Rosie doesn’t interrupt when a student stumbles over a word. She doesn’t correct pronunciation or care how quickly someone finishes a page.
The 6-year-old Goldendoodle is simply there to listen.
Rosie is the newest four-legged presence at Great Hearts Archway Glendale Prep, where students in kindergarten through fifth grade gather twice a week for Reading with Rosie, an extracurricular club built around books, conversation and a certified therapy dog.
The club meets 3-4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Archway Glendale, 23276 N. 83rd Ave. in Peoria.
Students read aloud together, with a few at a time getting the chance to sit near Rosie as they work through the club's current book, "Because of Winn-Dixie" — appropriately, a story centered around a dog.
For the students, Rosie offers something a human reading partner can't quite duplicate: an audience with no judgment.
When asked whether Rosie lets them know if they make a mistake, the students quickly agreed she doesn't. They also agree that she prefers stories about other dogs, “because she’s a dog!”.
Students Lyncoln Buckenberger and Henry Wynn said having Rosie there makes reading more enjoyable, and Lyncoln has even carried the idea home, reading to the family's dogs outside of school.
Meanwhile, Henry is now working on a book of his own — a story about dragons.
Reading with Rosie is open to students as one of the school's extracurricular club options. School staff decided to create the program over the summer after seeing the interest students already had in spending time with Rosie on campus.
But Rosie's job extends beyond listening to stories.
Her owner, Stephanie Jones, an Exceptional Student Services assistant at the school, began the process of having Rosie certified as a therapy dog last October. Rosie completed the training in about six months and also earned her Canine Good Citizen certification.
The idea emerged after the school's previous therapy dog left when its owner, a former dean of students, moved away. Jones said Rosie essentially auditioned for the job herself during a team gathering at Jones' home.
Rosie naturally approached people, sought interaction and seemed particularly attentive to the energy in the room. "She senses your energy," Jones said.
Rosie demonstrated that instinct during the interview. As the conversation shifted from one staff member to another, Rosie moved with it, leaving one person to settle beside whoever had begun speaking next.
That behavior is part of what staff members say makes her so well suited to the job.
Now Rosie spends two full school days on campus each week, where she can visit classrooms, comfort students having a difficult day or simply provide a quick pet between activities.
Beyond reading
Adrianne Lifsey, the school's Exceptional Student Services coordinator, recalled one student in music class who didn't feel confident enough to sing a particular part of the song. Rosie happened to be nearby.
“I asked them, 'Would you sing if Rosie was with you?'” she said. “They said yes, and Rosie gave them the courage.”
Other students encounter Rosie under very different circumstances.
If a child is sidelined during physical education because of a broken bone or other injury, Rosie may settle down beside the student while classmates participate.
"She goes and lays next to them," Jones said. "She stays with them."
Time with Rosie has even become a classroom incentive, with teachers able to offer a visit with her as a larger reward after students meet classroom goals.
Rosie's popularity does come with some practical considerations — particularly during Arizona's warmer months.
During a recent fire drill, Rosie joined the rest of the school outside wearing protective boots to keep her paws off the hot ground.
At the end of the drill, the headmaster recognized Rosie for doing well and drew students' attention to her footwear.
The result was less dignified therapy dog and more high-stepping Goldendoodle.
"She prances in boots," Lifsey said, describing Rosie's exaggerated steps as she adjusted to wearing them. "The whole school saw."
Despite Rosie's popularity, staff don't want to overload her schedule. Therapy work can be demanding for dogs, so she isn't expected to be on campus five days a week. Staff said they would welcome another therapy dog who could potentially serve students on days Rosie isn't there.
For now, though, Rosie appears to have plenty to keep her busy — from helping reluctant performers find their courage to sitting beside injured students and listening as young readers make their way through another chapter.
“She's a blessing to our school,” staff said. “We love her.”
Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Meet Stacy Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.
Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.
Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!
Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.
Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.
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