Therapy dogs help students learn at Cedar Rapids schools

CEDAR RAPIDS — Keely, a labradoodle, is helping kids learn English at Wright Elementary School.

When students are learning the names of body parts, they practice “head, shoulders, knees and toes” on Keely, a professional therapy dog, one of five now working in Cedar Rapids schools.

Occasionally, the students dress up Keely to learn the names for types of clothing. They read to Keely, a practice that improves reading comprehension and fluency. A dog doesn’t judge if you struggle with a word. A dog isn’t as scary as an adult listener might be.

Therapy dogs also alleviate stress and anxiety, making it easier for students to learn. said Ann Diagiacomo, Keely’s owner and handler and an English Language Learning teacher at Wright, 1524 Hollywood Blvd. NE.

Introducing a therapy dog to her students — many of them immigrants and refugees — sometimes takes time, Diagiacomo said, noting dogs in some other countries are wild animals and not pets.

Once the students are comfortable, they look forward to seeing Keely — an incentive to come to school every day.

“Although Keely isn’t going to take the place of a social worker or trained mental health professional, she certainly can brighten someone’s day,” Diagiacomo said. “Keely is not magic. At the end of the day, she’s just a very sweet and loving presence.”

Three of the Cedar Rapids district’s five therapy dogs were added in the past year. All were trained at CARES — Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education and Services — in Concordia, Kan.

CARES is one of the largest organizations in the Midwest to breed and train therapy animals. It costs $3,000 to get a trained CARES dog — a cost many teachers, including those in Cedar Rapids, cover themselves.

Other Cedar Rapids teachers are interested in adding therapy dogs to their classrooms, but the waiting list for a CARES-trained dog is about two years.

Bleu at Washington

Bleu, another professional therapy dog, is considered part of the staff at Washington High School.

He comes to work every day with a badge and a schedule to help students learn and regulate their emotions.

Occasionally, Bleu joins social studies teacher Zach Ficken’s psychology class, where students learn aspects of mental health, including depression and anxiety.

“There’s definitely moments he contributes to class in unexpected ways,” Ficken said. “Most of his day (he) is lying beside a student, and sometimes he will let out a giant sigh.

“We turn that in to a laughable moment,” he said. “ ‘OK, Bleu. I get it. You’re bored.’ I’ll move on from whatever I’m talking about.’ ”

Bleu’s name came from CARES, where puppies in the same litter are named after themes. Bleu’s litter was named after cheeses. He has a brother named Cheddar and sisters named Swiss, Gouda, Ricotta and Feta.

Bleu enjoys working, said Jennifer Miller, Bleu’s owner and handler and a special-education teacher in the autism program at Washington, 2205 Forest Dr. SE.

When Cedar Rapids schools moved to virtual learning in the fall of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Miller could tell Bleu wasn’t as happy as normal.

“He wants to be with people and do his job,” she said.

Earlier this year, Bleu helped with a student who had “escalated” and curled into the fetal position in a hallway, Miller said. Miller had Bleu lie next to the student. The student eventually began petting Bleu, sat up and then was helped out of her immediate crisis.

Bleu is trained not to lick or “give kisses,” Miller said. But Miller takes Bleu to a care center where Bleu will climb onto one resident’s lap and lick his face.

“The gentleman just laughs and laughs. It makes him so happy. I’ve never seen (Bleu) do that for anyone else,” Miller said. “Bleu knows just what people need.”

Hopkins & Fendi

Hopkins, a black Labrador, helps “draw out” students at Garfield Elementary, 1201 Maplewood Dr. NE., especially the ones who are “a little anxious or shy or don’t feel like they belong,” said Laurie Moody, Hopkins’ owner and handler and a school counselor.

Staff members also seek out Hopkins when they’re having a particularly stressful day, Moody said.

“Education is tough right now,” she said. “Teachers and staff who are pretty burned out and exhausted. I think he’s been emotionally really good for the staff, too.”.

Chris Nelson, a school counselor at Viola Gibson Elementary, 6101 Gibson Dr. NE, has been bringing her dog Fendi, a golden retriever, to school with her for six years.

Between the pandemic and the August 2020 derecho, Fendi has been a “godsend,” Nelson said.

“Research shows when you’re in the presence of a dog, it lowers blood pressure and decreases stress and anxiety,” Nelson said. “Kids who have gone through grief will just lay on the floor with her. It’s amazing how sometimes you don’t even have to say anything.”

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