Lakeside High teacher's aide works for scratch

A new teacher's aide joined the staff at Lakeside High School on Monday. His nameplate outside the classroom is decorated with paw prints.

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Annette M. Drowlette/Staff

Bijou works as a seeing-eye dog for Ms. Gentry, who has an eye disease that progressively limits her vision. Because he's working while at school, students aren't allowed to play with or pet him.

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Annette M. Drowlette/Staff

Bijou sits by his owner, Lakeside High School science teacher Cassandra Gentry, during the first day of class.

Bijou is the guide dog for Cassandra Gentry, a science teacher at the school who suffers from Retinitis Pigmentosa, an eye disease that progressively limits vision. In the past two years, her sight has deteriorated significantly.

Ms. Gentry can see well straight on but has lost most of her peripheral vision. She and Bijou graduated from training this summer, and his job is to help her navigate the Lakeside hallways by allowing her to look ahead as she walks.

On Monday, Ms. Gentry outlined to her classes what the rules are for Bijou. When he's at school, he's at work. Students can't pet or play around with the dog.

Ms. Gentry teaches five classes and is able to get around her classroom by stringing lights around the front desk and by "pacing" out the location of materials.

She's training for a spring triathlon and plans to raise money for a guide dog organization through her participation in the event.

Principal Jeff Carney said Ms. Gentry has been an inspiration to the staff.

"We can complain about furloughs, and we can complain about a lot," he said.

"She has perspective that some of us can lose sometimes."

Reach Sarah Day Owen at (706) 823-3223 or sarah.owen@augustachronicle.com.