Plainfield Academy Gets New Facility Dog

PLAINFIELD, IL — Don’t be surprised to find the newest Plainfield Academy employee Leroy taking a midday nap on the floor.

And don’t be concerned if his boss, Academy Assistant Principal Karyn Holstead doesn’t mind, because Leroy is the Academy’s new facility dog.

The almost two-year-old golden retriever came from the Indiana Canine Assistant Network or ICAN, which trains therapy and facility dogs to assist people with emotional and physical disabilities.

Leroy is the Academy’s second facility dog. He replaces Jada who retired in 2014 after serving the school for about five years. Wesmere Elementary School and Aux Sable Middle School also have used therapy dogs.

Holstead and Academy social worker Kara Grudzien spent two weeks at ICAN in Indiana training with Leroy.

Holstead will own Leroy after his one-year probationary period at the Academy.

The almost two-year-old dog already is helping students in his first few days on the job, Holstead said.

He can “nudge” a student’s head up off a desk if the student has shut down emotionally, she said. He also visits and hugs students who are anxious or in crisis.

“It’s really cool to see his interaction with kids and how they open up,” Holstead said.

His mere presence at the school has had a positive effect on chronically absent students, too.
Some students are cutting class less to come to school on the chance they might get to see and spent time with Leroy, Holstead said.

Academy staff hope to eventually get students involved in caring for Leroy by helping groom or walk him, for example.

“He’s been well received and the students are very excited to have him here,” Grudzien said.

Photo: Plainfield Academy student Megan Green pets the school’s newest facility dog Leroy on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016. Leroy started his job in early December and visits classrooms to help calm anxious students. Leroy replaces Jada who retired two years ago.

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202