Man's best friend? More like student's best friend

    Tools for improving school work vary from neon highlighters, a stack of index cards, that lucky pen for particularly hard tests - and for Cascade School District students, can even come in the form of a furry, four legged girl named Princess Leia. Princess Leia roams among Cascade school hallways, not as a pet, but as a staff member - she's the Cascade School District's support dog.
    "I'd like to introduce our newest support to our program, Princess Leia," said Brett Johnson, Special Education Director at the March 11 school board meeting. "She's a therapy reading dog. It's the highlight of the week if they get to end their week with Princess Leia."
    Leia is a purebred Newfoundland with her 4th birthday nearing on April 24. She began working with Cascade School District in May 2018 when she was three years old.
    "We waited until she was nearly three before pursuing therapy work since Newfoundlands are very large puppies until they mature into calm and capable dogs at about the age of three," said owner and partner, Kristen Joy Wilks.
    Beyond being a sight for sore eyes after a long day of shuffling through school work, she provides professional assistance. Princess Leia has an impressive resume before accepting her new job position with the school district - she has a part time job as being a camp dog to campers at Camas Meadows Bible Camp as well.
    "My husband (Daryl Wilks) is a camp director. Our family lives on site at Camas Meadows Bible Camp on Blewett Pass and Leia is the camp dog. She visits the campers with us, providing companionship, fun, and comfort as needed," said Wilks. "Newfoundlands inspire strangers on the street, hurting kids, and their own owners in many surprising ways."
    According to Wilks, Leia is typical of her breed and has a calm and patient demeanor - something that most teachers and staff that work with students should have.
    "Her quiet presence exudes confidence in your ability and children sense that. Kids chat about their day, difficult situations they are facing, and their love of dogs as they stroke her soft coat," said Wilks.
    While most of us start our work day checking our email and making a cup of coffee, Leia's is a little different.Her work day at the schools involve: greeting everyone in the classroom when she enters with a wag of her tail, finding a quiet corner for her work space and flopping down (something most of wish was acceptable at our own desk). The children will pet her while they read her stories and she lends a patient ear to the little ones as they chatter.
    "Petting a dog lowers blood pressure and your heart rate, soothes reading-related anxiety, and is a pleasant sensory experience in and of itself. I have watched children read larger books to Leia who previously refused to even try anything that looked thick and difficult," said Wilks. "Specifically, for reading, the non-judgmental presence of a dog is a huge boost of confidence for students. They don't have to worry about whether she'll correct their pronunciation or if she thinks they are not doing well."
    However, Princess Leia is flexible in her job and has done more than aid students with reading. The last day before Christmas break, the community faced a tragedy that is difficult, especially for teens, to grapple with. Leia came into the high school to provide a sense of comfort for students struggling with grief.
    "I was able to bring Leia into the high school and just hang out with students in the library as they grieved and talked through what they were facing. We walked the halls and as students noticed her they poured form the classroom and gathered around her to stroke her coat and get slobbery kisses. She flopped down in the hallway and students sat down beside her to give her pats and talk and take in a moment of piece during a difficult time," said Wilks.
    Despite being furrier than the usual Cascade School District staff, she is a professional and beneficial addition to the school district.