited the center, which cares for 150 children, 16 infants, 30 toddlers, 52 preschoolers and 72 school-age children, for violating eight rules — including a ban on corporal punishment, and using disciplinary tactics that “scare making, humiliating or humiliating a child and not immediately reporting the incident to the Central Register of Child Abuse and Abuse, according to the state agency’s website.

According to records, inspectors visited Way to Grow three more times in 2024. In April the center underwent an unannounced inspection. In May, a complaint to the agency found children were being left without competent supervision, but another visit by the agency following a complaint found no violation. The child care facility was also cited in December 2022 for not having a health plan available for on-site staff and again in March 2023 for a lack of sufficient staff, according to the state website.

Marks could not be reached for comment. She is expected to be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip later this week.