Watch D.O.G.S.®

Dads of Great Students

WATCH D.O.G.S.®  is a family and community engagement educational initiative. There are two primary goals of the WATCH D.O.G.S.® program.

  1. To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
  2. To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Watch Dogs - Dads of Great Students. Logo has image of a dog.

Program Benefits

  • Students gain positive male role models.
  • Schools gain an extra set of eyes and ears. The presence of a father or father figure will provide an additional deterrent to bullying, enhance a sense of security in the building, and will help to create an environment conducive to learning.
  • Fathers get a glimpse of their students’ everyday world and learn about the increasingly complex challenges and decisions today’s youth are facing. As a result, they can learn to relate better to their student and hopefully connect with them.
  • Fathers gain a greater awareness of the positive impact they can have on their student’s life in three critical areas including: academic performance, self-esteem, social behavior.
  • Due to budget shortfalls and cutbacks, often teachers are presented with larger classrooms each year. The WatchDOGS volunteers provide real and important help for the teachers and the students.

Who are WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students)?

WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S.® school. During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well. Many school principals have reported that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dramatically reduces reports of bullying. On the day of their participation, WatchDOGS are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S.® t-shirt with a disposable ‘Dog Tag’ identifying them as WatchDOGS.

For more information, visit the WATCH D.O.G.S.®  website or click here to download a program overview.