‘Teacher of the Month’ uses four-legged friend to ease student anxiety

SHALLOTTE, NC (WWAY) — Karla Vignati is getting ready to retire after 18 years in the classroom, and it’s not just their teacher that students will be missing this fall.

Vignati is an Exceptional Children’s (EC) teacher at Shallotte Middle School in Brunswick County. She says she decided to pursue teaching after raising her own children.

“I think any teacher feels the reward of helping students and helping them grow,” Vignati said. “I think with special needs it’s an even more greater experience because of the challenges that they have and sometimes to just feel like you made that extra difference in their life.”

One thing that makes Vignati stand out is her classroom helper, who’s not exactly the typical teacher’s assistant. It’s an 11-year-old Golden Retriever named Stella.

Stella is an 11-year-old therapy dog who helps students in Mrs. Vignati’s classroom.
(Photo: Anastasia Vandeberg/WWAY)

“It helps a lot with their anxieties,” she said. “Many of them tell me that they’re feeling anxious or they’re worried about something that’s going on at home or work that they haven’t completed and Stella’s presence just helps them calm through those emotions and several students have told me that it makes them do their work.”

One of those students is 7th grader Brianna Johnson.

“I used to have really bad anxiety attacks, and whenever Stella came in, when she came to sit near me, I started feeling more calm with her and being calm helps you focus,” Johnson said.

Although she and Stella won’t be in the classroom next year, Vignati hopes the duo has left a lasting impact on students.

Karla Vignati was named the March 2024 Teacher of the Month. She received a $400 prize courtesy of Beach Bagels and Subs and Fulford Heating and Cooling. She also received an additional $200 thanks to an anonymous donor.

Click here to nominate a teacher for the honor.