BY KARISSA MILLER

Northview Academy’s emotional support therapy dog Jake celebrated his fifth birthday Wednesday with students and staff.

Northview Academy is Iredell-Statesville Schools’ alternative and nontraditional school that serves students in grades K-12.

To honor the much-loved Golden Labrador retriever, teacher Kathy Guerin’s class celebrated him by giving him dog ice cream. They played birthday music and danced in honor of their pup.

Before he earned the official title as the school’s therapy dog five years ago, Jake received extensive training and certification to make sure that he possessed the right temperament for therapy dog work.

Jake became the district’s first certified emotional support therapy dog. He provides comfort to those who need it and socializes with a variety of children and adults.

With a soft head and caring eyes, Jake is patient, even-tempered and a loyal companion. He works primarily at Northview Academy, but he does occasionally travel to other schools and makes visits throughout the community.

Billy Manners, the school’s crisis interventionist, is his handler.

Principal Eric Babbitt said Jake is an important part of the Northview family. He helps build relationships, and helps students manage their emotions, process trauma and practice resilience during adverse times.

“Jake has a calming effect on someone experiencing a crisis. It’s not something that we can do, but when he walks in a room, he sets a positive tone and atmosphere — which allows us to do our job,” Babbitt said.

“Jake is a part of the school’s culture — you can feel it when you walk through the doors and hallways,” said Coordinator of Alternative Education Mark Vaughn. “Jake doesn’t judge. That is reassuring when you are struggling with something.”

Jake was purchased through a grant. Community donations help fund his daily expenses.

Vaughn expressed his appreciation to the district’s leadership team and school board for taking a chance when Northview staff pitched the idea of adding a therapy dog to the team.

Educators are learning that the number of students that suffer from trauma and mental health issues continues to rise. Babbitt said that he wishes every school could have a dedicated therapy dog.

Due to the pandemic, the school doesn’t have any hard data on how a therapy dog has improved academic outcomes. However, the number of “student crisis situations” are down and many students are able to modify their behavior when Jake is in the room.

Jake De-escalation Room

Northview Academy, formerly known as Pressly Alternative School, changed its name when it relocated to a larger campus in Statesville at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

The campus relocation has allowed the school to separate elementary and middle school students and high school students, while expanding offerings in Career Technical Education and therapeutic services.

Now, with half of the school year underway, the Northview staff is proud of its completed de-escalation room.

A de-escalation room is a space to help students calm down or refocus during the school day.

It’s a soothing space that’s designed to be therapeutic for students who are experiencing a crisis. On occasion, it serves as a room to build relationships with new students.

Inside the Jake room, one of the first things that kids see is the sensory wall nature mural. Students can engage with the textures on the wall and enjoy touching plants and flowers while it evokes their senses and imagination.

Manners said it’s an opportunity for children with sensory disorders to have fun in a safe space.

As students react positively to the different stimuli, it may then lead to participate in another activity, such as sitting beside Jake. In turn, this may help them relieve anxiety or overstimulation. Over time, this can lead to positive outcomes.

The room also contains a mail box where students can write a letter to Jake. While students know that Jake isn’t able to write letters, they do receive a letter back that reminds them that Jake is always there for them.

Unfortunately, some of their students come to school carrying emotional baggage or dealing with trauma. Manners said that they can relieve also stress by dunking a basketball. There’s a mini basketball set up for students.

“It changes their mind from whatever crisis they are in to wherever we need to go,” Manners explained.

However, students can also go to a special area with a bean bag chair where they can be alone. Adults remain in the room the entire time, but create space.

Students can also request what is known as a “Jake break.”

There’s also an opportunity for students to give Jake a bath, dry him and help groom him. For other students, they have a chance to visit this space for demonstrating good behavior or to get to know a new student.

“A lot of times it’s walking them around the track—or the road around the school,” Manners said. “Jake likes to take a walk and smells everything under the building. That itself opens up discussions and gets them talking.”

Photos