Shepherd?s Little Hearts Academy

12005 COUNTY ROAD 59, Pearland, TX 77584 · Brazoria County

26cited violations

2serious

16inspections & investigations

0enforcement actions

Program

Type: Licensed center
Licensed capacity: 137
Ages: Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours: 09:00 AM-04:00 PM
Director / administrator: Marla Whittaker
Phone: (713) 436-0044
Regulated since: Feb 13, 2015
HHSC IDs: Operation 1152455 · number 1544827
Official record: HHSC Child Care Search

Violations by category

Illness & medication 4
Supervision & ratios 8
Safety & premises 2
Staff background & training 6
Records & paperwork 2
Other 4

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2025	2	0	Safety & premises (2)
2024	18	0	Illness & medication (4), Supervision & ratios (8), Staff background & training (2), Records & paperwork (2), Other (2)
2023	2	0	Other (2)
2022	2	0	Staff background & training (2)
2021	2	2	Staff background & training (2)

Inspections, investigations & assessments

Aug 12, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Aug 12, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Sep 23, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Safety & premises
  Six children's files reviewed out of ten had a parent listed as their emergency contact instead of an alternate adult. Two children's files out of ten reviewed were missing an emergency contact.
  
  HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-11-17. Correction verified 2025-12-23.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Sep 23, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Safety & premises
  Six children's files reviewed out of ten had a parent listed as their emergency contact instead of an alternate adult. Two children's files out of ten reviewed were missing an emergency contact.
  
  HHSC 746.605(6) — Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-11-17. Correction verified 2025-12-23.
HHSC inspection history
Aug 7, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Aug 7, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Nov 14, 2024 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation's annual sanitation inspection is not current. The last inspection was conducted on 9/12/2023. The inspection documentation was requested but not provided.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-12-02. Correction verified 2024-12-23.
- Illness & medication
  One out of ten children do not have immunization records on file for review. The immunization records were requested but not submitted.
  
  HHSC 746.613(b) — Immunization Records, Exceptions, and Exemptions Current
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-11-25. Correction verified 2024-11-21.
HHSC inspection history
Nov 14, 2024 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation's annual sanitation inspection is not current. The last inspection was conducted on 9/12/2023. The inspection documentation was requested but not provided.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-12-02. Correction verified 2024-12-23.
- Illness & medication
  One out of ten children do not have immunization records on file for review. The immunization records were requested but not submitted.
  
  HHSC 746.613(b) — Immunization Records, Exceptions, and Exemptions Current
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-11-25. Correction verified 2024-11-21.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 1, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  five out of ten employees or volunteers are missing education credentials on file for review.
  
  HHSC 746.1107(2) — Additional Minimum Qualifications for Caregivers - HS Diploma, Equivalent, Certification of Completion
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-11-13.
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation's annual sanitation inspection is not current. The last inspection was conducted on 9/12/2023.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-15. Correction verified 2024-11-14.
- Other
  In room 204, the hooks designated for the children' s belongings were not labeled.
  
  HHSC 746.4505 — Storage for Individual Belongings
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation's emergency preparedness plan does not state how children 24 months or with limited mobility will evacuate during an emergency.
  
  HHSC 746.5202(1) — Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
- Supervision & ratios
  There is documentation showing the operation's previous fire drills exceeded three minutes to evacuate the building.
  
  HHSC 746.5205(1) — Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
- Illness & medication
  Three out of ten children do not have immunization records on file for review.
  
  HHSC 746.613(b) — Immunization Records, Exceptions, and Exemptions Current
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-11-14.
- Records & paperwork
  Four out of ten employees and volunteers do not have a notarized affidavit on file for review.
  
  HHSC 746.901(4) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2985)
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 1, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  five out of ten employees or volunteers are missing education credentials on file for review.
  
  HHSC 746.1107(2) — Additional Minimum Qualifications for Caregivers - HS Diploma, Equivalent, Certification of Completion
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-11-13.
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation's annual sanitation inspection is not current. The last inspection was conducted on 9/12/2023.
  
