Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine February 2018 | Page 7

during working hours.
Brittany Call from Human
Resources designed and
made Jake’s badge. Jake
will be making his forever
home with Billy Manners,
a Teacher Assistant at
Pressly School. Mr. Manners
will bring Jake to school, put
him on the bus for the morning
route, accompany Jake throughout
school the day then, when the day is
done, they will return home together.
Valued community partners stepped forward
to make sure Jake has what he needs without
stressing school district budgets. Initial funding from
Partners Behavioral Health Care allowed for the
discussion about Jake to even begin. Food Lion
FEEDS donated the first year’s food for Jake and, in
partnership with Nestlé Purina, have provided dog
food coupons going forward. A matching donation
of the dollar amount from Food Lion FEEDS is
being given, in Jake’s honor, to Second Harvest
Food Bank of Metrolina - Pet Food Bank. The Dale
Jr. Foundation supported Pressly School with a
donation for costs of owning and caring for a therapy
dog. Dr. Chip Cooney and Animal Hospital of
Statesville have graciously offered to be the official
veterinarian for Jake, giving him his annual exam
and shots free of charge. Ms. Ashley Cannon and
Mr. Justin Longinio have both supported Pressly with
donations to provide for additional expenses.
Jake has already made his mark on the students
and staff at Pressly School. According to Mark
Vaughn, Coordinator of Alternative Learning at
Pressly, “We sought a cost-effective manner to
positively impact the students of Pressly. We found
Jake. We are very excited to see the impact Jake
has on the culture of our school. Our students and
teachers are so excited to have Jake as the newest
staff member.”
Welcome, Jake. Our house is your house. We
are happy to be your second chance for success.
Iredell-Statesville School & Family 5