Bringing Hands-On Learning to Local Schools

What happens when a golden retriever, a tortoise, and an axolotl enter an elementary school? A whole lot of learning! 

South Tyler Animal Clinic understands the importance of hands-on learning for young children, which is why Chassey Larison, LVT, and her dog Leo were excited to help teach the "Critter Class" at Jack Elementary in Tyler, TX. 

Chassey is a natural in the classroom and enjoyed the privilege of teaching a group of future veterinarians. Students learned about the importance of vaccinating pets and discussed the role of bats in spreading rabies. Chassey even brought a bat preserved in formaldehyde for show-and-tell! 

One of the most engaging parts of the class was learning how and why to brush their pets' teeth—something especially interesting for kids who have pets of their own. Chassey then introduced her pet tortoise, explaining the difference between land-dwelling tortoises and aquatic turtles. The highlight of the day, however, was meeting Chassey’s pet axolotl, which sparked a discussion on animal captivity and endangered species. 

The South Tyler Animal Clinic team feels honored to be part of Jack Elementary's programs and is proud to support this award-winning school. Jack Elementary is a "Leader In Me" legacy school, a distinction given to schools that foster a strong leadership culture and encourage the highest potential in students, staff, families, and the community. 

This wasn’t the first time South Tyler Animal Clinic has served the community, though. The clinic has deep ties to the school—many of its clients are on staff at Jack Elementary, and the hospital manager’s husband serves as a police officer on the school security team. As a PTA business partner, South Tyler Animal Clinic has sponsored several events and is excited to continue being part of the "Critter Class" in the future. 

Jodi Dana, Hospital Manager, remarked, “We like to say that our community is large enough to serve, but small enough to care. We love Tyler, Texas, and we love serving here. With so many veterinary hospitals in Tyler, we feel blessed to be one of the first asked to participate—and we’re proud to accept!”