Positive Role Models, Pizza and Improved Achievement What’s not to like?

Positive Role Models, Positive Role Models, Pizza and Improved Pizza and Improved

AchievementAchievement

What’s not to like?What’s not to like?

WatchD.O.G.S.WatchD.O.G.S.

(Dads of Great Students)(Dads of Great Students)

Implementing a Implementing a WatchDOG program at WatchDOG program at

your schoolyour school

Washington School Counseling Washington School Counseling AssociationAssociation

February 27, 2009February 27, 2009

Target Audience

Elementary Counselors Middle/Junior High School Counselors Counselor Educators/Students Anyone who likes pizza

Who are we?Who are we?

Terry Coleman, CounselorTerry Coleman, Counselor

David Jones, PrincipalDavid Jones, Principal

Cedar Wood Elementary SchoolCedar Wood Elementary SchoolEverett Public SchoolsEverett Public Schools

Session GoalsSession Goals

Leave with the following Leave with the following beliefsbeliefs:: ““I can make a positive change in the I can make a positive change in the

culture of my school and community.”culture of my school and community.” ““I can help dispel many of the I can help dispel many of the

incorrect stereotypes or lack of incorrect stereotypes or lack of knowledge of what goes on in a knowledge of what goes on in a school.”school.”

““I can help many parents gain I can help many parents gain confidence and skills for supporting confidence and skills for supporting their child’s learning at home.”their child’s learning at home.”


Leave with the following Leave with the following skillsskills:: ““I can describe this program to I can describe this program to

others in just a few sentences.”others in just a few sentences.” ““I can describe the benefits this I can describe the benefits this

program will bring to my school.”program will bring to my school.” ““I know what to do to get this I know what to do to get this

program going at my site.”program going at my site.”

Session Goals

Leave with the following Leave with the following documentdocument:: ““I have a plan that will effectively I have a plan that will effectively

start a WatchDOG program at my start a WatchDOG program at my school—these are not session school—these are not session materials that I will throw away when materials that I will throw away when I get home.”I get home.”

Just what is WatchDOGS?Just what is WatchDOGS?

A Safe School program from the A Safe School program from the National Center for FatheringNational Center for Fathering

Invites significant male role models Invites significant male role models to schoolto school

Dads volunteer one day a year to Dads volunteer one day a year to support the schoolsupport the school– Help with busesHelp with buses– Walk the halls and groundsWalk the halls and grounds– Assist in classroomsAssist in classrooms– Eat lunch with their student, join recessEat lunch with their student, join recess

Just What Is WatchDOGS?Just What Is WatchDOGS?

A national partner with the PTA A national partner with the PTA M.O.R.E. (Men Organized to Raise M.O.R.E. (Men Organized to Raise Engagement) program Engagement) program

Sponsored by J.B. Hunt and Allstate Sponsored by J.B. Hunt and Allstate InsuranceInsurance

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?Does WatchDOGS Matter?

Dads provide a sense of safety to a Dads provide a sense of safety to a school campusschool campus

Dads serve as additional volunteers Dads serve as additional volunteers to assist with learningto assist with learning

By working as a teaching assistant, By working as a teaching assistant, dads gain skills for assisting at home dads gain skills for assisting at home with their own child’s schoolworkwith their own child’s schoolwork

Dads see firsthand what constitutes Dads see firsthand what constitutes ‘normal’ behavior and effort among ‘normal’ behavior and effort among their child’s peerstheir child’s peers


79% of principals surveyed strongly 79% of principals surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that "agreed or agreed that "The The WatchDOGS program has made a WatchDOGS program has made a significant contribution to the safety significant contribution to the safety of our schoolof our school.“.“


96% of dads who completed the End-96% of dads who completed the End-of-Day Survey strongly agreed or of-Day Survey strongly agreed or agreed that their "agreed that their "experience as a experience as a WatchDOGS volunteer was WatchDOGS volunteer was rewardingrewarding" and they would "" and they would "want to want to do something like this againdo something like this again."."

What are your school’s un-met needs?

LowNeed

HighNeed

Increase Campus Safety


LowNeed

HighNeed

Increase Classroom Support


LowNeed

HighNeed

Increase Positive Male Role Models


LowNeed

HighNeed

What do you know about WatchDOGS?

Describe the program in a few sentences

Describe some of the benefits

Jim Moore and WatchDOGSJim Moore and WatchDOGS

Jim’s a concerned father who Jim’s a concerned father who responded to the 1998 middle-school responded to the 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, ARshooting in Jonesboro, AR

Moore’s goal: help prevent violence at Moore’s goal: help prevent violence at his children’s school or at any schoolhis children’s school or at any school

First program: George Elementary in First program: George Elementary in Springdale, ARSpringdale, AR

Today, more than 760 programs in 33 Today, more than 760 programs in 33 statesstates

From Idea to ProgramFrom Idea to Program

Assemble the Key PlayersAssemble the Key Players– Top Dog (father who will champion and Top Dog (father who will champion and

coordinate the program within the coordinate the program within the parent community)parent community)

– School Administration (essential to School Administration (essential to success)success)

– Staff member responsible for Staff member responsible for coordinatingcoordinating

– Funding source (PTA, etc.) for KickoffFunding source (PTA, etc.) for Kickoff

Support from Fathers.comSupport from Fathers.com

Training Conference CallTraining Conference Call WatchDOG support kit ($300)WatchDOG support kit ($300)

– DVD and CD with forms, letters, listsDVD and CD with forms, letters, lists– ShirtsShirts– Name TagsName Tags– Stickers, pencils, bookmarks, certificates Stickers, pencils, bookmarks, certificates

VestsVests Parking SignParking Sign

Introduce the program to staff

Explain the program to teaching staffExplain the program to teaching staff

Discuss how to best prepare for and Discuss how to best prepare for and use volunteers to support learninguse volunteers to support learning

Work with bus, lunch and recess staff Work with bus, lunch and recess staff

What Support is Available?What Support is Available?

