Therapy dog coming to Washington Middle School

The Washington school board voted unanimously to approve a request for a therapy dog at the district’s middle school in a meeting Wednesday night.

“In our district we have Coral and Holly at Lincoln and the high school, we’ve seen the great impact that they’ve had on students,” said Middle School NESTT teacher Nicole Gish. “Staff and students at the middle school would really like to have the same opportunity.”

Gish, whose family already has one therapeutic dog often seen at the county courthouse, would be the animal’s handler when it comes to the middle school in the fall. She said the dog would be a necessity as the school considers trauma-informed policies.

“It’s no secret that anxiety is at an all time high,” she said. “Our district recognizes (that) social-emotional support … components are necessary for treating our children on trauma-informed fronts.”

Beyond its one-on-one support role, Gish said the dog would have broader therapeutic benefits for those at the school.

“It can really help to refocus and settle students,” she said. “Another huge component is they can be a huge anxiety reliever, it’s proven that dogs can increase serotonin levels, decrease the blood pressure, and help improve the overall moods for students.”

Gish said the therapeutic animal would often serve students in a way human professionals could not on their own.

“Children are a lot more willing to take risks in front of non-judgmental animals than their peers or others,” she said. “Dogs are very non-judgmental, so a student might be more willing to practice reading or practice speaking as they’re learning to acquire a language.”

The middle school has brought in Coral, another therapy dog in the district, around a dozen times this school year, according to Gish.

“Every single time, within 10 minutes, the student has calmed down,” she said. “Bringing a dog over, just instantly, you can kind of see the weight lifted off the student.”

The dog will cost the district around $4,000, most of that cost going to a professional dog trainer to prepare the canine for its job.

Superintendent Willie Stone said he was enthusiastic about the proposal.

“It’s crazy how fast a child who is stressed, at a high-stress level, will calm down,” he said. “It’s amazing to see.”

School board members felt the same way.

“It’s very positive,” Board President Eric Turner said. “There is a cost, it’s an ongoing cost … but if it’s that important, that’s something we should pursue.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com