The Drake Center for Veterinary Care and Good Dog! Autism Companions are thrilled to announce that an autism service provider has been selected for Drake!
Kerri Stucky is a special education teacher at La Costa Heights Elementary School in the Encinitas Union School District. Her students are in grades second through sixth and have moderate to severe disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
Kerri has been teaching for the past four years after receiving her credential from San Diego State University, where she obtained a master's degree in special education with an emphasis in autism in 2011. Before attending SDSU, Kerri received her bachelor's degree in child development and family studies from Purdue University in Indiana, where she grew up.
Kerri lives in Encinitas with her husband, Matt, and 18-month-old twins, daughter, Blake, and son, Luke. When she's not too busy teaching or playing with her kids, Kerri enjoys hiking, traveling and reading.
As a facility dog, Drake will increase motivation, promote gross and fine motor activities, provide opportunities for language and calm and comfort children with autism and other disabilities. Other benefits and uses of a Good Dog! facility dog include: using the dog as part of the reward system; reading aloud to a dog, which research has shown can help improve reading ability; increasing confidence and self-esteem by teaching the dog new commands; overcoming fears and developing more confidence around dogs; learning to interact with a dog, which promotes theory of mind; and improving social skills. Most importantly,Drake’s unwavering love, compassion and patience will promote a positive impact on these children for life.
Drake will live and work with Kerri full-time starting in January. In the meantime, Kerri is working closely with Good Dog! and Drake’s trainer, Jesika, to become Drake’s primary handler.
A note from Kerri
“I am very excited to have Drake as a therapy dog in my classroom. I have seen firsthand the positive impact dogs can have on children, especially those with special needs. I hope that Drake will be a calming influence in the classroom while at the same time, providing motivation to increase communication, appropriate behaviors and social skills. Drake will also have the opportunity to increase social interactions between the students in my class and their general education peers. Drake will offer endless positive opportunities by becoming an integral part of our classroom and I look forward to having her join our class!”