New staff members join school staffs all the time, but at Kalona Elementary, this new member is a little different. She is the school’s therapy dog Coral.

The school got the dog from a program run by Cares, Incorporated. Coral is a two-year-old Golden Retriever, who has been trained to help with the students. Kalona Elementary Principal Teresa Beenblossom traveled to Kansas to be trained with Coral and she is the dog’s primary handler. Another of Coral’s handlers, Mackenzie Koss, says they have noticed a big difference in the kids so far this year. The students seem more relaxed and more easily calmed when having a bad day.

Coral is in the building everyday and according to Koss, keeps a very busy schedule.