Deborah McQueen and her four-legged friend make a difference at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary

Deborah McQueen and her therapy dog teach students with special needs at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary. Mrs. McQueen has taught for 25 years, coming to Fair Oaks Ranch in 2006. She has taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade and Special Education classes.

Mrs. McQueen thought that a therapy dog might help the special needs children she teaches, so she decided to buy one. She raised the money to purchase a trained dog by making purses out of juice boxes and selling them. She would collect the used boxes at school, wash them out at home and then sew them into purses.

Now when you see Deborah, you see Grace, her giant goldendoodle, a loving dog that helps special needs children express and receive affection on a daily basis. Grace and Mrs. McQueen make a loving team, helping their students to connect and interact in positive ways.