MOUNT CLEMENS — It’s pretty typical to see moms at PTO meetings, helping out with hot lunch and taking students on field trips.

 

But dads?

 

Although it’s become much more mainstream for fathers to get involved in the education of their children, even in today’s society the common assumption is still that mom is the one making the majority of the school appearances.

 

But at Prevail Academy, a charter school in Mount Clemens servicing 600 kindergarteners through eighth-graders, one of the new goals this school year has been to make sure that dads are just as much a part of the school’s day-to-day activities as moms.

 

“I think it helps the kids because they see the dads in the building,” said Dianne Schick, office administrator for Prevail Academy. “It’s another person for them to look to. I think it’s good to always have another positive male role model in the building.”

 

Earlier this year, the school started using the nationwide Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program, which is overseen by the National Center for Fathering. The program provides any interested school with a start-up kit and access to other equipment, such as T-shirts to identify the dads, walkie-talkies and safety vests.

 

“We thought, ‘Well, why not? Let’s try it. It’s had a positive impact across the country,’” said Schick.

 

According to Schick, every day one dad — grandfathers and brothers are also allowed — comes into the school and makes rounds from the start of the day at 7:20 a.m. until the school shuts down at 3:45 p.m., helping out where needed. Duties include helping students out of cars, serving lunch, reading to the children, hallway monitoring and doing bathroom checks.

 

“They help throughout the building all day long,” said Schick, who added that currently they have more than 100 dads in the program, allowing for consistent scheduling through February.

 

“It has been very well-received,” she said.

 

Chris Amey, a training sergeant for the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, is one of the newest dads to sign up for the Watch D.O.G.S. program. He and his wife have two children at Prevail — Jenna, in seventh-grade and Jaden in fifth-grade.

 

When Amey, who coaches little league baseball and teaches bible study, heard that the school had started the Watch D.O.G.S. program, he decided to sign up.

 

“It’s a great program,” he said. “Usually, you hear about the moms volunteering, and now, you’re seeing more of the dads getting involved, so it’s a good thing.”

 

Amey, who said his favorite part of the program has been interacting with the kids, believes its important for parents to actively show their children that getting involved is a good thing.

 

“I think it’s important for the kids to see their own parents taking an interest in what goes on in their school,” he said. “You demonstrate that leadership by showing them.”

 

Amey’s wife, Josie, who is on the board of directors for Prevail Academy and was one of the members that voted in favor of the addition of Watch D.O.G.S. at the school, said the program promotes togetherness.

 

“It just gives everybody in the family a chance to get involved,” she said.

 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.