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Matthews Elementary

Every Student. Every Day.

Meet Kramer the Therapy Dog

Kramer sits with a class while they work on their math classwork.
Kramer and a staff member sit together.
Kramer gets pets from a student and adult.

Partnering with Animals in Schools (PAWS)

What is a Therapy Dog? 

A therapy dog is a specially trained and certified dog that provides comfort, emotional support, and companionship in various settings, including schools. Unlike service dogs, which perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs offer general emotional and social support to a broader group of people.

In a school setting, therapy dogs help students regulate their emotions, improve social skills, and engage more effectively in learning. All therapy dogs in the Grain Valley Schools’ School Therapy Dog Program must meet specific behavioral and training criteria to ensure they are well-suited for interaction with students and staff.

Bright Futures Grain Valley Logo

Kramer the Therapy Dog. Meet Kramer! 

Kramer is a cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle) and serves the Matthews Elementary students and staff. 

When Kramer isn't supporting students, you might find him visiting classrooms during independent reading, going for a calming walk with students, or comforting students in the health room

Stay connected with Kramer’s adventures at Matthews by following his Facebook page. 

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Grain Valley Schools PAWS Program

Emotional and Psychological Benefits 

  • Therapy dogs help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression among students.
  • They promote emotional regulation, helping students manage frustration, anger, or sadness.
  • The presence of a therapy dog can increase oxytocin (the "bonding hormone") while decreasing cortisol (the "stress hormone"), creating a calming effect in students.

Social and Behavioral Improvements

  • Therapy dogs help students build connections with peers, teachers, and other school staff.
  • They can reduce behavioral issues by encouraging empathy, patience, and respect.
  • Structured interactions with therapy dogs can support students with social difficulties, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or emotional disabilities (ED).

Academic Engagement and Motivation

  • Students may feel more comfortable and motivated to engage in schoolwork with a therapy dog present.
  • Reading programs with therapy dogs encourage reluctant readers to practice literacy skills in a non-judgmental setting.
  • Therapy dogs can be used as an incentive for academic participation and positive behavior reinforcement.

Trauma-Informed & Brain-Based Learning Connections

  • Students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or trauma histories benefit from predictable, calming interactions with therapy dogs.
  • Therapy dogs help regulate the nervous system, supporting students in transitioning from heightened emotional states to a more focused and engaged mindset.
  • Emotional safety is critical for learning; therapy dogs help create a school environment where students feel valued and supported.