At Wilshire Elementary School, there’s a common thread between sewing, social skills and a service dog.
Captain, the Golden Retriever, belongs to Special Education Resource Teacher Casey Tharpe. Not all disabilities are visible. As a service animal, Captain is by Casey’s side daily, providing support and assistance with a disability as she works with our students at Wilshire.
Thanks to fifth grader Jackie Gillespie, Captain has a new vest to wear around campus. After she sketched out a design, Jackie worked closely with Tharpe to learn how to sew and embroider the vest.
The finished product surpassed all of Jackie’s expectations. The bright red vest features the words, “Wildcat at Work” along with the Wilshire logo and a pawprint and heart above Captain’s name. There are also symbols with instructions on how one should interact with a service dog.
“I couldn’t believe how good it turned out,” said Jackie. “I was really proud of it.”
And Tharpe is really proud of Jackie. This project was about a lot more than sewing a new vest. It took dedication, planning, artistic talent and serious social skills. As Jackie learned how to sew, she even called a seamstress to ask questions and learn more about the art of the needle.
Most of all, Jackie and Tharpe navigated every setback and obstacle one thread at a time. That’s a lesson Jackie will carry with her for the rest of her life.
“I’m very proud of our work together and I love that my administration trusts me as an educator to give me the leeway to do slightly unconventional projects with the kids,” said Tharpe. “Everyone faces obstacles in life, but you take your talents and skills and all of the wonderful qualities that make you who you are, and you use that to put something positive out in the world.”
Sewing real connections #theNEISDway
