In the world of education, where each day presents its unique challenges and triumphs, unconventional approaches can sometimes provide the most profound impacts on students. Today, we want to share the story of Charlie, a bearded dragon whose presence in the classroom has become a source of learning and emotional support for hundreds of students over the years.
Charlie’s journey began when Alexandra Cushman, who had just landed her first teaching job, decided to bring a little extra life into her classroom. “I got Charlie a month after I got my first teaching job, which was the At-Risk Coordinator K-12 at a very small district,” Ms. Cushman recalls. Charlie wasn’t just a pet; he was a partner in education, a source of comfort and curiosity for students spanning grades K-12.
Ms. Cushman’s classroom served as a sanctuary for many students—study hall for grades 7-12 and a retreat for younger students needing intervention, whether behavioral or academic. New students, often overwhelmed by the new environment, found solace in Charlie’s quiet company. ” Charlie became a welcoming beacon in my room,” said Ms. Cushman. “I can’t tell you the amount of times a new student would show up at school and were too scared to go to class, so Charlie was used as an ice breaker for all ages to soothe fears and unease as they transitioned to a new district or building.”
As Ms. Cushman moved through her career, from teaching at-risk students to fourth grade and then to fifth grade reading, Charlie moved with her. His role evolved from a comforting presence to an active participant in developing students’ reading skills. “He served as a set of listening ears for students who were working on reading fluency and becoming better readers,” Ms. Cushman explained. The excitement Charlie showed towards students reading to him was palpable: “He would affectionately run to the glass when they were sitting in front of him ready to read. I would always tell them to look at him when they were reading to see how engaged he was. He would turn his head this way and that way, bob up and down, or move when he was excited by their intonation or pitch in voice.”
The impact of Charlie on the students was evident not just in their academic growth but also in their emotional well-being: “He has touched hundreds and hundreds of lives over the last 12 years of my teaching career,” Ms. Cushman reflected. “As I sat today and thought back over his life, as he helped yet another student with an issue who would only respond to an animal being involved, I am so very grateful for this grant and how it allowed him to have such a lasting impact on me, my career, and most of all my student’s lives.”
Charlie’s story is a testament to the profound ways in which animals can enrich the learning environment and help forge unforgettable bonds with students. Thank you, Ms. Cushman, for sharing your journey with Charlie, and to all the educators who go the extra mile to bring unique learning experiences to your students.
If you are an educator who is interested in bringing the benefits that classroom pets provide to your classroom, lean more about our teacher grant program. If you are someone who is inspired by Charlie’s story and want to help more students and teachers experience the joys and benefits that come from having a classroom pet, consider donating to the Pets in the Classroom grant program.
