Cascade goes to the 'dogs'

Top Dog Billy Joe Calvert helps Raven Pruitt in a Cascade Kindergarten class Tuesday. Boston Byford is pictured left. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

They even have a "top dog" there.

But these dogs are not four-legged furry creatures. They're men, and the fact that they're being called dogs is not a negative thing. Cascade is one of a very few schools in the Middle Tennessee area to participate in WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students), a national program where fathers come to school for at least one day out of the year to add to the security of the school and to assist with a variety of classroom activities.

Jamie Calvert spends some one-on-one time with his own daughter, which is one of the many goals of the WATCH D.O.G.S program. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"It used to be when dad came to school it wasn't always good news," said Billy Joe Calvert, Cascade's "Top Dog." "We come and enjoy all day with the kids. It provides extra security and the kids love having a dad here. The kids just think it's awesome."

WATCH D.O.G.S. is an innovative program of the National Center for Fathering focusing on prevention of violence in schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures to provide an unobtrusive presence in the schools, and, to be a positive and active role-model for students at their school, according to www.fathers.com/watchdogs.

At Cascade, which began participating in the program two months ago, volunteer "dogs" assists with bus arrivals, classroom activities, tutoring and other tasks with which teachers may need help. They patrol the school and serve as a "safe" person kids can approach with problems or concerns. Along the way, dads also make a connection with other kids, and garner a better understanding of what's expected of their own children while in school, said Tabitha Palmer, Cascade's PTO vice president who helps coordinate the program.

On Tuesday, Jamie Calvert, dog for the day, showed up for duty (dads can sign up ahead of time for whatever day out of the year works best with their schedule). He spent time reading to and helping kids, one-on-one, in the hallway. He also did some learning of his own.

"The biggest thing I have learned is teachers stay very, very busy," he said.

Just a few doors down, Billy Joe, Jamie's brother, assisted inside Susie Bowman's kindergarten classroom. He helped kids with an assignment, then read to them as a group and topped things off by dancing with the youngsters.

"The goal is for dads to build relationships with other kids, but more importantly their own," Billy Joe said.

Bowman says having dads around fills a special need in the school.

Billy Joe Calvert reads to Susie Bowman's class. "Dogs" also help with traffic, hallway and cafeteria duties. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"I think it's great for kids to see dad can be active in the schools, too ... not just mama," she said. "Children seem to respond on a different kind of level to a man."

Of course, she also enjoyed having a dad in the classroom yesterday to help her change the time on her clock.

Billy Joe said the busiest part of the day seems to be cafeteria duty, although traffic duty is also challenging.

"Kids seem to need a lot more napkins when they see a dad here," laughed Billy Joe. "Then you go over to them and they just want to talk to you."

But "being there" is the point of the program, he said.

This program was started by an Arkansas father who wanted to make a difference after a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, Ark.

Since then, the program has proved to beneficial, particularly in inner-cities schools -- Memphis has taken to and benefitted from the program.

Palmer said there is one school that she knows of in Rutherford County who participates in the program, one in Nashville and one in Chattanooga.

Schools gain an extra set of eyes for security, students have access to a father-figure, and fathers gain a greater awareness of the positive impact they can have on their student's life in terms of academic performance, self esteem and social behavior.

Cascade Elementary Principal Martha Fisher brought the program to her school after hearing about it while on vacation. Cascade teacher Kim Adkins jumped on board (she now serves as the school coordinator for the program), along with Palmer, and a informational meeting was formed. Fifty fathers were expected. More than 200 showed up -- and dads are signed up for just about every day of the year.

Palmer said it doesn't have to be a child's dad participating in the program.

Every situation is different and dogs can be fathers, grandfathers, uncles and even mothers, she said.

"We already have a huge amount of involvement with moms, so we didn't need to start up a program to specifically attract their involvement," Billy Joe explained. "But a lot of dads are coming here for the first time."

For more information, visit www.fathers.com/watchdogs.