1h 11 min
32. Who Let the Dogs In? Support Dog Programs at Three International Schools! Educators Going Global
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- Tutoriales
Support dogs positively influence our emotional state. So why not bring trained service dogs into schools?
Meet 3 international educators who have begun support dogprograms:
Brenda Manfredi (International School of Prague) has worked in New York, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hanoi, Vietnam. She and her family now live in Prague, Czech Republic.
Program Description: ISP’s support dog program began after the COVID shutdown. It supports students and teachers and comprises two support dogs, Brodie and Sundae, who work out of ISP’s student life center and are shared by all counselors. The dogs are invited to many school activities, and they are featured in ISP’s admissions and advancement information.
Jackie Valenzuela (International School Bangkok) moved from Seattle to Bangkok in 2010. She spent two years at NIST, where Brenda worked, then moved to ISB in 2012.
Program Description: ISB’s Panther Pups program includes Charlie, Xena, Poe Poe, and Simba. The program began as post-Covid support of the HS students and faculty and has expanded to the MS and ES divisions. With their handler, the dogs visit classrooms, walk the halls during passing time, hang out in the counseling office, and attend school events!
Ian Lally (The International School Nido de Aguilas): Ian was a counselor in New York for two years before moving to Berlin, Germany, where he worked for five years. He has now lived in Santiago, Chile for nearly 11 years.
Program Description: Students interact with the dogs in the counseling office as needed, in the classroom during a lesson or pre- or post-assessment, by checking out a dog for a walk, or through the Paws for Pawsitivity club. Teachers can invite a dog to class or check one out for their personal wellness.
The guiding question for the episode was, “What does a support dog program look like at an international school, and how might a school set one up?”
Brenda, Jackie, and Ian each explained their programs and offered tips for other international educators:
Dogs attract students to the counseling offices and provide a calming presence during sessions. A program description is essential; a dog authorization system involving experienced trainers must be in place. Mindful scheduling is critical to the dogs' wellbeing. Scientific research can support the case for bringing service dogs into schools. Forming a club helps students gain responsibility and social awareness. This episode was recorded on August 6, 2023.
Contact Info:
Brenda’s Program: Instagram > foxy.sundae | bmanfredi@isp.cz
Ian’s Program: Instagram>
Remember to access our Educators Going Global website for more information or to subscribe to our newsletter!
Email us with comments or suggestions at educatorsgoingglobal@gmail.com
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
Listen on your favorite podcast app: connect from our share page.
Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.
Support dogs positively influence our emotional state. So why not bring trained service dogs into schools?
Meet 3 international educators who have begun support dogprograms:
Brenda Manfredi (International School of Prague) has worked in New York, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hanoi, Vietnam. She and her family now live in Prague, Czech Republic.
Program Description: ISP’s support dog program began after the COVID shutdown. It supports students and teachers and comprises two support dogs, Brodie and Sundae, who work out of ISP’s student life center and are shared by all counselors. The dogs are invited to many school activities, and they are featured in ISP’s admissions and advancement information.
Jackie Valenzuela (International School Bangkok) moved from Seattle to Bangkok in 2010. She spent two years at NIST, where Brenda worked, then moved to ISB in 2012.
Program Description: ISB’s Panther Pups program includes Charlie, Xena, Poe Poe, and Simba. The program began as post-Covid support of the HS students and faculty and has expanded to the MS and ES divisions. With their handler, the dogs visit classrooms, walk the halls during passing time, hang out in the counseling office, and attend school events!
Ian Lally (The International School Nido de Aguilas): Ian was a counselor in New York for two years before moving to Berlin, Germany, where he worked for five years. He has now lived in Santiago, Chile for nearly 11 years.
Program Description: Students interact with the dogs in the counseling office as needed, in the classroom during a lesson or pre- or post-assessment, by checking out a dog for a walk, or through the Paws for Pawsitivity club. Teachers can invite a dog to class or check one out for their personal wellness.
The guiding question for the episode was, “What does a support dog program look like at an international school, and how might a school set one up?”
Brenda, Jackie, and Ian each explained their programs and offered tips for other international educators:
Dogs attract students to the counseling offices and provide a calming presence during sessions. A program description is essential; a dog authorization system involving experienced trainers must be in place. Mindful scheduling is critical to the dogs' wellbeing. Scientific research can support the case for bringing service dogs into schools. Forming a club helps students gain responsibility and social awareness. This episode was recorded on August 6, 2023.
Contact Info:
Brenda’s Program: Instagram > foxy.sundae | bmanfredi@isp.cz
Ian’s Program: Instagram>
Remember to access our Educators Going Global website for more information or to subscribe to our newsletter!
Email us with comments or suggestions at educatorsgoingglobal@gmail.com
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
Listen on your favorite podcast app: connect from our share page.
Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.
1h 11 min