Disabled teacher says dog is 'lifeline' in her science lab

While Cheryl Alexander teaches her students about atoms and elements, a special helper is on hand in her science lab.

The York High School chemistry teacher is joined by her assistance dog Tyrian, who has been her canine partner for the past eight years.

As a wheelchair user with physical and sensory disabilities, Ms Alexander says she often needs Tyrian's help with doing manual activities.

"He is my hands, he's almost an extension of myself," she explains.

The 44-year-old, who lives in York, says a day in the life of a teacher is never dull, with no two days - or two minutes - the same.

Although her classroom may be a little different, with an adjoining cupboard-turned-office for Tyrian, Ms Alexander says having a dog in a science lab is not as difficult as people may think.

"When I go around my room, I drop things a lot," she explains.

"We do stamps as rewards and I drop them all the time and he knows as soon as he hears one hit the floor, he picks it up and gives it to me.

"He will stay in the cupboard if I ask him to. If we've got a practical, I don't want him to be bringing me vials of sulphuric acid or anything."

Tyrian also helps with collecting things from the students and bringing them to Ms Alexander, which she says they love.

At school, his office has a bed, toys, water, food and a cooler fan for the summer months and he enjoys frequent walks at break time.

"He's a good dog for this type of work because he's calm and quiet when he needs to be and active and straight on getting things otherwise," Ms Alexander says.

"If I have something I need in my bag, he can pull it open and find something in it and bring it to me, rather than me having to get it.

"It's a really big lifeline."

Ms Alexander has other adaptations around her classroom, such as microphones to pick up what students are saying because she is hard of hearing.

"I have spent my entire adult life in this chair so I don't know what it's like to not be," she says.

"Lots of disabled young people never see a disabled adult going about their business and living their life.

"I think it's very easy when you don't have anyone to look up to like you, to just think there is nothing for you and you're on your own.

"Even for students who don't have disabilities, they look at me and think 'she somehow manages to turn up every morning, maybe I can as well'."

The teacher says she explains her condition to each new class and what they have to do differently.

"I'm certainly treated like I'm just another member of staff and the students really don't see the difference," she adds.

In recognition of Ms Alexander's outstanding teaching and advocacy work for students facing adversity, she was honoured at The Educators' Trust Awards 2025.

She attended an awards evening at the Merchant Taylors' Hall in London, where she received the Master Educator's Award for Outstanding School Leadership.

"It's a bit overwhelming because I don't feel like I've done much particularly, this is just my everyday," she said.

"One of the things I'm most proud of is investing in students and investing in them as people and to be the 'village'.

"It takes a village to raise a child and I feel like I'm collecting the award on behalf of my village, the people that helped me.

"Teachers were incredible role models for me when I was at school. I had a really difficult time growing up and they pushed me to be my own cheerleader and be proud of my own success.

"I hope I'm part of that village for the students I teach now."

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