Schools Phone Fathers First, change the world
Educators are quietly improving education outcomes and gender gaps with this free simple move
Schools as agents of change.
That is the working theory of Dads at School, our new organization devoted to improving child outcomes and closing gender gaps by increasing K12 father engagement.
Dads at School joins other programs that for decades have aimed to increase father-school involvement. Efforts include monthly dad meetings, classroom volunteer schedules, father security patrols and even foam fingers. We aim to entice schools with year-round support and $1,000 father engagement grants [application for the 2026-27 cohort still open!].
The most powerful school improvement initiative that I’ve found comes from the inside, and is free and very simple:
Schools call dads before moms.
Whether to invite parents to back-to-school night, report a sick kid, missed homework, tardiness or acting up, these school administrators and teachers don’t lazily default to calling the mom or the first adult listed on the emergency contact list.
They intentionally phone fathers first.
Phone Fathers First.
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