  HHSC 746.3401(a) — Annual Sanitation Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-15. Correction verified 2024-11-14.
- Other
  In room 204, the hooks designated for the children' s belongings were not labeled.
  
  HHSC 746.4505 — Storage for Individual Belongings
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation's emergency preparedness plan does not state how children 24 months or with limited mobility will evacuate during an emergency.
  
  HHSC 746.5202(1) — Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
- Supervision & ratios
  There is documentation showing the operation's previous fire drills exceeded three minutes to evacuate the building.
  
  HHSC 746.5205(1) — Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
- Illness & medication
  Three out of ten children do not have immunization records on file for review.
  
  HHSC 746.613(b) — Immunization Records, Exceptions, and Exemptions Current
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-11-14.
- Records & paperwork
  Four out of ten employees and volunteers do not have a notarized affidavit on file for review.
  
  HHSC 746.901(4) — Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2985)
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2024-10-11. Correction verified 2024-10-11.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 11, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Other
  One caregiver had education credentials that were not translated to English.
  
  HHSC 746.1045 — Education Outside of U.S.
  
  HHSC risk weight: Low. Corrected 2023-10-25. Correction verified 2023-10-17.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 11, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Other
  One caregiver had education credentials that were not translated to English.
  
  HHSC 746.1045 — Education Outside of U.S.
  
  HHSC risk weight: Low. Corrected 2023-10-25. Correction verified 2023-10-17.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 18, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  Four out of ten employee files evaluated are missing a high school diploma or the equivalent.
  
  HHSC 746.1107(2) — Additional Minimum Qualifications for Caregivers - HS Diploma, Equivalent, Certification of Completion
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-11-01. Correction verified 2022-10-18.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 18, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  Four out of ten employee files evaluated are missing a high school diploma or the equivalent.
  
  HHSC 746.1107(2) — Additional Minimum Qualifications for Caregivers - HS Diploma, Equivalent, Certification of Completion
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-11-01. Correction verified 2022-10-18.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 20, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training Serious
  In the two year old classroom, a caregiver is present without a clear background check or eligibility notification. Note: The operation closes at 2:00 and the subject has left the operation.
  
  HHSC 745.641 — AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2021-10-20.
HHSC inspection history · no longer published by HHSC; kept here
Oct 20, 2021 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training Serious
  In the two year old classroom, a caregiver is present without a clear background check or eligibility notification. Note: The operation closes at 2:00 and the subject has left the operation.
  
  HHSC 745.641 — AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2021-10-20.
HHSC inspection history

Get the full file

HHSC publishes inspections, investigations and assessments from October 2017 onward, with each cited deficiency and its risk weight. Investigation narratives, complaint files and older history require a public information request. The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why.

Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)

Send to: HHSC Open Records Coordinator, MC-1070 · OpenRecordsRequest@hhs.texas.gov · fax 512-424-6586 · 4601 W. Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78751-3146 · agency instructions

Show the letter text

Letter text

Dear Open Records Coordinator,

Under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, I request copies of the following Child Care Regulation records for Shepherd?s Little Hearts Academy, 12005 COUNTY ROAD 59, Pearland, TX 77584-2147 (operation ID 1152455, operation number 1544827), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every inspection, assessment and investigation report, including the deficiencies cited and the operation's corrective actions.
2. Every complaint and self-report intake and its finding.
3. Every corrective or adverse action (evaluation, probation, suspension, revocation, denial, administrative penalty) with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of action or correction the operation submitted, and HHSC's response.

I understand that information made confidential by law (for example the identities of children, families and reporters) may be redacted; please release the remainder. Please provide the records electronically by email. If the cost will exceed $40, please send me an itemized estimate first.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

If something is happening now, report a concern to HHSC Child Care Regulation. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.

Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation datasets on data.texas.gov. Last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is HHSC's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan. About this data.