Teacher Ann Stith says her Lab, Jack, is a good tool for students' writing. Strewn across the room are small passages and love letters of sorts to Jack.

Photos by JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Gilbert Linkous Elementary School teacher Ann Stith uses her 3-year-old Labrador retriever, Jack, to help calm the students' nerves while they read out loud in class. "It's been a real good boost," Stith says.

BLACKSBURG -- Sauray Mishra briefly paused after nearly every word while reading the book "Good Night, Little Bear." His staccato reading, marked also by intervals of sniffles, is common among first-graders.

They're just beginning to learn complex words and to get comfortable reading out loud to large groups. Their confidence can be low.

To help with their nerves, Gilbert Linkous Elementary School teacher Ann Stith uses her 3-year-old Labrador retriever, whose name is Jack.

The black lab, which she is training to become a registered guide dog, visits her 11 students every Friday at the Blacksburg school. He helps during library time, and he seems to have taken a liking to the visits. Earlier this month, Stith tried to keep him home. He took his red leash in his mouth and stood by the door as she prepared to leave for school.

Stith started bringing Jack to school this year after talking with Principal Carol Kahler during a visit to the school this summer. The visits are a way to extend the dog's training but also to help Stith's young readers develop. She has them read to Jack and write about him in an effort to get the students comfortable with language.

"I want you to try to read the words carefully so Jack can learn these words," she told students during last week's visit.

Students regularly sit in groups with books in hand and take turns petting the dog's smooth coat.

It can be relaxing, Stith said.

"It's been a real good boost," she said.

Some students use his hindquarters to prop up their reading material; others use him as an excuse to linger longer during library time.

As long as they're learning, Stith said she, the school's administrators and teachers are OK with having a dog in the classroom. Because Jack is trained to sit and come on command, he's hardly a danger to the children. If he ever gets too rambunctious, Stith gives the command and he retreats to his large steel cage with its cream and pink rose-printed blanket.

Last Friday, Sauray, who reads aloud with a bit of hesitancy, passed his tiny hand along Jack's back. His next phrases flowed more clearly.

While independent research into the effect of therapy dogs is hard to come by, schools, libraries, early-learning centers and even adult medical facilities use dogs often. The Delta Society, a nonprofit that connects therapy dogs to patients, says it can increase self-esteem.

Stith said Jack is a good tool for students' writing as well. Strewn across the room are small passages and love letters of sorts to Jack.

"Dear Jack," one pencil-scrawled message begins. "We al lovf you and Mrs. Stith."

Stith said she would like to continue bringing the dog to school in the coming years.

HIRING

Pulaski Co. board yet to review applicants

Pulaski County School Board members will find out who applied for their soon-to-be-open superintendent's position during a closed meeting before the Christmas holiday, board Chairman Paul Phillips said.

Applications to replace Don Stowers, who is leaving the division at the first of the year, were due Nov. 13. Phillips said the board members don't know how many applications they'll receive because some may have just come in Nov. 20.

The board is working through the Virginia School Boards Association, which has all the applications, he said. The board will meet with the VSBA during its closed session to determine further details, Phillips said.

The board's next public meeting is slated for Dec. 10, but because the superintendent's search is a personnel matter, candidates will not be discussed in open session.

The school board has not set any time frame for replacing its superintendent, or just how the public will get the chance to vet candidates.

"Realistically speaking it will be the end of January and probably into February until we can interview the applicants," Phillips said.

"We're not going to rush this."

Stowers is set to leave the county Jan. 1. Phillips said the board would decide on putting an interim superintendent in place after reviewing its applicant pool.