Students at Charles Campagne Elementary School in Bethpage are singing the praises of their favorite support staff member. She has red hair, big brown eyes and a gentle, calming presence that students say helps regulate their emotions, lift their spirits and ease their worries when they need it most. This beloved staff member is Oakley, a three-year-old red fox lab and CCS's official therapy dog.
Oakley may not have a college degree, but she is certainly well-trained. She's a certified therapy dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and holds a reading certification – a specialized credential that recognizes canines trained to help children improve literacy, confidence and social skills. Reading therapy dogs like Oakley create safe, non-judgmental environments where struggling readers can practice aloud without fear of criticism. Through the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program, where Oakley received her certification, children read with better expression and fluency while making the experience enjoyable. To earn certification, therapy dogs must pass rigorous health, temperament and obedience tests.
Oakley has been training for her role since she was just nine weeks old. She lives with CCS psychologist Ms. Maureen Conklin and assists her in sessions with students throughout the week, providing comfort and emotional support when children need it most. Ms. Conklin and Oakley also offer push-in classroom lessons focused on social-emotional learning.
Oakley's role in the CCS family has become so valued that students and staff wanted to connect with other school communities who share this unique bond. Ms. Conklin reached out to several schools across the country with resident therapy dogs, and CCS students launched a pen pal program to share stories about their four-legged friends. Through handwritten letters, students exchange details about their therapy dogs, how they enrich their school communities and personal tidbits about themselves, fostering long-distance friendships one letter at a time.
Like many certified therapy dogs, Oakley has her own trading cards featuring her photo, name, breed and fun facts. These cards make visits more interactive and memorable while giving students something tangible to collect and share. CCS students have been exchanging Oakley's cards with their pen pals and have amassed an impressive collection of therapy dog trading cards from schools throughout the country. Ms. Conklin and CCS Principal Ms. Julianne Inghilterra plan to display a large map on the school walls featuring all the trading cards, marking the towns where each therapy dog lives and highlighting the communities CCS has connected with through this program.
The initiative has been so popular that third, fourth and fifth graders volunteer to come in during recess to write letters to their pen pals – and spend a little extra time with Oakley while they're at it.
Mrs. Conklin has done an incredible job bringing Oakley into our school in such a thoughtful and meaningful way, said Ms. Inghilterra. Oakley has already made such a positive impact on our students and staff, and it's been amazing to see the difference she's making! I'm really looking forward to all that's ahead as Oakley continues to be such a special part of our CCS community.
Oakley has become far more than a therapy dog at CCS – she's a bridge-builder, a confidence booster and a calming presence that helps students navigate both academic challenges and emotional moments. Through her work supporting literacy development and mental wellness, and now through the connections she's inspired with schools across the country, Oakley demonstrates the profound impact a specially trained therapy dog can have on a school community. For CCS students, she's proof that sometimes the best support comes with four paws, unconditional love and a wagging tail.
