Father’s Stepping Up (F.S.U.)
Additional Information
Father’s Stepping Up (F.S.U.) is an initiative aimed at increasing the involvement of father’s in their child’s education. Fathers Stepping Up (F.S.U) began in 1995 in a small community in Haines City, FL. A program once designed to strengthen the communication between a father and his child has now taken on another phase that is focused on education and achievement. The initiative has brought hundreds of father’s and father figure’s together to emphasize the importance of education. Our visible in school approach has allowed father’s to not only tremendously impact their child’s life but also be an impact on students who may not have a positive male role model in their lives. While our primary focus is educational ACHIEVEMENT, our fathers are encouraged to STEP UP and foster a positive learning environment at home, as well as encourage ACHIEVEMENT in every field of human endeavor. Fathers get the opportunity to receive “in school” volunteer hours/training as well as be a driving force in educational excellence. Along with the F.S.U. program being initiated in FL, the program is also being rolled out across Dallas and Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD.
The primary goals of the F.S.U. program:
1) To give Fathers more opportunities to make an impact in their child’s life.
2) To provide a positive male role model for the student.
3) To act as an extra sense of security for Anne Frank Elementary students and staff.
4) To highlight the importance of Education.
How Does the Fathers Stepping Up Program Work?
Fathers Stepping Up (F.S.U.), is a K-12 program that invites all father figures to volunteer their time for at least one full day at their child’s/student’s school or one of the participating schools during the school year. Interested positive father figures are able to sign up during one of our F.S.U. events, Online or in the schools office at any time throughout the school year. The program will be administered by a F.S.U. volunteer or campus coordinator who is able to oversee scheduling, assignment allocation and measuring the program’s effectiveness at the school. F.S.U. volunteers perform a variety of tasks during their selected time including but not limited to tutoring, hallway monitoring, before and after school traffic flow, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and cars, monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher’s guidance by working with small groups of students on homework, flashcards, or spelling.
Who Are The Fathers Stepping Up?
Fathers Stepping Up are positive male role models whom identify themselves as fathers, father figures, uncles and grandfathers who volunteer for at least one day each year at a DISD school that participates in the F.S.U program. While at the school fathers have the opportunity to participate in a number of hands on activities established by the school. Some activities include but are not limited to; hall monitoring, tutoring, lunch with students, before and after school transportation assistance and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own child, but other students as well. It has been reported that the visible presence of a positive male figure increases a students’ success rate, reduces bullying and invites a safer environment. To identify our fathers of the F.S.U. program on the day of their participation at the selected school, the men will wear an official (School Name) F.S.U. T-shirt.
What are the possible Benefits of the F.S.U. Program?
Through decades of research and hundreds of studies that have proven what should be obvious to everyone: The more involved a dad is, the more successful his children will be. A father's influence can determine a child's social life, grades at school, and future achievements.
- 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 and tasked with more work assignments each year. Fathers Stepping Up volunteers provide real and important help for the teachers and the students.
Father Stepping Up Events
Pizza with Dad
Father and son day out
Father daughter dance
Father’s Day Luncheon
Father/son Recognition Ceremony
Involved dads = Successful children
Be An Example serves students in grades 6-12 in 17 Dallas ISD / CFB ISD school sites.
Resources
fatherhood.gov
cdc.gov
Norimine, H. 2019. Dallas data highlights large racial disparities in justice, education systems. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2019/10/28/dallas-data-highlights-large-racial-disparities-in-justice-education-systems/
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