Service dog aids paralyzed kindergarten teacher

It may be somewhat unusual for a 47-year-old man to be a kindergarten teacher. For Darin Peets, a kindergarten teacher at Del Dayo Elementary School in Carmichael, California, it is even more unusual.

Peets is a quadriplegic.

He has been paralyzed from a diving accident when he was 17-years-old. He has a teaching degree from Sacramento State and has worked as an elementary teacher for more than twenty years.

Peets uses his life lessons to teach his students to try hard and ask for help when they need it. "Kindergartners want you to cut and paste for them," said Peets. "I can't do it for them. But I will be there for them, encouraging them to try. They are learning quickly to try first."

With help from his service dog, Robis, and a teaching assistant, Peets teaches important lessons in persistence and tolerance to his young students.

School Principal Thomas Harp said Peets has a reputation as a fine classroom teacher with compassion and rigorous, well-developed lessons. "And added to that, he brings a different perspective to our kids who struggle because of his day-to-day physical struggle.” The story

Comments

[Lindsay]

His students are lucky to have him as their teacher. And imagine what they will also learn from his service dog.

[jackie]

is way better than my kindergarten teacher who refered to all her students as snot lockers with legs.

[Tony]

That is pretty inspiring! Lucky group of kids.

[Jimmy]

Lucky little buggars to have such a teacher and a four legged teacher too!
My neighbor across the street is in a wheelchair and she makes me feel guilty when I'm lazy and don't walk my dogs..........then I see her walkin her dog beside the wheelchair and I've seen her do it in the rain too!

[Big_Dave_T]

So that dog has a bottle of Elmer's glue in his mouth. Couldn't figure out what it was. It's hard to tell who's more serious here, the dog or the teacher.

[C]

What a great story, Jan! Those students will no doubt remember their teacher for a very long time! Lucky group of students! Amazing story.

[Lidian]

Wow, he sounds like a brilliant teacher! What a great story, Jan, thanks for posting this.

[melody]

such an inspiration!

[rosemary]

He needs to teach kindergarten one year and high school at any level the next.....a lot of high schoolers have forgotten some of those early life lessons.

[Saint Lover]

I bet the dog being in the class as well helps to create a bridge from being home to in school and makes it less threatening.

[K9 Amiga]

so much of what we learn from our teachers has nothing to do with curriculum, and obviously this man is an incredible role model

[Dogger Blogger]

nice post :)

[teetotaled]

What an amazing story. Go service dogs!!!

[Tammy]

Amazing lessons this teacher can give his students! Thank you for sharing an inspiring story!!

[PwD-SD-Awareness]

These students definitely have added education then most at their age. They get to see different people doing different jobs and how service animals works first hand. It's better then watching some of those boring documents.