EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

Lou is Summit Academy’s emotional support dog - rescued by our history teacher, Mr. Hesselton, in September of 2019. His kind eyes, warm demeanor and innate ability to understand the emotions of our students make him the perfect support dog.

You may see him walking through the halls of our school, in and out of classrooms, helping to guide tours of prospective new students or sneaking into a nearby office of a staff member he knows has a special treat in their drawer for him. He works closely with our Behavioral and Clinical team to support our students. Students are able to earn time one-on-one with Lou after exhibiting positive behavioral and academic choices in correlation with our established ABA program.

When struggling with emotional dysregulation, a few calming minutes spent with Lou can help de-escalate these difficult emotional moments for our students, helping them to use their coping and social skills learned in counseling. Lou is more than just a dog - he is an intricate part of our team, and has aided many students on their journey to reach their own personal summit at our school.