Who We Are
Meet Our Team
🐾 Donna Dishman
CEO
🐾 Archie Dishman
CFO
🐾 Renee Rehfeld
Executive Director
Board of Directors
🐾 Dr. Keith Leakey
President
Dr. Leakey is the Director of Veterinarian Medicine at Canyon Vet Clinics. He has seen the power of the animal and human bond to encourage change in children. His dog Turpin and his wife volunteer at one of the schools.
🐾 Jean Swift
Vice President
🐾 Jennifer Barry
Secretary
Jennifer is the Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s office. She believes you cannot underestimate the power of a dog’s calm presence in working with children to give them the tools needed to succeed in school and in life.
🐾 Jenni Maniscalco
Treasurer
Jenni owns Big Frog Custom T-shirts. She believes that reading is a key to a successful life and sees that the children benefit tremendously through Canine Classmates.
🐾 Carla Carter
Past President
Carla is an elementary school principal for Comal ISD. She has witnessed through Canine Classmates the joy of watching a child read aloud for the first time and seeing them bloom as a leader.
🐾 Michele Doeppenschmidt
Board Member
Michele is the manager of Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home. With the increase in at-risk children, she thinks that seeing familiar faces and dogs on a weekly basis can help with structure and stability leading to academic success.
🐾 Darren Hill
Board Member
🐾 Kirk Kistner
Board Member
🐾 Amy Malone
Board Member
Amy is an elementary principal in New Braunfels ISD. She experienced first-hand how the program inspired the students to read to a dog and how that increased their ability to read as well as their confidence level.
🐾 Tiffany Murphy
Board Member
🐾 Sandra Plumb
Board Member
Sandra is the librarian at Freiheit Elementary. She is involved in the program because of her belief that reading, or the ability to read, is the most valuable life skill a person can have.
🐾 Carol Snider
Board Member
Owner of Krause’s. She believes in the dedication and passion for dogs and reading, and in the dog’s ability to reach the children both in school and through the courts.
Best Buddies and Canine Companions
🐾 William Allen and Mo
🐾 Vicki & Greg Andrew and Pegasus
🐾 Rodger & Maria Broderick
🐾 Kati Campbell and Rudi
🐾 Marsha Cooper
🐾 Pam Hackett and Quincy Jones
🐾 Linda Harris and Beaux
🐾 Diane Hull
🐾 Laurie Lamoureux
🐾 Megan Leakey and Turpin
🐾 Jan Lybarger
🐾 Kelley Mumford
🐾 Jane Myers and Buddy
🐾 Katheryn Moore
🐾 Jeff Quinn
🐾 Amy Raven and Clovis
🐾 Shelby Raven
🐾 Pam Reitz
🐾 Bonnie Schweinsberg and Hazel
🐾 David Slegers and Chablis
🐾 Rain Valentine
