About me
Shauna Petersen is a TK through second grade teacher at Desert Center Unified School District. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood Development from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, and recently earned her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from National University.
Shauna has a passion for fostering student well-being both in and out of the classroom. In 2023, when her administration proposed the idea of introducing a therapy dog to the school environment, she eagerly stepped forward. She adopted Finley, then just five months old, and together they embarked on a journey of training and certification. Finley has since completed beginner, intermediate, and advanced obedience training, earned the Canine Good Citizenship certification through the American Kennel Club, and is now a therapy dog with Animal Companion Therapy (ACT) through Animal Samaritans.
Shauna and Finley now work side-by-side in the classroom, promoting emotional regulation, social development, and a calm, welcoming environment for young learners.
