West Virginia’s First Lady delivers therapy dog to Ravenswood High School
Back: Vicki Shannon, Chief of Staff to First Lady Cathy Justice and Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, Front: Katie Speece Morris, Special Assistant to the First Lady and Cathy Justice, First Lady of West Virginia, pose with Nutter the therapy dog during his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
First Lady Cathy Justice, Chief of Staff Vicki Shannon and Ultimate Canine Trainer Jil Mazellan talk about Nutter the therapy dog during his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Left to right, Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, First Lady Cathy Justice, and trainer Jil Mazellan play with Nutter, Ravenswood High School’s new therapy dog at Friday’s introduction ceremony. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Assistant Principal Trevor Cummings, left, watches as Communities In Schools Coordinator Courtney Koon, center, and her dog Spike meet Nutter and trainer Jil Mazellan outside Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Back: Vicki Shannon, Chief of Staff to First Lady Cathy Justice and Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, Front: Katie Speece Morris, Special Assistant to the First Lady and Cathy Justice, First Lady of West Virginia, pose with Nutter the therapy dog during his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
First Lady Cathy Justice, Chief of Staff Vicki Shannon and Ultimate Canine Trainer Jil Mazellan talk about Nutter the therapy dog during his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Left to right, Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, First Lady Cathy Justice, and trainer Jil Mazellan play with Nutter, Ravenswood High School’s new therapy dog at Friday’s introduction ceremony. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Assistant Principal Trevor Cummings, left, watches as Communities In Schools Coordinator Courtney Koon, center, and her dog Spike meet Nutter and trainer Jil Mazellan outside Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
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RAVENSWOOD -- The staff at Ravenswood High School grew by four paws Friday, thanks to a statewide mental health and education initiative.
Friends With Paws is a collaboration between the Governor's Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools Nonprofit and the West Virginia Department of Education. These organizations work together to place certified therapy dogs in schools across the state whose students struggle with poverty, addiction and other at-risk situations. Nutter, an 11 month old male brown Labrador, became the 18th placement in the program.
Jackson County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook described the benefits to students who gathered in the high school auditorium for the introduction ceremony.
"We all have bad days, whether you're the superintendent, whether you're a teacher, whether you're a service employee personnel. It doesn't matter. ... Every single day you're going to have a dog at school that's going to unconditionally love you. No matter what kind of day you're having. And that's powerful. That's powerful in life to have that," Hosaflook said.
West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice, and three of her staff members, attended Friday's event. She encouraged students to stop and pet Nutter, give him a hug, or read to him. She said he was there to provide support to the students.
Justice said Friends In Paws has placed dogs in elementary, middle and high schools and the improvement in mental health can be seen in all ages.
"This can happen at any age, either a death of a parent or someone close to them, another student who's having a hard time, even suicide. The dogs are like a security blanket when they're going through everything. The problems are the same, just a little bit bigger and different as they get older," Justice said.
Special Assistant to the First Lady Katie Speece Morris said only one dog is placed in each county.
"You guys can't imagine how many calls we get in our office and ask about a therapy dog in their school. Ravenswood High School is very lucky to be the school that receives a therapy dog. Whenever we are selecting schools, we look for folks inside the school that make a good team. You have a team of therapy dog handlers at your school. These are the people that will have Nutter throughout the day," she said.
Assistant Principal Trevor Cummings said Nutter will be under the supervision of four different staff members throughout the day: Cummings, guidance counselor Shelly Updegrave, English teacher Brittany Stephens, and CIS Coordinator Courtney Koon.
"Every day that Nutter is here, he will change the kids' day for the better," Cummings said.
Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com