COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Alan Nicol is greeted with high-fives and hugs when he goes to his kid's elementary school.
"You have children coming up to you and giving you a hug in the hallway for no reason other than the fact that you're here," he explained, "Everything else that went back during the week seems to disappear."
Why the warm welcome? Alan is the "Alpha Dog" of Martinez Elementary's WATCH D.O.G.S. program. It stands for "Dads of Great Students" and the goal is to organize fathers and father figures in order to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security.
The program was started in response to a school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1998 but it does not pretend to be a deterrent to acts of violence, just a way to engage men, inspire children, reduce bullying and enhance the educational environment at schools across the country.
Today more than 2,600 schools in 42 states have a WATCH D.O.G.S. program including Colorado Springs District 11.. where Martinez Elementary's male role models are ready to lend a hand.
Nicol said the school's program creates a role for dads to get involved, "Just being an extra set of eyes and ears at the school an extra presence." he added, "It implies a state of safety and security."
The manly compliment to a PTA, these father figures walk the halls with radios, checking the doors. They help in classroom activities, extracurricular programming and even get to hand out prizes when they see the students behaving within the school's set of values.
"When parents are involved in their child's education, children have a better success rate," Principal Bobbie Long explained.
"It is important to have moms and dads involved and if a family doesn't have a mom or a dad, there are role models that can help support them here."
The safety aspect is an important part of their program, especially in the wake of recent shootings, but it's just one component among many, including character building.
"It makes a difference when students see father figures in particular saying "Yes Mrs. Weaver." and "How can I help you today Mrs. Long?" When students see us demonstrating that kind of behavior they realize the importance of the behaviors they're trying to learn at their school," Nicol explained.
He said he believes the D.O.G.S.'s presence adds a sense of importance to what the children are doing each day.
With more than 100 volunteers, they've got the school days covered, since most volunteers dedicate multiple days each year. Nicol said the ability to assist in their child's schooling get them through the doors, but the impact they see they're leaving is what gets dads addicted.
"The benefits that we bring by getting involved in our children's education and being a presence and a role model in their schools cannot be counted. And the benefits to ourselves of participating... Well, you'll feel it the minute you try it," he said.
Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures can volunteer. The National Center for Fathering sponsored program is available to any school that wants to implement it. Nicol added that they'll even give a script for your first meeting to simplify the process.
To find out more, or bring the program to dedicated dads at your school, visit: www.fathers.com/watchdogs
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKXRM