Brian Daly, a second grade teacher at Rose Hill Elementary, was recently recognized as an exceptional teacher who had “made a difference in the life of a student, a school or a community” through the Lands’ End “Teachers Light the Way Contest.”

Lands’ End, a national retail brand, selected Daly and 45 other teachers from across the country based on nominations (5,000 received in total) of coworkers and parents.

Daly was nominated by co-worker Maureen Kures for instituting at the school the “Reading with Rover” program, which brings therapy dogs to school to help student navigate the reading curriculum with ease and comfort. Kures said weekly dog visits have become the “highlight of the week” for the students.