News / Press

ACES Welcomes Heidi, a Highly Trained Facility Dog, to Advance Wellness and School Safety

(Hamden, CT – December 4, 2025) — Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is excited to welcome Heidi, a fully trained facility dog, to the ACES Security Team. Partnering with her handler, School Safety Officer Rich Simons, Heidi brings a powerful presence rooted in comfort, connection, and emotional support to ACES schools and programs across south-central Connecticut.

Trained by Puppies Behind Bars, a nationally recognized nonprofit based in New York, Heidi completed more than 10,000 hours of intensive instruction to prepare for her role as a facility dog. Her advanced training equips her to support a wide range of individuals in school, community, and therapeutic settings.

From 2020 through late 2025, Heidi served at a major Ivy League university in Connecticut, where she played a vital role in promoting student and staff wellness. She became a trusted and beloved presence, offering a consistent source of calm and connection. In addition to her university work, she supported students and educators in neighboring schools and community organizations, helping foster safer and more emotionally supportive environments.

As of December 1, 2025, Heidi officially joined ACES, where she is already making a positive impact across multiple programs and learning environments. She supports students in regulating emotions, assists during transitions and crisis moments, and contributes to outreach initiatives and professional development focused on wellness and trauma-informed care.

“Heidi brings calm, connection, and compassion into every room she enters,” said Dr. Thomas M. Danehy, Executive Director of ACES. “Her impact goes far beyond comfort, she helps students and staff feel safe, seen, and supported. We are proud to have her as a member of our wellness team.”

“Heidi exemplifies our commitment to holistic wellness,” added Rich Simons, her handler and School Safety Officer. “Whether she's supporting a student in crisis or simply offering a quiet moment of connection, Heidi makes a difference every day.”

When off duty, Heidi enjoys hiking, swimming in local ponds and the ocean, and playing fetch in the yard with her little sister, Libby, a certified therapy dog.

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About ACES:

Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is the regional educational service center for New Haven and parts of Middlesex and Fairfield Counties. ACES serves school districts through innovative programs and services that meet the needs of a changing educational landscape. ACES operates magnet, special education, and alternative schools, as well as providing a wide range of educational services including professional development, transportation, translation, and adult vocational programs. Learn more at www.aces.org.