Lamar School Board Welcomes Therapy Dog Marshall
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by Stephanie Baker
The Lamar School Board met on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and heard a presentation regarding the addition of a therapy dog, Marshall, at the elementary campus.
The presentation was led by Diana Bratton, a Lamar elementary teacher and Marshall’s handler. Bratton has taught for 27 years, including the past four at Lamar. She shared that the idea of bringing a therapy dog to Lamar students has been something she has felt called to pursue for quite some time and the program came together after much hard work.
“This has been on my heart for a very long time,” Bratton said.
Bratton explained many children experience anxiety or come from difficult home situations, and a therapy dog can provide comfort and emotional support. She also noted that therapy animals have been shown to benefit teachers as well as students.
Bratton and Marshall have been attending therapy training sessions at Hounds With Halos to prepare him for working with students.
Marshall will soon begin visiting first through fourth-grade classrooms on a weekly rotation so each classroom receives one visit per week.
Permission slips will be sent home for parent authorization to allow students to interact with the therapy dog, similar to those previously sent regarding the rabbit in the elementary agriculture classroom, Superintendent Clint Jones explained.
Bratton stated Marshall will carry additional insurance coverage. He will remain on a leash when outside the classroom and will stay with her at all times.
Elementary agriculture teacher Grace Bean commented the classroom rabbit has been a positive experience for students and expressed her belief that adding a therapy dog would provide even greater benefits.
Jones shared he previously served as superintendent in a district that utilized a therapy dog and witnessed firsthand the positive impact it had on students.
“If it helps even one student, it is worth it,” Jones said.
The presentation included statistics that children often improve literacy skills by reading aloud to animals, as they feel less nervous reading to a dog than to an adult. Marshall will be able to participate in reading activities, providing students with additional encouragement and support.
Board member Chad Kendall shared he struggled with reading aloud during his elementary years and improved only after receiving help from a specialist. While he expressed gratitude that his family was able to provide additional support, he acknowledged not all students have access to those same resources. Kendall voiced his strong support for the addition of the therapy dog, particularly for its literacy benefits.
Jones clarified the addition of a therapy dog did not require formal Board approval, but he wanted members to be informed. He commended Bratton for her dedication and passion in pursuing the program and training Marshall for student interaction.
Following the presentation, Jones approved the use of Marshall as a therapy dog at the elementary campus. The announcement was met with applause from attendees, along with visible joy and a few tears from Bratton.
With Marshal’s addition, Lamar Elementary becomes the first school in the county to implement a therapy dog program.
Cafeteria Program
The Board also heard a short update from Chef Amanda Jones, who is leading an FDA-funded program to improve school lunches, and ties into the school’s agriculture program to provide an emphasis on fresh and local food.
“The food we feed children in our schools is atrocious. It is full of crap they do not need,” said Amanda Jones, who followed with a list of ways she is helping the district to fix the issues.
Amanda Jones is pioneering a new menu packed with local proteins and produce and has been teaching technical skills to the kitchen staff to help them prepare healthier foods.
With an educational background at the Arkansas Tech University Career Center, Amanda Jones is prepared to teach new skills and procedures to the cafeteria staff.
A teacher attending the meeting commented the new menu items, including a black bean and sweet potato quesadilla, had been enthusiastically discussed by students in her classroom, and commented the changes are being seen in the classroom and not just on the cafeteria tray.
Other Matters
-The Board approved a personnel sheet with two resignations. The names and positions in the document were not provided.
THERAPY DOG PRESENTATION—Lamar staff and parents attended the Lamar School Board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25, to voice their support for the addition of a therapy dog at Lamar Elementary. Celebrating Marshall the therapy dog’s approval were (from left) Kindra Nordin, Lily Nordin, Grace Bean, Becca Henderson, Nicole Cline, Paisley Cline, Diana Bratton with Marshall, Hounds with Halos Founder and Trainer Sonya Weatherall with Pete, and Paige Clayborn.
-Photo courtesy Lamar School District
Read this story and others in the March 4 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.
