Each year, the Frenship Foundation for Leadership awards teachers with grants that fund supplies, technology, instructional materials, and innovative lessons that spark a passion for learning. Back in September, Reagan Taylor, one of the agriculture science teachers at Frenship High School, received a teacher grant to fund Canine CPR training materials for her Veterinary Science class.  

In the Veterinary Science class, students cover topics related to veterinary practices for both large and small animal species. Taylor decided to write this teacher grant to bring unique lessons and demonstrations into the classroom that would help students apply lessons to real-world scenarios.  

In class, students learned all the proper protocols and procedures for pet CPR. The Canine CPR Trainer is designed to resemble a real dog to help stimulate a real emergency situation, with students taking turns working on the compressions and breaths.  

Taylor explained that the students went over the motions multiple times with everyone observing to give pointers and positive feedback. This was to ensure the students were completely familiar with the steps after the lesson.  

“My hope is that the students know how to safely and calmly perform animal CPR in emergency situations,” said Taylor. “By learning the steps to animal CPR, I also hope that, if they ever need it, they will be able to help save a human life since the steps are VERY similar.” 

The students enjoyed the lessons with the Canine CPR Trainer and took the practice very seriously, explained Taylor. They went into the hands-on lesson acting as if the life of the dog truly depended on the quality of their CPR. The students asked questions throughout to ensure they were doing it correctly, and after each attempt, they would ask if they "saved" him. 

Taylor added that receiving the grant has made a meaningful impact on her classroom by creating more opportunities for hands-on learning. 

“I am so lucky and grateful to have received the grant to be able to improve the hands-on aspect of my classroom,” said Taylor. “That is my favorite way to teach, and it allowed me to give them a true demonstration on CPR rather than a lecture with videos.” 

With the support of the Frenship Foundation, which helped fund the Canine CPR Trainer, Frenship High School Veterinary Science students have gained valuable hands-on experience practicing life-saving skills in realistic emergency scenarios. Taylor expressed appreciation for the Frenship Foundation’s generosity, noting that their support gives teachers the opportunity to bring engaging, hands-on lessons to life in classrooms across the district. 

“My students and I are beyond grateful to have been given this amazing gift for our classroom,” said Taylor. “My students loved every bit of it and were beyond excited when we received the grant to get the dog trainer. It would not have been possible without them.”