The first Watch D.O.G.S. program was in Springdale, Ark. Now, the program is in more than 500 schools in 25 states. Westrope and Dan Jenkins, who both attended the Bellows Spring kick-off, started the program in a Martinsville, W.Va., elementary and middle school. When Westrope saw the positive response in her home town, she began promoting the program to Lerman.
"She had been telling me about the program," said Lerman. "We didn't know something like this existed."
Lerman said fathers bring "a unique set of skills" to the school. For example, they are more likely than mothers to help out with recess games, she said.
"The idea is we have at least one Watch D.O.G.S. [member] in the building every day," Lerman said.
The volunteers wear Watch D.O.G.S. T-shirts, and are promised time in their child's class.
"Please know that when you are here, you will not be doing clerical work," Amy Colman, the Gifted and Talented Resource specialist told the audience. "You will be with the children."
As the program grows, a Donuts and Dads morning event probably will be added, as well as an end-of-year celebration, Lerman said.
Andy Echague, father of kindergartner Christian, 6, volunteered at the school for the first time when he helped hand out pizza slices before the presentation. At the end of the evening, he was leaning over his pizza table, filling out a registration form so he could volunteer in the Watch D.O.G.S. program. He said he hopes to visit the school four or five times before the end of the academic year.
"I just thought it was a neat program," he said.
