Dallas dad Joe Samuels is a take-charge kind of guy. Recognizing a need for more strong male role models in children’s lives, Samuels, father of 10-year-old Chase, started Dads Club DFW in 2004. The organization now boasts more than 40 dad-members who volunteer in Irving and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD schools, organize fun annual events and work tirelessly to inspire the children who look up to them (dads submit to a background check before volunteering in schools). The group works closely with school PTAs and administration.
“Parental involvement in the schools has been shown to be a precursor to children’s academic success,” Samuels says. “Traditionally, parent involvement implied stay-at-home moms volunteering in the schools, but thanks to the new wave of working moms and proud dads joining the fray, we are progressively evolving that concept.”
Samuels says fathers bring a wealth of experience, skills and abilities to any classroom and believes that dads’ increased presence in their children’s lives improves kids’ academic performance, behavior and more.
"The organization’s goals are to increase father participation in the school, promote paternal bonding with one’s children and to create a network of involved and active fathers in the schools and community. In this era of absent fathers, we need to identify strong, positive male role models in our communities to guide our children and emphasize the importance of education — not just sports. Dads Club DFW offers fathers — and grandfathers, uncles, brothers, ministers, coaches, etc. — an easy way to make a positive and profound difference in the lives of our youth. The urge to be a proud father feeds the need to make a difference.
"We serve in the cafeteria line at school, help with groundskeeping and campus beautification, host parent breakfasts and more and also help with schools’ fall carnivals, field days, haunted houses and field trips. My favorite part about being involved with the group is being able to make a difference both for kids with involved fathers and those with absent ones. The kids get along great and are making friends.
"Fathers helping in the schools clearly benefit their child, their family, their community and themselves. With so many benefits, how do we get more fathers involved in the schools? The need for visible, reliable male role models in our communities is immense and will pick up as more and more fathers overcome their inhibitions, realize they’re welcome to participate and that it is actually ‘cool’ to actively parent a child. Weekly assistance at schools includes copying, laminating and duplicating instructional materials and hosting Career Days.
"Dads Club DFW has organized grassroots volunteering … the aim being to get more parents past the drop-off curb and into the school asking, ‘How do I help?’"
