Extended conversations with educators, leaders and students from Douglas County School District in Colorado -- which is the Number One public school district in the Denver area, serving 61,000 students at 92 schools.
Through DCSD Notebook, listeners will gain a greater understanding of the people, processes and programs in Colorado's third-largest district. Once a month, this feed will also feature Parent University.
To learn more about what makes DCSD the Top of the Class, check out the Why DCSD page.
Episodes
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Magic happens when therapy dogs can help school staff members reach out to students who are struggling. DCSD’s pioneering Animal Assisted Interventions team is the largest and most advanced in Colorado. With 34 therapy dogs deployed all over the school district – and more preparing to join their ranks, the AAI team continues to prove its value and brighten the days of thousands of students all over Douglas County.
In this episode, we hear from three of the top innovators who established the AAI program and learn how specially trained, four-legged friends provide gentle, empathetic, tail-wagging support that keeps students in school, opening their hearts and then their minds to overcome many kinds of difficulties.
Our guests explain the research that supports their work, including close ties to University of Denver experts in human-animal connections, as well as a commitment to ethical support of therapy dogs and their interactions with students. Make sure to listen all the way to the end, when you’ll hear a small sample of the many stories illustrating just how powerful a dog-to-student connection can be. These are literally life-changing relationships that allow students to succeed when they otherwise might not.
Guests this episode:
- Ellen Kerkhoff, DCSD Mental Health Team Lead.
- Dani Morrison, Social Worker at Plum Creek Academy and caretaker/partner of Betty the therapy dog.
- Laura Wilson, DCSD Behavior Specialist for the Ponderosa High School feeder and caretaker/partner of Daphne the therapy dog.
Pictured: From left, Laura Wilson with Daphne, Ellen Kerkhoff, and Dani Morrison with Betty.
Host:
- Jason Hackett, DCSD Director of Communications
Resources:
- DCSD Animal Assisted Interventions
- University of Denver - Institute for Human-Animal Connection
- Follow Betty on Instagram: @therapydog.betty
- Follow Daphne on Instagram: @therapydog.daphne
About DCSD
Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.
- DCSD is the TOP-scoring district in the Denver/Metro area for the second year in a row (first time in a decade).
- Our graduation rate is 93.6% (the highest in the Denver/Metro area).
- We are one of the only districts in the country to have met or exceeded our 2019 (pre-pandemic) scores in every subject and every grade for two years in a row.
- The Class of 2025 earned more than $113 million in scholarships and saved over $20 million in college expenses through DCSD's concurrent enrollment partnerships.
- DCSD offers 90 Career and Technical Education and Concurrent Enrollment Pathways (including Trades) and is one of the leaders - nationwide - in "blurring the lines" between PK-12, higher education and industry.
With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered.
Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?
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