Murcia diversity award honours Mar Menor guidance team for service dog project

The Mar Menor Educational and Psychopedagogical Guidance Team has been awarded the prestigious Gil Sáez Pacheco 2025 Prize for its pioneering work in improving attention to diversity across schools in the Region of Murcia. The award spotlights their project, “Dog’s Orienta: One day a dog enters your life and changes everything”, an initiative introducing therapeutic canine intervention directly into educational programmes.

Service dog transforms educational programmes

At the heart of the project is Mr. Baylor, a white Labrador trained specifically to support children during educational evaluations. Assisting teachers working with young pupils aged three to five, Mr. Baylor helps with assessments and fosters positive interactions with the young children. The dog’s soothing presence creates a nurturing atmosphere where children feel safer expressing complex emotions. His presence also boosts their motivation and enthusiasm for classroom tasks.

The celebrated Mar Menor team includes 15 educational advisors, six educational physiotherapists, three community service teachers, a therapeutic pedagogy teacher, and a technical assistant. Additionally, its early intervention unit integrates specialised hearing, language, and therapeutic support, both physical and mental.

Supporting dozens of schools across the Region of Murcia

Together, this dedicated group serves 44 infant and primary schools along with five secondary institutes across the municipalities of San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier, Los Alcazares, Torre Pacheco, and Fuente Alamo, alongside surrounding rural districts including Lobosillo, Corvera, and Sucina.

Celebrating inclusive education and autistic support

The upcoming awards ceremony, scheduled for December 2026, will also present a special mention to the Las Boqueras Special Education Centre in Murcia. Recognised for its comprehensive inclusion model for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the centre serves as a vital resource that enhances learning, accessibility, and well-being while sharing best practices with neighbouring schools in the Region of Murcia.

The Gil Sáez Pacheco Award, established in 2019, honours publicly funded institutions that break down barriers to participation for students with specific educational needs. It commemorates the legacy of Gil Sáez Pacheco, a former inspector and special education director who devoted his career to defending inclusive education.

Highlighting the Mar Menor team’s innovative use of a service dog, the 2025 award reinforces how creative, compassionate approaches to teaching can transform diversity support into an uplifting everyday reality for young students.