Dogs in Schools: Nurturing Positive Change
Format
Individual Presentation
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
NeuroLogic® by Lakeside
First Presenter’s Email Address
kathyv@lakeside.net
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Kathy is a seasoned educator with over 40 years of experience as a licensed psychologist, teacher, and school counselor. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President at Lakeside and is the Founder of NeuroLogic® by Lakeside. Trained in the Neurosequential Model by the ChildTrauma Academy, Kathy learned about the significant impact animals can have on brain regulation. Kathy has spent the last ten years developing a facility dog program for Lakeside’s four schools. Animal-assisted interventions can improve regulation and learning for all students but are especially helpful to those students impacted by trauma. There are now 7 service dogs who have become an instrumental part of Lakeside’s work with students. One of these dogs, Boomerang, is with us today. Kathy and Boomerang have presented this training at both national and international conferences and have received great feedback.
Second Presenter's Institution
NeuroLogic® by Lakeside
Second Presenter’s Email Address
no email
Second Presenter's Brief Biography
Boomerang was Lakeside School's first Facility dog. He lives with Kathy and her husband. He has been working at Lakeside School for 10 years now and has had an amazing impact on staff and students. He has traveled with Kathy and presented at many conferences.
Submitter
I am submitting this proposal as one of the presenter(s)
Location
Westbrook
Strand #1
Heart: Social & Emotional Skills
Strand #2
Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership
Relevance
This applies to Head, Heart, Hands, and Health- but Heart and Head stand out as having dogs in school will help improve social and emotional skills by regulating the brain from the bottom up. Students learn relational and emotional skills in working with the dogs, We have also seen the dogs have a significant impact on student’s leadership development as they take responsibility for aspects of the dog's care. Many students have seen greater academic success as the dogs have been involved in the classroom, motivating, calming, and keeping the students on track.
Brief Program Description
Animals in a school can bring about positive change by providing healing interventions for all levels of the brain. This workshop will demonstrate the impact of seven facility dogs working in Lakeside’s schools. Stories and testimonies will be shared regarding the changes seen in students, student-to-staff relationships, peer relationships, staff morale, and the total school environment.
Summary
Animals in a school can bring about positive change by providing healing interventions for all levels of the brain. Students who struggle with attachment can form relationships with animals more quickly because it is a different pathway in the brain. This workshop will demonstrate the impact of seven facility dogs working in Lakeside’s schools. Stories and testimonies will be shared regarding the changes we have seen in students, student-to-staff relationships, peer relationships, staff morale, and the total school environment.
These dogs have been credited with increasing attendance, decreasing outbursts, calming dysregulated students, increasing time on task, helping students with attachment issues, and improving counseling outcomes.
The difference between facility dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs will be discussed along with things to consider when setting up a program in your school. Ideas for using dogs in school will be shared along with resources that may be helpful in setting up a program and dealing with some of the concerns parents or school boards might raise.
Boomerang will be a part of the presentation and gladly demonstrate some of the tasks he is able to perform. You will also get to meet other Lakeside Facility dogs through video presentations and hear first-hand from staff and students regarding the impact they have had.
Participants interested in having a dog in their school will leave inspired with ideas and information to take back to their schools. All participants will leave feeling good because of the time spent in the presence of Boomerang.
Evidence
Cox, A, Perry, B.D., and Frederico, M. (2021) Resourcing the System and Enhancing Relationships: Pathways to Positive Outcomes for Children Impacted by Abuse and Neglect. Child Welfare, Vol. 98, No. 6
Perry, B.D. and Szalavitz, M. (2017). The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Learning Objective 1
• Understand the difference between a therapy dog, facility dog, and service dog.
Learning Objective 2
• Observe interventions with dogs that can address individual needs for all levels of brain development.
Learning Objective 3
• Consider options for their setting and recognize the various ways dogs can be used to help improve attendance, behavioral, and academic success.
Keyword Descriptors
Dogs in School, Facility Dog, Dogs change lives, Empower, Nuture
Presentation Year
2025
Start Date
3-4-2025 1:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Van Horn, Kathy J. and Van Horn, Boomerang, "Dogs in Schools: Nurturing Positive Change" (2025). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 54.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2025/2025/54
Dogs in Schools: Nurturing Positive Change
Westbrook
Animals in a school can bring about positive change by providing healing interventions for all levels of the brain. This workshop will demonstrate the impact of seven facility dogs working in Lakeside’s schools. Stories and testimonies will be shared regarding the changes seen in students, student-to-staff relationships, peer relationships, staff morale, and the total school environment.
