Students and staff at Kemp-Carver Elementary School have a new four-legged staff member.
June, the Comfort Dog, officially joined the team on November 7 during the P.A.W.S. Placement Program inside the gym. P.A.W.S. stands for Pups Assisting Wellness and Support. She’s an 11-month-old black lab.
It’s an initiative Principal Alison Boggan is excited to see come to fruition after years of work to make it happen.
“I think it’s going to be the best opportunity for everybody to be connected and it’s also a great teaching tool for us. This is a great opportunity for us to show what it truly means to respect and take care of a dog and give love to a dog, and so that’s one of the things we’ve talked about,” Boggan said.
At the dedication program, Superintendent Ginger Carrabine addressed the students.
“I just want to say how proud I am of all of you. When I walked through the door and one of you said, ‘Are you here to see June?,' The answer is yes,” she said.
“I saw June earlier this week where I work at my building and when I talked to June about Kemp-Carver, June smiled. So when you talk to her, she will smile back at you,” Superintendent Carrabine added.
“About 21 months ago, our foundation board really started to look for creative ways to try to meet the social and emotional needs of our students and our staff," said Sarah Braden, Bryan ISD Education Foundation Executive Director.
Braden says the goal is to eventually have a comfort dog at every school in Bryan ISD.
We found Interquest C.A.R.E.S. to partner with us," said Braden.
Cara Peters is a Special Education Teacher at Kemp – Carver Elementary. She is June’s new handler and will bring the puppy to school each day and home as well.
“Just to be chosen, it’s an honor and to work with June so closely, it’s been an amazing opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes to see the Interquest side, to see the Bryan ISD Education Foundation side, a lot of work has gone into it, and I’m just honored to be a part of it. Super excited. I’m known as the dog lady, which is pretty cool and I can’t thank the Education Foundation enough,” Peters said.
June has been specially trained to work in the school environment.
“I think it’s just going to be a great opportunity to lower anxiety, to just bring happiness in the building,” Boggan said.
Two more Comfort Dogs will be coming to Bryan ISD in December. Moochi will be joining Neal Elementary School while Rhys will join Ross Elementary.
You can see the Bryan ISD Education Foundation Facebook post here.
You can see the Bryan ISD Facebook post here.