Leslie Burnett, Pryor Schools Director of Special Services, Receives Maurice Walraven Award

Posted Date: 05/02/2024

Leslie Burnett, PPS Special Services Director, has received the  Maurice Walraven Award This honor is given to individuals who have made an ongoing “ valuable, positive contribution to the education of children with disabilities.” 

Burnett instituted  Pryor Public Schools’ Therapy Dog program, and she has guided the program for the last seven years.  Her nomination noted how the seven dogs that make up the program, visit school sites to help create a “nurturing and inclusive environment where children with disabilities can thrive and excel.”

The dogs often join students during reading time to provide a “non-judgmental environment for children to practice their literacy skills.”  The dogs also participate in animal-assisted therapy programs; in these sessions, students work through structured activities with their canine partners to foster communication, socialization, and sensory integration. 

Burnett hopes the success of Pryor’s program will inspire others within the educational community to investigate the benefits of having therapy dogs in the classroom and ultimately, spark more programs around the state.