Lincoln Elementary School in the Washington School District will be adding a four-legged assistant this fall. Coral, a nearly three-year-old licensed therapy dog, will be joining new principal Theresa Beenblossom daily at the upper elementary school beginning in August. Coral will always be with Beenblossom or a secondary trained handler and she is used as positive reinforcement and to help deescalate students.

Beenblossom and Coral are coming to the Washington district after being at Mid-Prairie last year. Beenblossom shared having the golden retriever available to students is therapeutic and she helped at the high school last year following a student’s death.

Coral is certified as a therapy dog in Kansas and Iowa. Students and parents will receive information about having the dog at Lincoln beginning this fall. Superintendent Jeff Dicks stated “the positives outweigh any negatives.”