MARYSVILLE—St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency is welcoming a new member to the RESA Family: Frannie, a two-month-old Australian Labradoodle, who is training to become a certified therapy dog for Creekside Learning Center and Woodland Developmental Center.
Frannie was born on February 21, 2025, and has already begun the process of becoming a full-time support animal for students and staff at both centers. She will receive specialized training through Mindfulness Therapy Dogs, where she will receive specialized training on how to respond calmly and effectively in school settings and social situations. Her training is grounded in evidence-based approaches and includes specific techniques to support students in special education programs, helping them build coping strategies, emotional regulation, and self-confidence.
Starting this month, Frannie will start bi-weekly, in-person training visits at Creekside and Woodland with her future handler, Chelsey Hull, Dean of Students at Creekside. As Frannie gets to know the school environment, Chelsey, who is also a certified trauma-informed care and therapy specialist and a trained social worker, will participate in handler-specific training to reinforce Frannie’s skills.
By November 2025, Frannie will officially join the team full-time, living with Chelsey and her family, and accompanying her to work each day as a trained therapy dog.
What began as a dream inspired by Chelsey’s experiences with therapy animals and work with trauma-informed practices has become a reality, thanks to generous funding from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, specifically through the Youth Advisory Council and the Mino Kramer Donor Advised Fund. Their combined grant of $12,000 will fully cover the cost of Frannie’s adoption and specialized training.
“I’ve seen firsthand how impactful the presence of a therapy dog can be,” said Hull. “It’s been a dream of mine to bring this kind of support to our students and staff. Research shows that a therapy animal can make a big difference, improving attendance, reducing stress and anxiety, and helping students build confidence and social skills.”
As a future therapy dog, Frannie will support RESA’s commitment to student health and well-being, especially in special education programs where therapeutic animal interventions have been shown to increase emotional regulation, confidence, academic engagement, and concentration.
Frannie’s journey is just beginning, and we look forward to celebrating each step of her progress and welcoming her full-time later this year. You can follow Frannie's journey on our social media channels and website, where we will have updates on her training and experiences at the centers.