Staff dog brings out the best in students

At Coles Elementary School, first-time visitors are welcomed by a wagging tail and a slobbery kiss. Of course, this special greeting isn’t coming from a teacher, but it is coming from a school staff member. Brilla, a golden Labrador/retriever mix, serves as a therapy dog at Coles where she helps diffuse tense situations, comforts upset students, and even helps early readers strengthen their literacy skills.

This powerful pooch is in the process of becoming a certified therapy dog and has been serving students since her puppy days. Her owner, teacher Cheryl Phillips, has been bringing Brilla to school daily to help with the students. One of the services that Brilla performs best is working as the school’s welcome wagon representative.

“New students are apprehensive and scared and [Brilla] is one of the first people – I mean dogs – that they meet. It puts a smile on their face and helps them relax,” says Phillips. “It’s really nice because she puts them at ease.”

As a pet partner in training through the Reading Education Assistance Dog program (R.E.A.D.), Brilla also works hard to promote literacy. The program improves children’s reading and communication skills by having the students read to a dog. Brilla is now a frequent visitor to the library where she spends time reading with Cole’s students.

Sue Siegel, a Coles teacher who works with Brilla, says that reading to someone who doesn’t judge can help build confidence in reluctant readers. “We use Brilla with students who haven’t enjoyed reading. They find that reading to Brilla encourages them to read, and will really help them become life-long readers.”

When she’s not in the library, the tech-savvy canine can be found in the computer lab surfing the Web with students. A weekly competition encourages students to visit the Cole’s Web site in search of Brilla’s bone. The winner receives a private lunch with Brilla followed by a walk. For her efforts, Brilla receives some pizza scraps and all the treats she can eat.

“[The contest] encourages them to read the Web site because they have to read to find where the bones have been hidden. It helps students keep up with current events in our building and helps them with technology as well,” says Siegel.

Brilla is now preparing for her upcoming test to become a certified therapy dog and pet partner for R.E.A.D. Once she is certified, she will begin making regular visits to hospitals and nursing homes in addition to her work at Coles Elementary School.

More about Brilla the Therapy Dog can be seen on her School Focus feature story. Check PWCS-TV’s Web site for show times and listings.

Visit the Coles Elementary School Web site to search for Brilla's bone and learn more about school news and events.

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