Transcript Positive Role Models: Pizza and Improved Achievement What

Positive Role Models,
Pizza and Improved
Achievement
What’s not to like?
WatchD.O.G.S.
(Dads of Great Students)
Implementing a WatchDOG
program at your school
Washington School Counseling Association
February 27, 2009
Target Audience
Elementary Counselors
 Middle/Junior High School Counselors
 Counselor Educators/Students
 Anyone who likes pizza

Who are we?
Terry Coleman, Counselor
David Jones, Principal
Cedar Wood Elementary School
Everett Public Schools
Session Goals
Leave with the following beliefs:
 “I can make a positive change in the
culture of my school and community.”
 “I can help dispel many of the incorrect
stereotypes or lack of knowledge of what
goes on in a school.”
 “I can help many parents gain confidence
and skills for supporting their child’s
learning at home.”
Session Goals
Leave with the following skills:
 “I can describe this program to others in
just a few sentences.”
 “I can describe the benefits this program
will bring to my school.”
 “I know what to do to get this program
going at my site.”
Session Goals
Leave with the following document:
 “I have a plan that will effectively start a
WatchDOG program at my school—these
are not session materials that I will throw
away when I get home.”
Just what is WatchDOGS?
A Safe School program from the National
Center for Fathering
 Invites significant male role models to
school
 Dads volunteer one day a year to support
the school

– Help with buses
– Walk the halls and grounds
– Assist in classrooms
– Eat lunch with their student, join recess
Just What Is WatchDOGS?

A national partner with the PTA M.O.R.E.
(Men Organized to Raise Engagement)
program

Sponsored by J.B. Hunt and Allstate
Insurance
Do students need male models?
According to a Northeastern University
economist, more than half of all babies
born to women under 30 (50.4%) were
born out of wedlock in 2006—the first
time that group has ever been a majority.
(In 1960, only 6% of births to young
women were out of wedlock.)
Does WatchDOGS Matter?
Dads provide a sense of safety to a school
campus
 Dads serve as additional volunteers to
assist with learning
 By working as a teaching assistant, dads
gain skills for assisting at home with their
own child’s schoolwork
 Dads see firsthand what constitutes
‘normal’ behavior and effort among their
child’s peers

Does WatchDOGS Matter?

79% of principals surveyed strongly
agreed or agreed that "The WatchDOGS
program has made a significant
contribution to the safety of our school.“
Does WatchDOGS Matter?

96% of dads who completed the End-ofDay Survey strongly agreed or agreed that
their "experience as a WatchDOGS
volunteer was rewarding" and they would
"want to do something like this again."
What are your school’s un-met needs?
Low
Need
High
Need
What are your school’s un-met needs?
High
Need
Low
Need
Increase Campus Safety
What are your school’s un-met needs?
High
Need
Low
Need
Increase Classroom Support
What are your school’s un-met needs?
High
Need
Low
Need
Increase Positive Male Role Models
What do you know about
WatchDOGS?
Describe the program in a few sentences
 Describe some of the benefits

Jim Moore and WatchDOGS
Jim’s a concerned father who responded
to the 1998 middle-school shooting in
Jonesboro, AR
 Moore’s goal: help prevent violence at his
children’s school or at any school
 First program: George Elementary in
Springdale, AR
 Today, more than 760 programs in 33
states

From Idea to Program
 Assemble
the Key Players
– Top Dog (father who will champion and
coordinate the program within the
parent community)
– School Administration (essential to
success)
– Staff member responsible for
coordinating
– Funding source (PTA, etc.) for Kickoff
Support from Fathers.com
Training Conference Call
 WatchDOG support kit ($300)

– DVD and CD with forms, letters, lists
– Shirts
– Name Tags
– Stickers, pencils, bookmarks, certificates
Vests
 Parking Sign

Introduce the program to staff

Explain the program to teaching staff

Discuss how to best prepare for and use
volunteers to support learning

Work with bus, lunch and recess staff
What Support is Available?

Other Top Dogs

Local PTA or community business

Service Clubs: Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, etc.

Cedar Wood Elementary
– [email protected]
– [email protected]
Before the Pizza Night

Arrange for 2-3 dads to try it out
– Complete a dry run of the program at school
– Speak with fathers during Kick Off

Establish system to process the many
volunteer approval forms

Set up on-line calendar and data entry
Kick Off Event
Top Dog assembles committee
 Support from Top Dogs at other schools

Kick Off Event
Top Dog assembles committee
 Support from Top Dogs at other schools
 Invitations sent to all families
 Pizza -- donated or sponsored

Kick Off Event
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Top Dog assembles committee
Support from Top Dogs at other schools
Invitations sent to all families
Pizza -- donated or sponsored
Activity for students
DVD and testimonials from dry run
Volunteer forms
Huge wall calendar
Running the Program
Staff coordinator creates individual
schedules
 Staff member takes photos, posts on
bulletin board
 Set up computer for on-line end of day
survey

A Typical Day
Orientation for dad when he arrives
 Vest, nametag, stickers/pencils
 At buses to welcome students to school
 Photo of dad and his children
 Volunteer in six classrooms
 Lunch and recess with own child’s class
 End of day on-line survey
 Help at buses, turn in vest and nametag

In first 90 days of program
75 dads have participated
 Over 550 hours of additional volunteer
time
 Every teacher has participated
 Dads asking to return second or third time

“I spent the first part of the day feeling like a
fish out of water . . . it is amazing to me all of
the activity that occurs in a school on a
regular day.”
“Even with just one day I feel much more
connected to the school.”
“I’m exhausted. I have such a new respect for
the work that teachers do every day at
school.”
“Something
I probably
never would
have been
motivated
or able to
do on my
own”
Staff Comments
 “I
think it is very important for the
students to see dads involved at
school.”
 “It
shows the students the value this
dad is placing on school if he comes
for the day and helps.”
Staff Comments
 “With
WatchDOGS my struggling
students get one-on-one instruction.”
 “It
is very motivating for students,
particularly those whose dads may
not have shown this kind of interest
at home.”
Issues We Have Encountered
Dress Code
 Tobacco use
 Showing up unexpectedly
 School coordinator out ill
 Disappearing coffee in lounge

Issues you might encounter
What’s in your packet?
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Typical Daily Schedule
Tips for a Successful Day as a WatchDOG
February e-mail to scheduled WatchDOGS
How will WatchDOGS support education and
safety at Cedar Wood?
WatchDOGS Registration Form for Cedar Wood
My Plan to Implement WatchDOGS
So, Make a Plan
Session Goals
Leave with the following beliefs:
 “I can make a positive change in the
culture of my school and community.”
 “I can help dispel many of the incorrect
stereotypes or lack of knowledge of what
goes on in a school.”
 “I can help many parents gain confidence
and skills for supporting their child’s
learning at home.”
Session Goals
Leave with the following skills:
 “I can describe this program to others in
just a few sentences.”
 “I can describe the benefits this program
will bring to my school.”
 “I know what to do to get this program
going at my site.”
Session Goals
Leave with the following document:
 “I have a plan that will effectively start a
WatchDOG program at my school—these
are not session materials that I will throw
away when I get home.”