2018 - 2019: Linda Tipton, facilitator & volunteer with R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assistance Dogs)

​Linda Tipton and her beautiful dog, Jasper, visits elementary schools, libraries, and other settings where children are reading. Linda and Jasper are a registered team who volunteers with R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assistance Dogs).

R.E.A.D. was launched in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA), a Utah nonprofit organization, and it utilizes registered therapy animals who have been specially trained. Kids love reading to Jasper. It’s fun!  He listens attentively and doesn’t judge, laugh, or criticize. Of course, Linda has an important role, too.  According to the ITA literature, facilitators like Linda shift performance pressure off the child and provides support, while the child gets the supervised reading practice necessary to build vocabulary, increase understanding of the material, and gain fluency as a reader.

There are thousands of registered teams across America and Canada and we are so lucky to have Linda and Jasper in our northeast Florida community. They love what they do and are making a difference with our children.