Visitors might be met by Leo at the main office or one might run into him in the cafeteria grabbing a snack, but he is most often seen inside a classroom lending a paw.

At Bush, Leo — the German shepherd registered and certified service-therapy dog — can be found assisting students with stress, monitoring the hallways or keeping guard when students are outside. But wherever he is, he’s calm and there to help.

Leo is about 5 years old; his exact age is undetermined because Tari Geisler, elementary teacher, and her husband Tom Geisler, U.S. Army veteran, rescued him four years ago after being cast away by his previous owners. Leo was homeless doomed to be sent to a dog pound in Pennsylvania prior to his rescue. But now the formerly nomadic dog is a key component of the everyday life at Bush as a teaching assistant, Tari Geisler said. She said Leo interacts with 10 or more students each day in one-on-one sessions and impacts many more by just being in the school. Leo’s workload has been consistent during his tenure at Bush.

“He kind of eases (the day), not just the kids’ day, but the staff too,” Tari Geisler said.

Leo received certification from the American Kennel Club and the Therapy Dog Alliance of America.

Tina Sandstrom, JPS director of schools, said there is a stark contrast between a registered therapy dog and a pet.

“If the animal is a service or therapy dog, they have to be certified so the requirements for becoming a service dog are pretty rigorous,” Sandstrom said of Leo’s qualifications. “It’s not as if someone is bringing their pet into school every day.”

There are precedents for students with disabilities to bring their service dog to school under the American with Disabilities Act, but Leo isn’t assigned to either Gina or Tom, nor any students for that matter. Leo is essentially there for everyone.

“Everyone loves Leo,” Sandstrom said. “I think it’s a great thing.”

Leo participates in story time and is trained to be attentive to the students as they read out loud with his face focused on the student.

He is used in activities with students to learn control and discipline.

“He loves all children and he works with basically anyone that’s here,” Tari Geisler said.

Additionally, Leo is trained to lead by example. He is conditioned to walk in the hallway and not run, as the students are instructed to do as well. The service dog is also taught to not touch other people’s property as the students are instructed. On one occasion Leo was “suspended” for licking Tari Geisler’s food off of a desk. Leo is held to the same standard as the students as much as possible, she said.

After rescuing Leo, Tari and Tom Geisler didn’t want to leave the formerly abused animal home alone. Tari Geisler approached the school principal, Dan Bracey, with the idea of making Leo a school-wide service dog. After approval from the principal, the administration and the board of education, Leo began his new life at Bush.

“Leo has such a positive effect on all students,” Bracey said. “His keen ability to know when a student is in stress (or is) anxious has been a tremendous asset to C.V. Bush School.”

“For students he offers a sense of comfort-confidence and companionship to whomever he works with. Students love to read to him,” he continued. “With his contact, children have grown socially, cognitively and emotionally.”

Bracey reiterated how Leo is held to similar standards as the students in order to reinforce ideal school behavior. In the hallways, Leo is trained to walk rather than run with the hope the students learn from his behavior. So when Tari Geisler describes Leo as a teaching assistant, she’s not joking.

“Mrs. Geisler has done a marvelous thing with the students with Leo,” Bracey said. “Without her drive and determination Leo would not be as effective as he is.”

Tom Geisler, who has participated in much of Leo’s training, said Leo can be used an incentive to promote good behavior from students.

Inside Tari Geisler’s class on Friday, students who passed their morning math assignment were rewarded with playing a brief game of fetch with Leo outside. Students who are struggling with reading are often given the opportunity to read with Leo to reduce the anxiety they have been experiencing about the course work.

Tom Geisler told the story of a little girl during Leo’s initial year’s at Bush who recently entered into foster care and was forced to transfer to Bush. He said the girl was having difficulties adjusting to her new life and new school environment. The girl was allotted an hour of reading time with Leo a day in hopes of having a positive impact of her mindstate — they did. The student displayed noticeable improvements over time after having consistent time with Leo throughout the school day.

“Leo was her buddy and helped her with that transition,” he said.