From left- Trainers Helen Weibel, Katie Weibel, owner of Appalachian Dog Training and Karen Green, Principal at St. Joseph Regional School. Front left is Jada, 4 years old, and on the right is her mom, Summer, who is 7 years old.
Press release
St. Joseph Regional School is proud to welcome back alumna Katie Weibel, owner of Appalachian Dog Training, as she returns to her alma mater to support the social-emotional well-being of students and staff.
Katie generously gifted two trained therapy dogs to St. Joseph Regional School, enhancing the school’s commitment to fostering a nurturing and supportive learning environment. On February 18th, 19th, and 20th, she will be visiting the school to provide comprehensive training for faculty and staff on how to effectively and responsibly integrate the therapy dogs into daily school life.
Video story- a few minutes the Jada and Summer and their trainers Katie Weibel, Helen Weibel and Mrs. Green
The training sessions focused on understanding therapy dog behavior, establishing routines and expectations, ensuring student safety, and maximizing the positive impact of animal-assisted support in classrooms and counseling settings. Faculty and staff engaged in hands-on learning to build confidence in utilizing the dogs as part of the school’s broader mission to support the whole child—academically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Link: Appalachian Dog Training, LLC
Katie and Helen Weibel with Jada and Summer on Thursday afternoon. Jada is a facility dog and is dedicated to working full time and has a high level of obedience training, public access training and specific task training to assist with therapeutic roles. Summer is a therapy dog and is retired and is more of a volunteer but has the same level of training as Jada, but she is not task trained. They are Golden Retrievers.
Adding to the meaningful connection, Katie’s mother, Helen Weibel, a 4th grade classroom aide at St. Joseph Regional School, will serve as the new lead trainer within the school for the therapy dogs, Summer and Jada. Mrs. Weibel will oversee the ongoing implementation of the program, helping ensure consistency, safety, and continued success as the dogs become a valued part of the school community.
Mrs. Green and Summer stop to take a photo with students in the hall. Mrs. Green will be the handler for Summer. Both dogs will be at school each day for the rest of the school year and next year as well.
“We are incredibly grateful to Katie for her generosity and dedication to our school community,” said school principal Karen Green. “As an alumna, her gift reflects the lasting bond our students share with St. Joseph Regional School. The therapy dogs are already making a meaningful difference in helping students manage stress, build emotional regulation skills, and feel supported throughout the school day.”
Katie’s return highlights the strong connection between St. Joseph Regional School and its alumni, demonstrating how graduates continue to give back in impactful ways. Through her expertise and thoughtful guidance, the faculty and staff are well-prepared to ensure the therapy dog program is a lasting success.
Mrs. Fischer, who will also assist with handling Jada with new Lead Trainer Mrs. Helen Weible, poses with her 6th grade science students during class on Thursday.