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BETHANY — Before she starts work each Monday and Friday morning, Mia takes an hourlong run to shake some of the energy out of her slender frame.
When she arrives at Bethany Community School, a short walk from her house, Mia is greeted like a queen by staff and students. She trots to Ann Gorman’s second-grade classroom, where children smile at their tutor’s arrival, hoping it’s their turn to read to Mia.
Mia, a 5-year-old Vizsla dog — an old Hungarian breed — is unlike any reading tutor the kids have ever seen. But she’s perhaps the most effective.
One by one, students sit with Mia, or sometimes lie down, for 15 to 20 minutes. The children’s test scores show Mia’s a superb reading helper, likely because she’s happy to get on the floor, she listens intently and, most of all, is nonjudgmental.
If they get a word wrong or skip one, she puts her paw or head on the page as a gentle reminder to try again.
Mia can’t read, of course. Her handler, retired dentist Rick Diotalevi, gives her a cue when he hears a wrong word and Mia then signals the child.
Mia is certified as a Reading Education Assistance Dog, by the Delta Society, an organization that pairs therapy animals with people in need.
"Mia owns me, I don’t own Mia," said Diotalevi. "Her disposition is such that we wanted to work with kids. I just love seeing them (students) twice a week."
READ dogs are usually found in libraries rather than schools. Bethany Community School may be only the second in the state, and first in the area, to have such an asset, school nurse Betsy Quitko said.
Mia did such a good job blazing the trail here that the school now has three additional READ dogs and a fifth may join soon. A newly certified cat also may join the team, Quitko said.
There’s Gem, a 12-year-old retriever, owned by Gillian Leyden; Zoe, a 5-year-old Newfoundland belonging to Quitko; and Lucy, a chihuahua rescued by local veterinarian Kimberly McClure. Lucy and McClure, who work with kindergartners, do safety and kindness lessons as well.
"It’s phenomenal for the children," said Leyden, who has brought the dog in since November. "All of them have improved or are enjoying it (reading) more."
Mia started helping at the school last April, after a fluke accident connected Gorman and Diotalevi. Gorman broke her tooth while eating in the teacher’s lounge and rushed to the dentist. Diotalevi, 50, was filling in for her regular dentist. Gorman told him she was a teacher in Bethany and he suggested she could help him because he had a therapy dog certified as a reading dog.
Excited at the prospect, Gorman brought the idea to the school. As it turned out, Quitko was a Delta Society team evaluator who had tried for a long time to get a READ program going, but was unsuccessful because there hadn’t been a specific request. She quickly endorsed the idea and school officials accepted, with caution.
"There are very specific qualifications we want in read dogs," Quitko said.
There were concerns from some parents about allergies, germs and liability, so Mia was only allowed to enter and exit from an outside door.
But now that she’s won the hearts of parents, staff and students, Mia and Diotalevi are welcome throughout the school.
Gorman said the benefits were immediate.
"I think they like the bonding with the dog. They like her attention and she’s nonjudgmental. The children aren’t as nervous," Gorman said. "They (Mia and Diotalevi) missed a Monday because of a delayed opening, and it just wasn’t the same. Just to have her walk in the room and have everyone greet her" is uplifting.
Mia began her work this year focusing on four children performing below second-grade reading level. Each student met with Mia and Diotalevi once a week. Not only did their fluency improve, Gorman said, but three of the four students are, as of January, reading at or above the expected benchmarks.
On a recent day, A.H., 7, grabbed a book and sat in the little room. Mia plants herself between A.H. and Diotalevi, who tells A.H., "Pet Mia today. She’s in a bad mood. You’re going to have to do this one-handed."
Mia actually isn’t in such a bad mood, but teachers are trying to get A.H. to read with his eyes rather than follow words with his finger, so, by petting Mia, he can’t use his finger. His other hand is holding the book.
Sometimes Mia helps hold a page down with her paw.
Every once in a while, Diotalevi gives A.H. an "attaboy" when he gets through a difficult word. When he pauses, Mia nudges him, her ears go down and her tail wags. That’s A.H.’s cue to keep reading.
If a child gets the word wrong, Mia puts her paw or sometimes her head on the book and Diotalevi says, "Mia doesn’t understand."
A.U., 7, selects "The Adventures of Super Dog" — "one of Mia’s favorites," Diotalevi remarks. A.U. reads a paragraph about some of Super Dog’s heroics. Mia raises her eyebrows as if to say "Wow!" and looks at A.U., who smiles at the feedback.
When A.U. gets the difficult word — "sheepishly" — correct, Diotalevi says, "Very good."
At the end of each book, Diotalevi discusses the book to be sure they’ve understood.
"Why do you think this is Mia’s favorite book?" he asks A.U.
They decide it’s because Super Dog has a green cape and Mia wears a green bandana with the Delta Society logo.
Why does A.U. like reading to Mia so much?
"Because there’s nobody around you besides Rick," A.U. said.
When B.L., 7, is ready for her turn, she requests Mia choose a book. Mia taps "Bisquit’s Day at the Beach" from Gorman’s library of dog books. Mia puts her head on B.U.’s leg and the little girl holds the book up at each page to show Mia the pictures. When the book corner jabs Mia in the eye, the dog doesn’t flinch — it’s a hazard that comes with the job.
Later, in a different classroom, J.A., 8, decides to read lying on his stomach. Mia follows suit, lying beside him for "Mo the Dog in Tropical Paradise."
J.A. reads the words, "set up," and Mia, who thought it was "sit up," does just that, then lies down again when Diotalevi tells her it’s OK. As J.A. reads, Mia dozes, which is like a badge of honor because that means the reading is accurate and rhythmic.
Diotalevi said Mia loves to "go to work"; when he takes out the green scarf on Mondays and Fridays, Mia goes "bonkers."
Diotalevi, married without children, also is a baseball coach at Amity High School who until recently coached basketball too. He retired from dentistry about five years ago in hopes of doing more volunteer work.
"Part of my goal is to give something back because I’ve had a really good life," Diotalevi said.
Diotalevi said he thinks Mia’s gentle disposition is perfect for kids.
"I love it. I get so much more than I give," he said. "It’s nice that this is taking off. I’m like a proud daddy … The (test scores) don’t lie."
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