Get To Know Lollipop - The Newest Face At Echols Middle School

TUSCALOOSA, AL — If a dog is expected to be man's best friend, imagine what they are capable of in the classroom?

On Wednesday, the Tuscaloosa County School System officially introduced Lollipop — Echols Middle School’s first Facility Intervention Dog. Lollipop, or Lolly, recently completed her training and has transitioned to begin her important job at the school.

Lollipop has been trained to serve multiple people with intervention tasks and break patterns of disruptive or defiant behaviors in the classroom, in counseling sessions, and in testing spaces.

TCSS says research indicates that dogs like Lollipop can impact student performance by reducing stress and increasing motivation, focus, and task persistence.

Echols Middle School Counselor Donora Pinkleton is Lollipop’s handler and has been working with the school system's newest employee for more than a year preparing for day one on the job.

Lollipop is getting an early introduction to students during the final weeks of the school year and Pinkleton expects her to be fully prepared for the start of school in August.

TCSS said Lollipop comes to Echols by way of Service Dogs Alabama, a nonprofit which has trained and placed over 85 dogs with qualified individuals and facilities throughout Alabama.

Lollipop was sponsored in part by the Alabama Department of Education.

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