Meet Jasper: Grand Valley, Priority Health bring new support to charter school students

Students at a Grand Valley-authorized charter public school are receiving another layer of support through a partnership between Priority Health and the Division of K-12 Education Innovation and Scholar Success.  

Vanderbilt Charter Academy, a K-8 GVSU-authorized charter public school in Holland, officially introduced its facility dog, Jasper, a 1-year-old goldendoodle, to its students and staff last week.   

“Jasper brings a calming presence to the school,” said Jeff Groggel, Vanderbilt’s principal. “It’s hard to have a rough morning when you see a dog, and he’s super friendly with you.  

Jasper came to Vanderbilt through Priority Health’s Priority Pups program. Priority Health works with Canines for Change, a nonprofit that trains support and facility dogs, to provide animals to schools. The Division of K-12 Education Innovation and Scholar Success provides additional funding for the animal’s care at the school.  

“Our ultimate goal with the program is to help with the kids' mental health and behavioral health,” said Abbey Sladick, ’07, ’18, Priority Health manager of community relations.  

“A facility dog changes the culture not only with the students, but also the staff. If adults are struggling to help with the child’s dysregulation, then the dog is a buffer to either motivate the kids or bring down the tension,” Sladick added. 

Jasper has been involved at Vanderbilt since this spring, acclimating to the school, its students and staff. Now that he’s officially a member of the Vanderbilt family, he’ll have more opportunities to help.  

“The enthusiasm at Vanderbilt Charter Academy has been tremendous,” said Michael Cousins, the division’s assistant vice president of communication and outreach.  

Jasper is the third facility dog placed in a GVSU-authorized public charter school, joining Crossroads Charter Academy in Big Rapids and Covenant High School Detroit, through the partnership.

“You can feel the program's impact already with how the students and staff interact with Jasper,” Cousins said. “We're excited to see Jasper help young learners navigate emotionally challenging moments, keeping them on track and engaged in the classroom. We can't thank Priority Health and Canines for Change enough for their partnership in bringing this support to Vanderbilt.”  

Groggel said Jasper’s journey to joining Vanderbilt began with a TV commercial that piqued his interest in the Priority Health’s Priority Pups program. 

“I saw an advertisement on TV from Priority Health, came back to school and Googled it, and then showed it to our social worker and a couple of other staff who help students with emotional support,” Groggel said. “Everybody thought it was amazing.”  

Jasper’s days begin early at Vanderbilt, greeting students at the school’s entrance during morning drop-off and encouraging those who may experience separation anxiety from their parents, Groggel said.   

During the day, Jasper stays in the office of social worker Maggie Guzman, where he works with small groups of students in her office, Groggel added.  

“We might have students that struggle with how to make friends and build those social networks,” Groggel said. “Maggie might bring four or five in for a lunch group, and then they talk about how making friends is the same way as making friends with dogs.”  

Jasper’s role can also extend beyond providing emotional and behavorial support. Facility dogs can be incorporated into classroom instruction, Sladick said. Students who need extra encouragement with reading can practice their skills by reading to a dog like Jasper. In some cases, the dogs can even be incorporated into math lessons.  

“Canines for Change can train the dogs to roll dice, so the kids can write down the numbers,” Sladick said. “So yes, they can help in math class, too.”  

The Priority Pups program also reflects a broader connection between education and student well-being, Sladick said.  

“Education is a social determinant of health,” Sladick said. “When kids can be successful in the classroom and regulated in the classroom longer, we know if they're successful with their education, and their health outcomes will also be better.”