A heart for education

Called “Take a Paws to Read,” the event was designed to encourage students to pause from the usual summertime activities in order to practice their reading skills.

“Reading is so important for student success, and our ‘Take a Paws to Read’ event demonstrated the enjoyment that reading can bring,” the first lady said. “We want students to keep reading during the summer and discover the joy that books can bring.”

The first lady started the Communities in Schools program in three counties in 2018. It’s aimed at encouraging partnerships between schools and community partners in bringing new resources into schools with the goal of improving student learning and decreasing dropout rates.

The program has now grown to have CIS schools in 38 counties, with the goal to eventually be in all of the state’s 55 counties, the first lady has said.

“Communities in Schools is the leading dropout prevention program in the whole country, and that’s what it’s based on,” she said in a previous interview. “It’s very simple. We say that if there is one caring adult for a child, that child is going to do well and make it through school.”

The first lady said the program has helped make sure that children in need of support can find it easily. CIS coordinators are in place in program schools, helping to reach students and providing resources to assist those in need.

“The community is involved with these children, and we cover anything from basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, medical needs — just anything that they need to make them so that they can get to school and not be hungry or ashamed of how they look,” she said.

Serving in conjunction with Communities in Schools, the first lady has led the effort to place therapy dogs in schools through the Friends with Paws program.

The program provides certified therapy dogs specially trained to provide companionship and comfort to children who need the support.

In the past year, 12 dogs have been placed in schools across the state, and in all cases, the dogs have been credited with bringing a new way to reach children through a calming influence.

As West Virginia looks back on Gov. Jim Justice’s terms in office, residents will weigh many factors in determining his legacy.

But we believe it’s safe to say there will be little doubt about First Lady Cathy Justice’s legacy. She will long be remembered fondly for her outstanding support of education and her efforts to initiate new programs aimed at helping reach as many students as possible.