Other Top DogsOther Top Dogs

Local PTA or community businessLocal PTA or community business

Service Clubs: Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Service Clubs: Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, etc.etc.

Cedar Wood ElementaryCedar Wood Elementary– [email protected]– [email protected]

Before the Pizza NightBefore the Pizza Night

Arrange for 2-3 dads to try it outArrange for 2-3 dads to try it out– Complete a dry run of the program at Complete a dry run of the program at

schoolschool– Speak with fathers during Kick OffSpeak with fathers during Kick Off

Establish system to process the many Establish system to process the many volunteer approval formsvolunteer approval forms

Set up on-line calendar and data entrySet up on-line calendar and data entry

Kick Off EventKick Off Event

Top Dog assembles committeeTop Dog assembles committee Support from Top Dogs at other Support from Top Dogs at other

schoolsschools


Top Dog assembles committeeTop Dog assembles committee Support from Top Dogs at other Support from Top Dogs at other

schoolsschools Invitations sent to all familiesInvitations sent to all families Pizza -- donated or sponsoredPizza -- donated or sponsored


Top Dog assembles committeeTop Dog assembles committee Support from Top Dogs at other schoolsSupport from Top Dogs at other schools Invitations sent to all familiesInvitations sent to all families Pizza -- donated or sponsoredPizza -- donated or sponsored Activity for studentsActivity for students DVD and testimonials from dry runDVD and testimonials from dry run Volunteer formsVolunteer forms Huge wall calendarHuge wall calendar

Running the ProgramRunning the Program

Staff coordinator creates individual Staff coordinator creates individual schedulesschedules

Staff member takes photos, posts on Staff member takes photos, posts on bulletin boardbulletin board

Set up computer for on-line end of Set up computer for on-line end of day surveyday survey

A Typical DayA Typical Day

Orientation for dad when he arrivesOrientation for dad when he arrives Vest, nametag, stickers/pencilsVest, nametag, stickers/pencils At buses to welcome students to schoolAt buses to welcome students to school Photo of dad and his childrenPhoto of dad and his children Volunteer in six classroomsVolunteer in six classrooms Lunch and recess with own child’s classLunch and recess with own child’s class End of day on-line surveyEnd of day on-line survey Help at buses, turn in vest and Help at buses, turn in vest and

nametagnametag

In first 90 days of programIn first 90 days of program

75 dads have participated75 dads have participated Over 550 hours of additional Over 550 hours of additional

volunteer timevolunteer time Every teacher has participatedEvery teacher has participated Dads asking to return second or third Dads asking to return second or third

timetime

“ “I spent the first part of the day feeling like a fish I spent the first part of the day feeling like a fish out of water . . . it is amazing to me all of the out of water . . . it is amazing to me all of the

activity that occurs in a school on a regular day.”activity that occurs in a school on a regular day.”

““Even with just one day I feel much more Even with just one day I feel much more connected to the school.”connected to the school.”

““I’m exhausted. I have such a new respect I’m exhausted. I have such a new respect for the work that teachers do every day at for the work that teachers do every day at

school.”school.”

““Something I Something I probably probably

never would never would have been have been motivated motivated or able to or able to do on my do on my

own”own”

Staff CommentsStaff Comments

““I think it is very important for I think it is very important for the students to see dads the students to see dads involved at school.”involved at school.”

““It shows the students the value It shows the students the value this dad is placing on school if he this dad is placing on school if he comes for the day and helps.”comes for the day and helps.”

Staff CommentsStaff Comments

““With WatchDOGS my struggling With WatchDOGS my struggling students get one-on-one students get one-on-one instruction.”instruction.”

““It is very motivating for students, It is very motivating for students, particularly those whose dads particularly those whose dads may not have shown this kind of may not have shown this kind of interest at home.”interest at home.”

Issues We Have Issues We Have EncounteredEncountered

Dress CodeDress Code Tobacco useTobacco use Showing up unexpectedlyShowing up unexpectedly School coordinator out illSchool coordinator out ill Disappearing coffee in loungeDisappearing coffee in lounge

Issues you might encounter

What’s in your packet?

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 PlanSo, Make a Plan


Leave with the following Leave with the following beliefsbeliefs:: ““I can make a positive change in the I can make a positive change in the

culture of my school and community.”culture of my school and community.” ““I can help dispel many of the I can help dispel many of the

incorrect stereotypes or lack of incorrect stereotypes or lack of knowledge of what goes on in a knowledge of what goes on in a school.”school.”

““I can help many parents gain I can help many parents gain confidence and skills for supporting confidence and skills for supporting their child’s learning at home.”their child’s learning at home.”


Leave with the following Leave with the following skillsskills:: ““I can describe this program to I can describe this program to

others in just a few sentences.”others in just a few sentences.” ““I can describe the benefits this I can describe the benefits this

program will bring to my school.”program will bring to my school.” ““I know what to do to get this I know what to do to get this

program going at my site.”program going at my site.”

Session Goals

Leave with the following Leave with the following documentdocument:: ““I have a plan that will effectively I have a plan that will effectively

start a WatchDOG program at my start a WatchDOG program at my school—these are not session school—these are not session materials that I will throw away when materials that I will throw away when I get home.”I get home.”

Documents

Positive Role Models, Pizza and Improved Achievement What’s not to like?