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Ralph Askins Elementary introduces facility dog Henry to support student well-being
Summary
Ralph Askins Elementary staff introduced Henry, a facility dog trained through Retrieving Independence, saying the dog supports student engagement, social interaction and emotional regulation; staff described a months-long training and partnership with a nonprofit that includes inmate trainers.
Ralph Askins Elementary School introduced Henry, a facility dog placed at the school in April, saying the dog has quickly become part of the campus routine and supports students’ social and emotional needs.
Britney Barnett, the school librarian, told the Fayetteville City Board of Education that Henry joined the school in April after an extended application and training process with Retrieving Independence, a Nashville-based nonprofit. Barnett said the placement process began in August 2024 and included remote meetings, in-person training, skill assessments, home visits and work with the nonprofit’s trainers.
"Henry is a facility dog, which is different from a service dog. A facility dog is trained to provide services in a professional setting," Barnett said. "He works five days a week at Ralph Askins, going home with me each night. He spends most of his time in the library giving the chance for every tiger at Ralph Askins to see him." Barnett described Henry’s daily roles as including library visits, classroom visits, playground interactions at recess and assistance with students referred to guidance staff.
Barnett said Retrieving Independence’s program includes volunteer breeders, puppy raisers and a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Corrections; inmate trainers participate in a portion of the dogs’ training. "We work side by side with Miss Rebecca Geisler, director of training, and we learned so much in a very short time," Barnett said.
Board members noted the dog’s calming effect on students. The board chair said he had seen the impact during school visits and that Henry’s presence helps some students reach an emotional state where they can engage with academic content.
School staff said Henry also assists staff with safety routines; Barnett said he takes daily walks with Officer Darren to check the school perimeter and rides the afternoon bus with the librarian.
Staff asked the board to note the district’s permission for a facility dog and clarified that Henry is a facility dog assigned to Fayetteville City School settings, not a privately held service animal. The board did not vote on the placement during the excerpted portion of the meeting; the dog’s arrival and activities were presented as an informational report.
The school asked the board to support integration of Henry into programming that supports student well-being and learning engagement.
