The Bettendorf Community School District currently has six professional therapy/certified assistance dogs working with counseling staff in the Bettendorf Community School District. The therapy dog program has been funded in part through the Bettendorf Community School Foundation and Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA).
AKIN
Neil Armstrong Elementary
Handler: Jodi Hanson
johanson@bettendorf.k12.ia.us
Delta
Bettendorf Middle School
Handler: Jessica Blaum
jblaum@bettendorf.k12.ia.us
EGYPT
Grant Wood Elementary
Handler: Heather McCoy
hmccoy@bettendorf.k12.ia.us
PACIFIC
Paul Norton Elementary School
Handler: Jocelyn Kyte
jkyte@bettendorf.k12.ia.us
PAXTON
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Handler: Kris McKissick
kmckissick@bettendorf.k12.ia.us
Professional Therapy Dogs
- Provide emotional and physical support
- Model good behavior, tolerance, acceptance
- Assist with counseling lessons and character education
- Teach responsibility including responsible human-animal interaction
- Support learning and academic success
- Provide stress relief and help to relieve anxiety and depression
- Encourage and inspire a love for reading
- Improve the ability to trust
- Improve socialization and communication
- Model and teach kindness and compassion
