Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Wellbeing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears report on on-campus therapy dogs; counselor’s dog ‘Jellybean’ introduced as intern
Summary
District staff reported that Living Way Therapy Dogs have been visiting campuses; counselor Gabe Hernandez introduced a newly certified mental-health support dog named Jellybean as an intern for special-needs work.
At the start of Monday’s meeting, a district counselor described the district’s pilot use of therapy dogs on campuses to support students with anxiety and other needs and formally introduced an intern support dog named Jellybean.
A speaker identified as a district counselor said the program began with counselors and now includes visits from Living Way Therapy Dogs; the counselor said six dogs have been coming to campuses to provide therapy and to sit with students in need. The counselor introduced Jellybean, described as a dog that "just got all the required training to be a mental health support dog" and currently serving in an intern role with Gabe Hernandez, the district counselor who works with special-needs students.
"They have been coming into our campuses... it's been incredibly successful," the counselor said, describing the dogs' work with students experiencing anxiety or who struggle to remain in school. The board and other attendees acknowledged the program and the new trainee dog.
No formal policy change or board action was proposed during the report; staff said the dogs are scheduled and coordinated by campus counselors.
Ending: Board members thanked staff for the update and for supporting students through the therapy-dog visits.
